Reviews of all our books

The characters come alive for the reader. The Amethyst Angel lifts the reader’s heart with hope and inner peace. A book to read without putting down. After a cover-to-cover read, you'll want to pick it up and read it again and again as times goes by. This is a book to be prized for your library of keepers.

Wiesner delivers a touching story of life, love, and friendship. The characters in this story will evoke a reaction in even the most cynical heart. An outstanding read not to be missed.

This reviewer cannot remember any bad things about this story. The book was extremely believable. The characters were very connected with both each other and the reader. The setting of this story made it easier for the reader to be captivated. Go and get your copy today!

The characters come alive for the reader. The Amethyst Angel lifts the reader’s heart with hope and inner peace. If one looks closely enough, there is a lesson about living along with romance.

A book to read without putting down. After a cover-to-cover read, you'll want to pick it up and read it again and again as times goes by. This is a book to be prized for your library of keepers.

The Santa Fe backdrop makes this story colorful. The flowery cultural intricacies among the characters don't overwhelm the story. Enjoy the sparkling secondary characters.

I believe this is my favorite Karen Wiesner story to date. I found this to be the most poignant story I've read in a very long time. I was very deeply touched. I just can't tell you how much I enjoyed this old fashioned (yet modern) look at love in its purest sense.

A treasure for those who read it, this will entertain all who read it. Captivating and well written, bringing you deep into their characters' lives. A treasure filled with magic, love, and happy-ever-after. Don't miss adding this impressive story to your reading list.

I enjoyed how the story unfolded, proving how tragic events can bring people’s true feelings to the fore. The Amethyst Angel is a lovely reminder of what it’s like to experience that first-love feeling.

The Amethyst Angel is heart wrenching. We are delighted immediately with the quick dialogue. The family's effort is more than a setting here, and involves the reader deeply even before we get an idea of the love story involved. This heartwarming story makes excellent nightstand material.

With The Amethyst Angel, Wiesner has written a very emotional and heartfelt love story that will have you in tears. The characters are well written with interesting histories.

A mini tearjerker.

Very enjoyable reading. An excellent mix of characters and plot.

The Amethyst Angel is a bit of a heart-jerker.

Wonderfully touching and heartwarming with wonderful characters and an enticing, imaginative plot to make the story a true winner, and not just at Christmas!

Karen Wiesner pens her best tale yet of two people who are in love and just haven’t told each other of it yet for lack of confidence. This story is a very uplifting one for the holiday, and one of Ms. Wiesner’s best. Fun, well crafted, and the full meaning of love in the season came through.

Her story come alive with characters that reached for a dream and weren’t afraid of failing in that quest. Ms. Wiesner’s was her best work of two people, very shy but confident in their love of Christ and taking a chance to lay their hearts on the line. I loved it. It was the best holiday book I have read this season.

A read you truly don't want to miss. Unique and truly a gift to the reader. I highly recommend making this part of your holiday reading.

Ms. Wiesner writes an excellent novella. While the book is connected to WAYWARD ANGELS [Book 4 of Karen Wiesner's Wounded Warriors Series], it will fully stand alone. I say this because it took me the first couple of chapters to remember I had read the first book.

The characters were familiar, but I didn't put it all together at first. Ms. Wiesner writes a sensitive novella that looks at the fears some of us have. She delves into the fear of failure, fear of flying and other fears.

For some of us, these fears can overwhelm and paralyze us and it keeps us from living life to the fullest. It was so tastefully and sensitively written how Craig and Christie work to overcome fears together. I was rooting for them the whole way through the book.

I think you'll get a chuckle out of the misspoken phrases Craig sometimes says. You'll get an insightful look into Christie's fear of flying. Craig and Christie's story is an inspiring look at the way love really can overcome all.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Home for Christmas. What sets this story apart is the way the same old, same old is played out. This is a feel-good story which can be shared with anyone who loves happy endings.

The strengths and surprises of the main characters are very parallel. I gave this a 4 rating because of the quality of the writing and also because the characters are like people I know. The main characters also have an enjoyment of life factor that really enhances the story.

Christmas is a truly wondrous time of year, a time when love, hope, and faith abound. Find Christmas early with this short holiday treat. Karen Wiesner offers an inspirational romance that will have you smiling by the last page.

Craig is a devoted man, committed to the Lord, family and friends. His kindness towards Christie is wonderful to see. The faith they display and the friendship they share is a strong basis for a future together, and readers can't help but hope that Craig gets his heart's desire.

In a season beset with hectic malls, endless parties, and the need to complete everything before the bell tolls on the 24th, this story takes a moment and brings readers back to what is important, offering friendship and love for the holiday season. Readers will enjoy this precursor to Christmas, and it is sure to get readers in the mood long before the temperatures start to chill.

A Christian religious theme resounds throughout this story of a young man attempting to travel home for Christmas to allow his family to meet the woman he loves. The attraction between the characters is strong." ~Love Romances "I liked Christie and Craig and the concept of an orphan finding a home and love for Christmas. Well written with good characters.

'Tis the season to be jolly and what better way than with an unforgettable story? Treat yourself and sit back for a relaxing, unforgettable journey.

In A Home for Christmas, we meet a shy and charming man, as well as the love of his life. His self-doubt makes him less than open about his feelings, but his affection comes through in his kindness and support. In this everyday sort of adventure, the strength that comes through faith is also explored.

The story itself is nicely Christmasy, and music, especially the favorite Christmas carols, is a connecting theme. Heartwarming and makes excellent nightstand material.

“These two novellas hit me hard. They were very romantic and a joy to read. Now I can't wait to see what Ms. Wiesner comes up with next!”

2-in-1 Inspirational Romance Novellas

Review for The Amethyst Angel and A Home for Christmas (2-in-1 Inspirational Romance Novellas):

“In The Amethyst Angel, I love that Dr. Elena Lopez takes her job seriously. She has so much love for the terminally ill children she cares for, she has no time for a love life. She has feelings for her best friend Pablo, but every time she looks at him he looks away. Shy Pablo grew up with Elena, but he assumes he has no chance with her. Pablo enjoys doing magic for the children and little Juan is a joy to entertain as he always has a smile and laugh so much that others can’t help but laugh, too.

“In A Home for Christmas, I love how patient Craig is with Christie while she’s in love with his brother Gregg, who’s tried hard to let her down easy. Craig’s is the shoulder she comes to cry on each time her heart is broken. Given that he’s long known Christie’s feelings for his sibling, Craig is justifiably timid about admitting his own for her. Easier to wait for her to come around to the truth. But, this holiday season, he’s determined to prove he’s just the man Christie needs.

“These two novellas hit me hard. They were very romantic and a joy to read. Now I can't wait to see what Ms. Wiesner comes up with next!”

A masterfully written novella. Wiesner has a keen ability to craft her words into rich, page-turning chapters that flow with ease. Her characters are gilded with depth and personality while each setting is full-bodied, leaving the reader with a well-rounded story.

The phrases she uses leave a visual trail upon the reader's imagination. As each plot gels and twists, the endings are an unexpected delight. Wiesner's talent makes sure each novella is an enticing and alluring read. A treat.

Strong and well defined characters that readers will quickly come to care about. Readers can also look forward to plenty action and suspense. From tears to laughter, readers will experience it all. Creatively written, fast paced and easily enthralling.

This short story is quite intense so I quickly became caught up in the emotional, heart wrenching pull. I was pleased with the depth and completeness of this short story.

Futuristic plotlines are among my very favorites and The Amethyst Star has most of the elements that I enjoy about this particular genre. The unique world Ms. Wiesner has created is enchanting. The storyline is enhanced by a prophecy that one hopes will be fulfilled before the end of the story.

Sher is a more forceful character. Well written with good characters. An appealing tale sure to end up on many a reader's favorites list.

There is a strong message behind this short story, one that humans need to heed. Fans of romance will enjoy this.

There was much to be explained regarding the different beings and the severely regulated human social order to give a good basis for this story. Wiesner was certainly up to the task. Readers of futuristic and alien romance should well enjoy this tale.

The Amethyst Star offers an intensely imagined, futuristic world that won't fail to thrill the paranormal fan. The details of the royal setting, the home of Lady Sher, are a delight to read. The world Wiesner creates is very original and has great depth and detail.

The opening is dark: humans are not hunters, but hunted. However, hope builds as we grow closer to understanding the mind and motivations of Randolph, the main character. The details of the royal setting, the home of Lady Sher, are a delight to read.

The world Wiesner creates is very original, and has great depth and detail. Superb writing style, a frequently unpredictable twist, a distinct, original story. A thoroughly enjoyable way to spend your time! Heartwarming and makes excellent night-stand material.

Wiesner certainly gave the characters life. The story itself had a flair of futuristic idealism. I enjoyed reading about the different cities and what they represented.

An outstanding book that readers will love. Laugh, cry, set off on an adventure; this book has it all. One magnificent read.

A fabulous story I'll never forget! Here is Romance in all its wild and crazy forms, be they set in the past, present, or future. If you miss out on this, you miss out on one of the best of the entire year.

This story is intense and intriguing. The chemistry between Susanna and Nicholai is undeniable and is really what drew this reviewer into the story. This element also makes the love scenes seem much more heated than they really are. A captivating read with good characters.

The characters are vivid. Susanna and Nickolai have a strong bond, but finding out that you are married to a vampire cannot be easy.

In the first story, The Amethyst Star, a futuristic romance, I felt very sad that Lady Sher, a human queen and the last of her kind, could never be free to love given that the world has changed drastically since the Intergalactic war. Randolf is a prince from the planet Chaashane. Protecting Lady Sher is his only option--as is loving her from afar.

This story does a good job of showing how sometimes the world needs to change and it takes strong beings to stand up for injustice. The second story in this collection, Creatures of the Night, is a paranormal romance. Susanna Heath meets a dark and mysterious man.

Nicholai's old-fashioned manners and fervent passion for the heroine almost made me swoon. This story wasn't what I expected, which was what made it so unusual and enjoyable.

Two unusual novellas! Both of them focus on intensely passionate relationships and include intriguing variations on their tropes. The Amethyst Star takes place on a post-apocalyptic Earth with the surviving human remnants under constant attack from the intelligent but utterly merciless Carnivores.

The vivid emotional lives of the Hunters contrast effectively with the efficient but sterile culture created by the human rulers to maximize reproduction and preserve the purity of the species. Of course the Hunter hero and his human destined mate, a procreative Queen living in what amounts to continuous protective custody, will unite with each other, but their struggles in getting to that point grip the reader's attention. In Creatures of the Night, the relationship between the heroine and her vampire lover isn't quite like any treatment of vampires and her kind that I've seen before.

Although the atmosphere of most of the story is dreamlike and mysterious, all will be revealed in the end. There's a twist concerning the heroine that I don't want to spoil. In both novellas, I would have liked to read more details on, for instance, the evolutionary connection between humans and Hunters (there probably is one, since they can breed together) or the biology of the vampire hero's family heritage.

Two Unusual Paranormal Novellas

The first of these two stories is science fiction rather than supernatural, but that's a minor quibble. Both of them focus on intensely passionate relationships and include intriguing variations on their tropes. THE AMETHYST STAR takes place on a post-apocalyptic Earth with the surviving human remnants under constant attack from the intelligent but utterly merciless Carnivores. The vivid emotional lives of the Hunters contrast effectively with the efficient but sterile culture created by the human rulers to maximize reproduction and preserve the "purity" of the species. Of course the Hunter hero and his human destined mate, a procreative "Queen" living in what amounts to continuous protective custody, will unite with each other, but their struggles in getting to that point grip the reader's attention. In CREATURES OF THE NIGHT, the relationship between the heroine and her vampire lover isn't quite like any treatment of vampires and her kind that I've seen before. Although the atmosphere of most of the story is dreamlike and mysterious, all will be revealed in the end. There's a twist concerning the heroine that I don't want to spoil. In both novellas, I would have liked to read more details on, for instance, the evolutionary connection between humans and Hunters (there probably is one, since they can breed together) or the biology of the vampire hero's family heritage.

My bookshelves groan when they see me approach with a new craft book. I have so many that I hesitate to buy one in the bookstore for fear that I actually own a copy and it's just hidden behind a mountain of other books. I was given the opportunity to review Karen S. Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE and I think I can probably unburden my bookshelves.

Wiesner's book is good with a solid and doable process. And, honestly, the book reads like a friend who is telling you how to write your draft, a good friend, not one who will leave you in the lurch. I took the challenge of trying to write a first draft in 30 days following her method.

What makes FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE so essential is that even when Wiesner is explaining the basics of structure, you can't help but learn something. With each element that she explains, she illustrates it with excerpts from fiction you've probably read or, if you haven't, it's been on your list to read. Also, even if you are doing some of what Wiesner suggests, such as keeping a project folder, Wiesner illustrated how to organize your system so that it works for—not against—you and your book.

Wiesner's days are grouped into six crucial areas, so chapter three, for example, includes days 7 to 13, when she suggests you research your idea. By day 30, you are revising the formatted outline that provides your novel with its solid frame helping you to, as Wiesner writes, 'lay out the full course of the story as it flows from beginning to end.' She recommends using this full outline to set the stage for your second draft. This outline keeps your plot more focused and helps to avoid any pitfalls.

What worked for me with Wiesner's approach is that she gives you the steps—even providing the worksheets and schedules in her appendices—and encouragement for setting writing goals. Both are incredible for getting started on a novel or even with revising a novel. Even if you aren't sure that you want to follow an outline method, such as Wiesner proposes, FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE gave me some insight I needed about writing fiction.

In fact, I found myself making notes on how to revise a work-in-progress while drafting another manuscript! A WOW! Colleague told me she hoped Wiesner's book got my pen really moving.

It did and much more. It's not surprising; Wiesner is an accomplished author--talk about prolific! In a couple weeks, I'll review Wiesner's COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. I can't wait!

Last month we reviewed Karen S. Wiesner’s COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. This book, FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE, is actually an earlier book and the focus is on helping you to create a system of creating an outline so detailed and complete that it is actually your first draft. The beauty is that Wiesner can teach you how to do this in just 30 days.

With this book, she hopes to save authors time and the heartache of having to toss out draft after draft of unfinished, not-quite-adequate fiction works. This book includes several worksheets and an enormous amount of information and instruction. She also offers examples, which I always find useful in the how-to books I study.

If you write novels or are thinking about writing one, consider purchasing both FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE and COHESIVE STORY BUIILDING. I’m writing a series of mysteries and I’m using both of these books in the process. Thank you, Karen.

FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE gives a well-detailed, practical system of how to write a novel in a month. It can be personalized to work for anyone. Attempting to write a novel in thirty days is a tremendous undertaking.

Award-winning author Karen Wiesner insists that anyone can do this by using her system. In this book, she reveals how she keeps ahead of her writing deadlines and continues to write prolifically. For a writer looking for a method to write a novel quickly, this book is one to consider.

It's an essential tool for succeeding at NanoWrimo. Even if it is not used strictly on a thirty-day schedule, the method, charts, and forms will benefit writers looking for a way to write a novel in an organized manner. For more support on the second half of the process, Karen wrote COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. This book goes even deeper into her method and shows the writer how to turn the formatted outline into a well-written manuscript.

At this letter's writing, I have completed the third draft to a book I had been working on for years. The plot was very complex and I didn't have the tools to put it together. I came across FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE in my desperate search for an outlining system.

Up to then I worked with very little structure, believing that it would stymie my creativity. I wrote a book before on this principal and, all told, it took me years and dozens and dozens of rewrites to finally get the book in shape. Needless to say I didn't sell a million copies as so many fresh writers are prone to think.

I could only afford to promote it locally, but when venues to do this ran out I was faced with two dilemmas: come up with more money to promote it and writing another book. Then reality set in--it had taken six years to write that book! You can't make any money writing at that rate.

Let's face it, everyone wants to be Stephen King or J.K Rowling, or Grisham or Sheldon but most of us aren't. But with a system like Mrs. Wiesner's it is possible to be more productive and that's what I was looking for, got, and all I expect from it. The key here is PRODUCTIVITY.

By the way, when I got her system it took a while to clean up my WIP because of how messy it was. But her system enabled me to see all that I had done wrong. My book had guts and a soul, but it was just too fat and we started there, trimming it down and laying everything out on the table.

We took out all the defective parts and fixed the ones that were absolutely essential, built a skeleton and slowly put them back in. Now it wasn't easy by a long-shot but after a while I could see how this baby, the one I'd been feeding and carrying for so many years would look like. When I finished it I allowed it to sit, as Wiesner recommended, and started another Idea, this time using her system from scratch.

I couldn't believe it. I finished this Idea completely, from brainstorming, through research, preliminary and finally, the formatted outline in FOUR WEEKS! Two weeks following this I went back to my previous project and as suggested in her book, looked it over again and the perspective of six weeks away showed me even more than I saw when I left it.

The moment of truth came and I started writing from her FORMATTED OUTLINE format. It was baby steps at first but soon I discovered that this system of ORGANIZATION didn't stymie creativity, in fact I felt liberated. Free from worrying about what to say or how to describe scenes, point-of-views, all those little things that can obscure the real truth of the story itself.

Really it was like fitting puzzle pieces together, each scene locking perfectly and tightly with the next. I couldn't believe it; my wife couldn't believe it. Things in my life had gone from being impossible to 'here and now'.

My biggest regret in life is that I didn't come across this system sooner. There are some good books on writing out there, from THE FICTION WRITER'S HANDBOOK by Hallie and Whit Burnett, THE WRITING HABIT by David Huddle and even Stephen King's ON WRITING. FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE is far, far superior in the same way as the computer is over the old IBM typewriters I used in school years ago.

Stephen King's a great writer, some would argue a genius, but try to write as he suggested in his book and you'll find yourself rewriting every draft and ultimately discouraged altogether. ON WRITING is a great book with a lot of invaluable insight and info but if you want to survive in this game and write more than one book every ten years and write something you can be proud of, get Mrs. Wiesner's system.

I’ve always been very suspicious of books or computer programs that offer up a system for writing. The methodologies proposed often claim to have nailed the perfect story structure, or character arc, and guarantee success if the writer sticks to the process described. Admittedly, a lot of these formulaic methodologies are aimed at people trying to write the next Hollywood blockbuster, but I’ve got an innate distrust of any process that claims to reduce the infinite variety of the novel down to a set of archetypes.

So it was with some suspicion that I came across Karen Wiesner’s FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE. I was faced with a significant rewrite and scratching my head about how to start. I’d always been a pantser, rather than a planner.

I’d have a strong opening, a rough idea of where it was all going, and I’d start writing, hoping that like a walk in the fog, the vague shapes ahead would resolve themselves as I made my way along the path. Then I saw that The Guardian newspaper was running a series called How to Write a Book in 30 Days, as part of NaNoWriMo 2012. So I thought what the heck and decided to give it a go.

It turned out that the article was exaggerating a bit. It was based on Karen Wiesner’s FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE, and at the end of it you would have a fully-defined outline with all the plot, characters, research and background in place, ready to fill up with the actual words, rather than a finished book. I quickly found that, for me, the approach she was advocating actually worked and I’m now a committed planner following a bastardised/simplified version of the Wiesner method, despite years of standing in the corner and laughing cynically whenever someone ran into the room waving the next copy of ‘Desmond Throckle’s Epic Story Crafter 2.0′.

So why am I hooked? To begin with Wiesner doesn’t really advocate a structural methodology–there’s none of this ‘Make sure your Contagonist enhances his feeling of Becoming before the Option Lock’ bollocks. The only approach she suggests is building a plot on a series of crises, failures and re-alignments, i.e.

Heroine tries something, Heroine Fails, Heroine Thinks of Something Else, Heroine Tries Again, Heroine Fails--rinse and repeat until Heroine Succeeds in the penultimate chapter. You don’t have to follow this–but it gives you a prompt to keep the tension going if you are writing an action thriller or similar. This helped me tick off one of the cast iron rules of fiction, that there must be clarity and pace at all times.

Essentially my version of Wiesner’s approach is as follows: 1) Sort out your characters 2) Sort out your locations 3) Decide your main plot 4) Toss in half a dozen subplots (including the romantic tension one) 5) Do your research/world building 6) Write a short outline 7) Rewrite the outline, each time expanding it to encompass plots and subplots, until you’ve turned your outline into a stack of ‘scenes’. And that, more or less, is it. It’s actually very simple, but if you stick to this approach you end with your story laid out in synopsis form, with all the plot wrinkles and character interactions sorted out before you start to write the actual words.

As Wiesner points out, if you find out something is not working and you only have a synopsis to change it’s a lot easier and less traumatic than having to go back and rewrite massive portions of the actual novel itself. The beauty of it is that the stress and chances of writer’s block are hugely reduced. If I get stuck on a scene I can skip it and write one further down the list, knowing that because the story is already worked out I’m unlikely to bugger up the continuity or development. I can highly recommend her planning methodology.

Karen Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE is an excellent approach to helping writers jumpstart their projects. It's well-written and personable--never boring. Most importantly, this straight forward, step-by-step approach succeeds in motivating writers to delve into writing their novels with a cohesive system that takes into account each writer's unique voice.

This is not just some boring how-to book. Instead, Karen's book manages to excite writers by showing them they actually can do this! It guides writers through important facets that lay the groundwork for their novels.

From the initial brainstorming and sketching out of a story's characters and plots, the writer begins to see the overall structure of their novel suddenly start to take shape. Additional chapters focus on research and the creation of the outline that then becomes the infrastructure for the novel. Karen then guides writers through each specific stage of their novel's beginning, middle, and end storyline arcs.

She provides an intelligent approach to setting reasonable goals that can actually be met. FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE just what it says. It's an inspiring and motivating resource that will exceed the expectations of most writers who may be intimidated at the process or have stalled in their writing projects.

Novels are daunting, complicated, intimidating projects. FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE is a smart, sharp, tight step-by-step guide to outlining and wrapping our arms around the process. The guides, examples and worksheets give a writer no excuse to feel lost since Karen S. Wiesner holds your hand and leads you into the fear and out the other side with a solid first draft in hand. Remarkably sound textbook on how to get a novel out of your head and onto paper.

FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE by Karen S. Wiesner. Knowing nothing about the book except the summary on Amazon, I expected a book much in the same vein as Chris Baty's book. What a surprise upon reading Ms. Wiesner's book to find it was nothing at all like I was expecting, and a pleasant surprise at that. What I thought I was going to be reading would be an upbeat attempt to guide a budding writer into creating a plot from an idea and following a complete story arc--in a month. It's not really what I need, and it's not what Wiesner had to offer.

The 'first draft' referred to in the title of the book is not what I think of as a draft at all, but is instead a very thorough formatted outline, that while being created ends up generating a lot of documents to support the story. Wiesner's book turned out to be about workflow and creating a set of habits that will allow a writer to get from an idea in her head to a book in a very short amount of time.

Ms. Wiesner is a published author, though I've never read any of her books. But, the fact that she is an author is important in how she wrote this book. This was not an intellectual proposal for how someone should write a book, based upon potentially outlandish notions of the importance, and thus how long should be spent, various parts of the story. It's written matter-of-factly, with a 'this is what I do' attitude, that upon completion of the book makes it seem completely reasonable and more importantly something I am capable of doing.

Each of the chapters of the book is straight-forward--a boon in this type of book. We're given an introductory thought, an outline of the goal for specific days in the process, and then explanations of each part with examples from famous modern fiction, almost none of it her books, though apparently she has written quite a few. I take this for modesty as much as for the fact that this process is not terribly hard to reverse engineer for already written books, that were not only good enough to be published, but good enough to be famous--I may not have read half of them, but I had heard of all them.

Wiesner starts you off knowing that there are six parts to her program. It all sounds very rational and dare I say, doable. I quite liked how straight-forward and unmystical her writing was. I felt FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE was one writer talking to another, albeit an experienced, successful writer talking to someone yet to attain those goals. It's funny how sometimes in life you end up getting exactly what you need by accident. Just as I am getting ready to write a comprehensive outline for a writing project, I read a book that tells me how to do this.

I was fortunate to get to review Karen Wiesner's FIRST DRAFT OULINE before diving into COHESIVE STORY BUILDING. In this book on crafting a novel, Wiesner continues to carefully lead you through different layers of the process of writing—and finishing—a novel. Peeling back the layers, Wiesner helps you to set the stage for building a strong and cohesive story.

As she does in FIRST DRAFT OUTLINE, she provides real-life examples from drafts and published novels. Wiesner puts together a blueprint to follow that starts with setting forth and laying a strong foundation. She encourages brainstorming and then researching. Along the way, Wiesner gives writers the tools to understand how to write their stories. Her appendices include a glossary that helps to explain some of the elements of fiction writing. Wiesner also gives writers the easy-to-follow checklists and exercises to keep on track.

After laying the solid foundation, Wiesner spends two parts putting up the walls of your story. She helps to guide writers through evaluating their own stories, which is essential if you are going to make the story work. Then, thinking in layers, Wiesner suggests how to improve on the foundation and walls of your story. In the third part, Wiesner helps guide writers in the revision process—giving ideas on how to involve critique groups or partners—through to the final polishing. Want to sell the novel? Then Wiesner helps you put your proposal together. (I'm not there quite yet!)

Wiesner's style is approachable and friendly. Her advice seems to be vested in you developing the best novel you can. Her examples are contemporary and work to help demonstrate the concepts she's exploring. Her precision focus and guidance should easily help you get from your first draft to a completed novel. Her preparations helped me to look at my work more objectively. She's the writers' coach you wished lived next door to you.

Finally, a book that isn't just theory when it comes to writing a novel. Karen S. Wiesner takes your first draft and shows you how to mold it into a novel, to include query and synopsis stages. Half the book consists of an abundance of checklists, exercises and worksheets, making this book a hard-core practical, useful tool for the novelist.

COHESIVE STORY BUILDING is the best hands-on, common sense guidebook to getting a novel into the world that I've seen in years. No fluff...just how to make it happen.

COHESIVE STORY BUILDING by Karen Wiesner uses an interesting analogy for creating your novel. The idea of looking at your novel as building a house is different than anything I’ve read and a unique approach for the writer who likes a strict format. Ms. Wiesner’s approach is refreshing.

Each section is considered one layer of the process with four stages. There are lots of good ideas that can be used by anyone at any time during writing. There are also several appendices containing worksheets, exercises and examples of how to use everything.

I found her examples showing how other authors’ novels could be broken down in this format. Overall, a very helpful tool for a writer to have on their bookshelf or their e-reader.

Great for a first time writer. I have listened to webinars and bought books to be able to be sure I was doing things right. I wished I could get my time and money back and use just this one book.

A must have for the up and comers!

I am repurchasing... I bought this many many years ago when I was visiting WVU with my best friend because I had such a strong passion for writing. This book really takes you in depth and helps you to really map out each aspect of your story to make it the best possible version. Unfortunately somewhere in between my moves, I lost the original version when it was just “From First Draft to Finished Novel.” This book is worth every penny if you’re interested in making your stories the best.

Great for a first time writer. I have listened to webnars and bought books to be able to be sure I was doing things right. I wished I could get my time and money back and use just this one book

Psychological thriller to keep you reading on. One serial killer would make an interesting read, but two, and from the opposite sides of the world. Fascinating scenario with a doctor on a mad mission, from Australia, and a rejected lover in the USA. Intriguing from beginning to end.

Too violent and disturbing

Gruesome and Compelling - Highly recommended

Max Overton's graphic paranormal thriller, A Cry of Shadows, is one of those books that I loved, and was compelled to obsessively read late into the night, and devoured every word all the way to the last page, but at the same time I was sickened by it, as I am with any well-written violent thriller I read.

The queasiness I felt derived from the graphic nature of the multiple murders, each of which are presented in gruesome detail. I also found myself cringing at the insightful looks Overton gives his reader into the twisted minds of the book's two different killers--one driven by violent passions and the other by an ego that rationalizes murder as a disagreeable necessity. The reader gets to know these two villains better than any other characters in the story, and the author handles the changes in perspective flawlessly. This is quite a feat because one minute the reader is suffering in the perspective of a murder victim as she is killed, and the next minute we are riding away with the killer in his Camero, and the next minute we are in Australia visiting with the mad scientist again. I usually don't like books that shift perspective so quickly but this one I did. The author is clearly a master of his craft.

Overton's hero, an emotionally damaged and aging Illinois cop who likes driving fast in his Mini-Cooper, is suitably nuanced and intelligent for a lead detective in a police novel like this. We don't get to know Barnes as well as we do the novel's bad guys, but Barnes is likable enough and does his job well in spite of the usual bureaucratic pressures that weigh against him. Overton has certainly done his research into police procedures and forensics. His descriptive strengths and excellent research make this book even more realistic and enjoyable for those interested in police procedurals.

For those readers who just like a good story well told, you won't go wrong either with A Cry of Shadows. The book left me awed at the author's formidable powers of description and his ability to weave a straightforward, compelling narrative out of such a varied mix of completely different characters. I found myself as completely absorbed in one villain's world of Australian academia as I was in the other killer's job at Walmart. In the non-violent parts, I found myself often smiling at Overton's creative turns of phrase. My favorite was: "Is there any water, Bill? My throat feels like the bottom of a bird cage."

A fully enjoyable thriller for those who don't mind (or are interested in) real gritty violence, who enjoy scientifically-realistic paranormal plots, and who appreciate excellent writing. Highly recommended.

a strange and rare gem lost in the mine

This a good read and should not be neglected or overlooked. There are shades and echos of the movie Avatar (2009) in this tale well told on an intriguing premise. Faithful lines to expectation follow through, true, but then just when you think you've figured out the form of it all, it breaks off into another facet. There are a few rough edges here and there (an editor's eye would pick them out) but there are some good deliberations and musings (yes, there you go) on the nature of information, knowledge, and wisdom tied up into the hidden forces of human longing for relationship and meaning. Wondering if there is a sequel yet?

Fictional account about how real police investigate murder

I enjoyed this book because it showed me how real police might handle a mass murder investigation. Though fictional, I'm sure there are many truisms explained about what a homicide detective might really do to solve murders. An excellent read.

... third book in the series and it was another great read. I was not disappointed

This is the third book in the series and it was another great read. I was not disappointed! When is the next book coming out John?

Five Stars

Absolutely enjoyed this book...highly recommend it.

Always a bit more......

Very interesting book to read. Once I started reading the book it was hard to put down. I highly recommend this book.

Looking forward to another book by author.

AN EXCELLENT SUSPENSE THRILLER

This is a book that grabs you immediately and does not let you go until the last page. The author, John Schembra, writes his main character, Vince Torelli, with such skill and confidence that you truly care about him and worry for his well-being. Well written and exciting throughout, I guarantee you will have a hard time putting this suspense thriller down once you start reading it. This book will keep you up past your bedtime. I say to John Schembra, more Vince Torelli please. I am hooked.

San Francisco PD's Finest

In book three of his Vince Torelli police procedural series John Schembra once again presents a compelling blend of police work and action. Torelli is a dedicated San Francisco PD detective and this time ends up being the target of a vendetta. Schembra, a retired cop himself, knows the ins and outs of police work and is able to imbue a sense of realism into the narrative while keeping you turning the pages. You can’t lose with a Vince Torelli novel.

Suspenseful

Aldon Jackson, the leader of a criminal Tennessee family, holds San Francisco homicide investigator Vince Torelli responsible for his brother’s death in a police shoot-out. Determined to extract revenge, Jackson plays a cat and mouse game with Torelli, determined to ultimately murder him, and thus settle the perceived blood debt. The reader is kept wondering what will happen next, as the two men chase each other. If you like page turners, read this book. You’ll be turning the pages (or swiping your Kindle)!

Great Cop Story

If you like great cop stories, Blood Debt is right up your alley. Drawing on his two-year stint as a Military Policeman in Vietnam, and his nearly 30 years as a California cop, retiring as a sergeant, John Schembra takes you on a roller coaster ride through the streets of San Francisco, and the hills of Tennessee. Inspector Vince Torelli, protagonist of three novels is investigating a homicide, Jimmy Lee Jackson, the perp, is killed during a raid on his apartment. His brother, Aldon returns to Tennessee with Jimmy's body and vows a blood debt against Torelli. A life for a life. After returning to SF and killing a couple of cops, Aldon returns to Tennessee, followed by Vince. Aldon Jackson goes to ground, and Vince has to find him to bring him back to San Francisco to pay for his crimes. In a confrontation on the mountain, Aldon disappears and Vince heads home, but to Aldon, the blood debt must be paid, and he heads back to the west coast.

A very knowledgeable killer uses the tunnels under San Fransico to elude the police hunting. Excellent story.

This was a fascinating and informative read, set in the San Francisco area and highlighting the system of tunnels that once existed beneath the city, and which are now largely obliterated. The murder victims in this mystery have been posed in various tunnels to which the police have been directed. The murderer is challenging SFPD's chief detective, Vince Torelli, to find him; his victims are those who taunted him years back when they were all in school. Who's going to win?

a page turner

This was a fascinating and informative read, set in the San Francisco area and highlighting the system of tunnels that once existed beneath the city, and which are now largely obliterated. The murder victims in this mystery have been posed in various tunnels to which the police have been directed. The murderer is challenging SFPD's chief detective, Vince Torelli, to find him; his victims are those who taunted him years back when they were all in school. Who's going to win?

Twists and Turns Highlight This Excellent Police Procedural

I really liked this realistic portrayal of a serial murder investigation. I'm sure the author properly described how police work because he was a police officer before his retirement. The story itself is interesting, and you might even feel sorry for the ruthless killer because childhood bullying apparently changed his life enough for him to become violent and an outcast from society, a loner.

The cat and mouse game played between the police and the killer has plenty of twists and turns. How it plays out sort of reminds me of a chess game. This is definitely a must-read. You won't be disappointed, and there isn't a dull moment when you dive into this novel. Schembra's writing is excellent.

A Cop Book Written By A Cop

I once heard that the best cop books are written by cops, and John Schembra certainly proves that to be true with his fourth Vince Torelli mystery, The List. Vince Torelli, once a military policeman in Vietnam, like his creator, John, becomes a San Francisco policeman and ultimately a detective. In The List, he is chasing down a perp whose goal is to murder all the people who taunted him verbally and physically in grade school. He also wants to let the great Vince Torelli what he is doing to prove that he is the smarter man. John Schembra's knowledge of police procedures comes from being a 30-year police officer, retiring as a sergeant. As the chase continues, Torelli must figure out the clues John Bruber leaves, to keep him from killing again. The author whets the readers appetite with each Torelli novel, beginning with the first book, MP. I had the pleasure of serving with Mr. Schembra in Vietnam, and I am not only a friend, but I am also a huge fan of his work.

Fantastic

Another fantastic Vince Torelli Mystery. This time the reader is taken to the complex network of tunnels underneath San Francisco, as Vince chases down a creepy, sadistic killer. Unfortunately for Vince, the killer is smart and stays one step ahead of Torelli while teasing him with notes he leaves behind. If you like a good mystery and suspense novel, you’ll love this.

Five Stars!

This book is FANTASTIC! My son received “The List” as a gift and we read it out loud together. It’s extremely well written with authentic characters and accurate descriptions of places we know in and around San Francisco. Reading it is like being there alongside the homicide inspector, Vince Torelli, as he deciphers clues toward resolution of his investigation. Additionally, it advances one's understanding of the hard work and dedication it takes to make our American Justice System work in the “real” world.

“The List” is an excellent read propelling us to seek more by John Schembra. We’re already reading and enjoying another of his books “Retribution”.

Great Read!!

Another stellar book by John Schembra.. The List....Love the series following Vince Torelli...Can't wait until his next book...A must read....highly recommend!

“

I freely chose to review this series and fell in love with the town and the people. I liked that Dr. Melina Rose decided to give up her sex therapist practice in New York to return to the last place she expected to return after she left seventeen years ago and severed ties with her dad except to yearly send a Christmas card. The series continues when her older sister seeks revenge for stealing her one time boyfriend, Scott Romero even though he dumped her and left town for a football career, but finally love comes to Lona, Melina's older sister when Reece Childs returns home and Lona realizes that her crush on him could start to bloom into something heavy and hot when she repented for for revenge on her little sister, and the book wraps up when single mom, Sheila Mason returns home with her son after a dreadful marriage and finds the flames never went out on the man she she should have married.
Readers should love some of these novellas and eagerly await book two!

Hotcha, Amazon ”

I freely chose to review this book as I can't get enough of the series! TIL SUMMER COMES AROUND, Book 5 of the Adventures in Amethyst Series, tells Quinn and Summer's story. I liked that Quinn would wait until Summer kept her promise to return to him even though it took four years, a devastating loss, the betrayal of her friend Apple, and the shocking dismissal of her marriage to Apple's brother.

Once Summer is cleared of the crime, her boss tells her to take time off to clear her head so she can take the New York bar exam to become a lawyer and fulfill her dream. Summer heads back to Amethyst, Wisconsin to keep her promise to Quinn but, not knowing what to expect, she's shocked he waited so long for her. She realizes she’s always loved him and, even though she has a dark secret about why she never called or returned to him, she feels she wasn't good enough to deserve Quinn's love.

Have you ever wanted to smack the taste out of someone's mouth? Well, I did as I wanted to pounce on Reece and Angelina, and maybe a little, lighter smack Lona for being so stupid to hide her illness from the man she loves! Now you know a book is good when you start yelling at people who don't exist. I can't wait to read the next book!

Wiesner has done a terrific job in showing all sides in this emotional rollercoaster ride of a story. All the characters are well developed and realistic. I felt my heart overflow with happiness and break with sorrow. Highly recommended.

I freely chose to review this book as I wanted to see what happens next. Have you ever wanted to smack the taste out of someone's mouth? Well, I did as I wanted to pounce on Reece and Angelina, and maybe a little lighter smack on Lona for being so stupid to hide her illness from the man she loves! Now you know a book is a good one when you start yelling at people who don't exist and I can't wait to read the next book!

Adventures in Amethyst #6

What do you do when you love a reformed bad boy and one of his past mistakes comes knocking on your door a few hours before you are due to marry him? That is Lona’s problem. Everyone, including his mother, believes Lona Rose and Reece Childs got married a few years ago in Vegas. They have a two year old daughter, Honey. As they prepare to leave for the court house to make their marriage legitimate, Reece’s mother calls to say that some a lady is at her house with a three year old boy and claims Reece is the father.

Lona always knew that Reece’s past was bad. Like his late father, Reece had been a truck driver and the list of women he had been with was long. Angelina Batista had been his “port” woman in Chicago. Her son, Remy, is definitely Reece’s too. However, Reece gave up truck driving and all the women to settle down in Amethyst, Wisconsin, with Lona. Angelina is one of the worst mothers in the world. Angelina wants one hundred thousand dollars to hand Remy over to him. Otherwise she will leave with the boy and toss him away like garbage.

Reece intends to find the money somewhere and raise Remy. The boy has obviously been neglected and abused his entire life. But Lona is having trouble accepting the idea of raising another woman’s son.

***** FOUR AND A HALF STARS! Readers will love to hate the character of Angelina. She is as gorgeous on the outside as she is ugly on the inside. Yet Lona is beautiful inside and out. I could not help but sympathize with Lona, yet as a mother, I had a little trouble accepting her hesitation about Remy – especially since the boy was so malnourished and innocent of everything.

Wiesner has done a terrific job in showing all sides in this emotional rollercoaster ride of a story. All the characters are well developed and pretty realistic. I felt my heart overflow with happiness and break with sorrow. Highly recommended. *****

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I loved Briar and Roman's story. After years of waiting, I liked that Briar finally could think about herself now that her parents were deceased, and at the age of forty-seven this virgin wanted a baby as her biological clock was ticking! With few choices when it came to men in her tiny town, her only hope was to convince Roman that she wanted his baby.

I liked that Roman was an old-fashioned man who stood by his morals of right and wrong, even though he was a widower with a teenaged daughter he wanted to set a good example for. How can he convince Briar that she’d always been his first choice?

Thank goodness this author believes in happily-ever-afters.
FIVE STARS! Have tissues in hand because there is a lot of soul-searching and crying in this hard-core story that deals with drugs, alcohol, neglect, and betrayals. There are a few other things from Apple’s past coming back to haunt her that I do not mention. They add a bit more drama to the story. If you can put yourself in Apple’s shoes and honest feel her regret, you will tear up several times as the story flows around you.
Apple’s family and Bay’s family are polar opposites. Where Apple’s parents only used her, Bay’s family is close-knit, though temporarily in a sibling fight. When Bailey’s family gets together, you can feel the warmth and comradery.

Wiesner writes in a sneaky way. The emotions flowed through me with no waring, leaving me at the mercy of her imagination. Thank goodness she believes in happily-ever-afters.

“BLAME IT ON THE RAIN, Book 10 of the Adventures in Amethyst Series, is Tally Johnson’s story. With a very large family, she’s a lifer in the small resort town of Amethyst, WI. Tally has a long distance love affair with Adam Schaefer, an airline pilot who can only be there for a day or two before he has to return to his job.

His absence leaves her lonely, missing him, and wondering if their love is really meant to be. She waited patiently for years, watching every other couple get married and start a family. Often, she goes to best friend, Donnie, who will do anything for her.

Whenever Tally says she needs him, Donnie Garner drops everything for her. Tally is his best friend and he'd do anything to make her happy. BLAME IT ON THE RAIN is a feel-good story that left me wanting more and needing to know what happens next in Amethyst.”

In NEVER A BRIDE, Charlize Seagrave came from an anything-but-happy upbringing. The one bright spot had been her grandmother, who just died. In retrospect, she regrets that she didn’t cherish the little love she’d been given the way she should have.

It was easy to feel sympathy for Charlize and the poor choices she made when she was younger. Ben Johnson is a caring, sensitive man--nothing like Charlize’s psychotic ex-. Being that kind of person, he goes above and beyond with his selfish ex-girlfriend even when maybe he should have given up long ago.

Charlize and Ben both deserved happiness, and it was exciting to see the path they took toward each other and a happily-ever-after neither actually expected. I look forward to the next in the series.

In UNLUCKY IN LOVE, Tally (the heroine in BLAME IT ON THE RAIN, Book 10) remained a good friend despite that Layla did her brother Benji (hero in NEVER A BRIDE, Book 11) wrong in the past. Layla started out believing she was the catch of the county, determined to reclaim the man she wanted to be the one for her. Facing that it was too late might have been the hardest thing she’s ever done except that right now she needs to learn how to put aside her own selfishness and figure out what matters in life.

In Book 10, Adam was anything but a hero, but, in Book 12, he’s been through a lot and come out the other side, painfully aware of his unforgivable mistakes in the past. He’s no longer the same jerk who loved Tally and cheated on her as if that wasn’t a conflict. In the process of changing his ways, his feelings have also taken a 180.

Returning to the place where his bad deeds blew up in his face is an eye-opener as nothing else could be. In this tale of redemption, two former villains discover that the road to recovery is a long, life-altering one, just as ever finding happiness…and love…again will be.

Layla and Adam both rush back to Amethyst, determined to break up the new love interests their former girlfriend/boyfriend have. Instead, the author, in her devious way, pushes Layla and Adam together by making the weather extremely wintery and ensuring that there is only one cabin for rent in the area, so they must share it. The pair do a lot of talking, comparing, and soul searching.

I enjoyed watching them bond, realize and accept their faults, and commit to some changes. Worth your time and money.

Not the author's best work, but well worth your time and money to read.

Layla Dupriest has been stringing Ben Johnson along for a long time. She was always trying to change him, mold him into her idea of the perfect man. She had told Ben that they were over, but kept telling his sister, Tally, that they were not. Layla had no real idea what she wanted, but was positive that Ben would wait forever, if need be, for her to figure it out. When Layla finally accepts the fact that Ben is finished with being led by the nose, she rushes back to Amethyst to convince him that she was ready to commit to him. The problem is, Ben has already married someone else.

Adam Schaefer is a burned-out pilot. He has had a long-distance relationship with Tally for years. He cheated on her from the beginning but expected her to be faithful. But now that Adam has decided to settle down, it may be too late. Tally has wed his cousin, Donnie, and she is pregnant. But is Donnie the father, or is he?

*** THREE STARS! Layla and Adam are guilty of (basically) the same thing. They expect the person that they were in a relationship with to forgive anything and wait forever. Both rushes back to Amethyst, determined to break up whatever new love interest their former girlfriend/boyfriend had.

The author, in her devious way, pushes Layla and Adam together by making the weather extremely wintery and ensuring that there is only one cabin for rent in the area, so they must share it. The paid do a lot of talking, comparing, and soul searching.

I never came to care for either Layla or Adam; however, I did enjoy watching them bond, realize and accept their faults, and commit to some changes. This story must have been difficult to write, considering that the pair are both "the bad guys". This is not the author's best work, but it is still worth your time and money. ***

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Fantastic! Readers will instantly connect to Eden.
Trevor and Eden Johnson have been married for twenty years. They originally wed because Eden thought she was pregnant. Back then, while Trevor was in an exclusive relationship with Eden, he always lost all common sense and reason whenever the seductive Delaney Foster came around. He ended up cheating on Eden with Delaney.
Now, even though it has been over twenty years, Delaney has temporarily returned to Amethyst and is determined to seduce Trevor again. Trevor's reaction to Delaney does not seem to have changed either. Trevor's entire family is behind Eden and are going out of their way to ensure that Trevor does not succumb to temptation and ruin his marriage.

To add to the busy holiday stress, Eden discovers that their oldest son is sexually active, and he may be about to make the same mistake she and Trevor did so long ago.

FIVE STARS! I read "Never a Bride" (book #11), "Unlucky in Love" (book #12), and this novel back-to-back since they seem to be connected. Each story stands alone, so readers do not have to read them all to fully enjoy each. However, if you read all three, I believe you will feel more satisfied.
Of the three, this one is my favorite. The author manages to convey what each character is going through. The emotions really hit home to me. Many readers will feel an instant connection to Eden since she deals with battling her weight and low self-esteem. All of us have felt that way at some time or another in our lives. The author even shows how the actions of adults can affect the children.

This is a wonderful tale of love, uncertainty, remorse, and people striving to do better. Fantastic!

A Must-read for People Who Love Paranormal Romances!

All her life, Deborah has known she and her older sister have extraordinary psi powers. When their mother dies suddenly, Deborah learns she's meant to use her gift against the forces of darkness in some unique way. How, she doesn't have a clue, but she wants no part of this alleged fate. Yet, with evil forces stalking her, can she avoid the battle ahead?

Years ago, I read Margaret L. Carter’s From the Dark Places and loved it. I remembered hoping that she would write a sequel. This she did, titled Against the Dark Devourer. I opened my Kindle to read while on a bus trip and couldn't put it down until I finished. The suspense kept me flipping the screen.

Carter uses words sparingly, and when she does, she notches up the suspense. She draws the reader into the tale on page one. The story opens with the evil “Uncle Hugh” making plans to open the gates between our world and another dimension, allowing demons to enter and feed upon humans. Deborah has been gifted with strong psychic powers, and Hugh uses his protégé, Victor, to get to her. The careful way Carter draws the arc of Victor, Deborah, and Sarah impressed me. Deborah started out being rebellious against the rules of her mother and sister. But as the story progressed, she gains her agency, and little by little, by the time she confronts the dark devourer, I believe she has the strength and guts to fight. Likewise, Sara and Victor change and evolve.

This book will be understandable to readers since it centers around Victor and Deborah. However, if they want to know more about the mother and history of their psychic powers, they would enjoy reading From the Dark Places.

If you enjoy paranormal romances, you’ll love Against the Dark Devourer. I strongly recommend this book.

Great space opera

This is a great example of space opera that is deeper than most space operas. Niall is a fascinating character who has reason to spend time thinking about the ways people govern themselves and how so many revolutions end up eating their young. At 2 am and feeling grouchy, I did need to keep reminding myself this is Hollywood/space opera astrophysics and how my mother would tell me to stop overthinking and just watch the show. So, don't read this for the science. Read it for the action, the romance, and the sociological analysis. The book is not literary, which is my preference. Most other readers will be relieved at the quick and clean prose. I used to give five stars only to books that were not only excellent, but also literary. I now realize I need to evaluate books for what they are, not necessarily for what I want them to be. As space opera, the book is great.

Great Characters and Action

A satisfiying conclusion to the adventures of Niall Encardi and his friends - each of whom were falsely accused of collaboration with the rebel government (in each of its incarnations). The Truce: Nova Vendetta Part 2 sees Niall 'aka Captain Skaar' Encardi as the Captain of Nova Vendetta and turning 'pirate'. That is, he is not really a pirate in the old fashioned sense - he and his small fleet, set about protecting the outer colonies from rogue military ships, successive governments and anyone else bent on stealing from the ordinary guy. Michelle Levigne has written a nicely paced novel set in a future that has become increasingly unpredicatable and dangerous for the outer colonies of the Central Allied Worlds and humans who have genetic mutations. The novel has some good characters and a nice amount of action. Overall, it is a good read and I'm looking forward to reading the other books written by the author and set in the Commonwealth Universe.

I'm not even sure how I stumbled on this book- wait, it's a VOLUME 8??? Oy, I need to backtrack....

Awesome read that surprised me. Too many times I pick something up on Kindle that have sub-standard writing and plot. This one was actually pretty good and makes me want to hunt down more in the series. And perhaps, you know, read them in order.

The world here is somewhat reminiscent (to me at least) of Anne McCaffrey's Pern. I like how time is spent in developing the main character and building him into a man worth knowing. The storyline is a bit more complex than "Evil Empire" and certainly offers enough meaty politics to make the whole thing realistic.

Complicated...Intense....Definitely good. Can't wait to read more.

Ze book was fire <3

Bought this book and got it signed at a local spring fest by the big man author himself, and I got to reading it like literally after I walked away- the book was a really fast-paced read. The book was really good, like I NEED to find out what happens next kinda good- even if telling the passing of time was a little hard for me- and leaving us off with the idea that the demon can and may come back to this story is a lil chilling- :D

I dunno how to write a good review but a review at least is good enough yeah?

page turner

This book was a gift. This novel is an interesting take on the case of demonic possession. When a police officer (Kelly) suffers a bullet to his brain in the line of duty, he begins to experience the presence of a voice in his head that he soon realizes is not his own. Wanting to get back to work as soon as possible, he ignores the experience until forced to confront it by a nurse (Maryanne), who is on disability herself for a brain injury secondary to a fall. She visits hospital patients with similar injuries and recognizes certain symptoms in this officer. After convincing Kelly to accept what is happening, the two of them, with the assistance of Kelly's cousin, Jeff, attempt to exorcise the demon. A terrible struggle ensues, and they finally are confident their efforts succeeded. Only later do they realize what a price was paid. A very interesting read!

This novel is an interesting take on the case of demonic possession. When a police officer (Kelly) suffers a bullet to his brain in the line of duty, he begins to experience the presence of a voice in his head that he soon realizes is not his own. Wanting to get back to work as soon as possible, he ignores the experience until forced to confront it by a nurse (Maryanne), who is on disability herself for a brain injury secondary to a fall.

She visits hospital patients with similar injuries and recognizes certain symptoms in this officer. After convincing Kelly to accept what is happening, the two of them, with the assistance of Kelly's cousin, Jeff, attempt to exorcise the demon. A terrible struggle ensues, and they finally are confident their efforts succeeded.

Only later do they realize what a price was paid. A very interesting read!

What a ride

When I received my signed copy of this book, written by my friend and fellow Vietnam veteran, I began reading it as quickly as I could. This is John’s second venture into the paranormal field. His first book, Sun Eater was a great book. Echo is a fast paced read with wonderful characters and an awesome plot. After being shot on the job, San Francisco police officer Bob Kelly become possessed by an evil demon. He fights the spirit along with his cousin m, Jeff, and a previously demonized young woman, Maryanne. Strap in for great thrill ride.

5 STARS

An Echo of Lies is a supernatural thriller packed with suspense and action. Having shared it with my sons we all agree the book helped us to better understand what it would be like to deal with the demons of PTSD and the determined strength it takes to overcome them. Though the story ended well it left us with the feeling the demon is laughing and saying, “I’ll soon be back”. An Echo of Lies is an excellent read and we have already recommended it to others.

Wow

Wow.... very intense and good.

Your imagination and story telling was great.

Thank you for an enjoyable read.

5 Stars! Packs an emotional wallop! I've never seen a writer more adept at capturing the emotional complexities of the human experience.

Her love stories are bold, fearless, and unforgettable. The world of women's fiction is a better place because Wiesner is in it. I loved FALLING STAR. Clear off some space on your keeper shelves.

5 Stars! This is certainly a different type of hero and heroine! I wondered how the author could get together a preacher and a stripper. Well, she succeeded! Rori may have started off her life badly, but she became someone that I proudly cheered on to victory. Brava, Karen Wiesner!

2000 EPIC AWARD Finalist 2000 Frankfurt Award Nominee 5 Hearts and Sweetheart Award Nominee! "I look for anything with Wiesner's name on it. And I was definitely not disappointed. This author has done what she does best: Write a heart-stopping book with a multi-dimensional plot.

Her characters are so complex. I had trouble putting the book down. A great start to what promises to be a fabulous series.

The heroine is far from perfect. She could be any one of us, or someone we know and care about, and that hits close to home. I understood what she felt, what she was going through, and hurt right along with her.

FALLING STAR was a very emotional, very real story. Be prepared to sit a spell. You won't be able to put this down.

FALLING STAR had some of the most complex, wonderful characters I've ever met. The plot Wiesner weaves is based on internal conflict. Personally, I like spice in my stories, but for a book with no actual culminated sex scenes in it, the sexual tension is very high. All in all, FALLING STAR is so well done I can heartily recommend it to all.

Packs an emotional wallop! I've never seen a writer more adept at capturing the emotional complexities of the human experience. Her love stories are bold, fearless, and unforgettable.

The world of women's fiction is a better place because Wiesner is in it. I loved FALLING STAR. Clear off some space on your keeper shelves.

2000 RT Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice Award Nominee, 4 1/2 Stars and Top Pick! "Though spicy, FALLING STAR is tastefully written and the Christianity real. The characters struggles offer hope to those of us who stumble along the path on life's journeys. A gem!

If you enjoy good quality reading with a great ending, wonderful characters who will pull you in and keep the pages turning, this is the book for you. FALLING STAR hit me unexpectedly. The characters were so well written it was hard to not imagine this being something that happened in real life that I was just watching as it unfolded. Wiesner is definitely on my keeper list.

FALLING STAR is a keeper for any bookshelf! When I started this novel, I expected to have trouble identifying with the heroine since she and I have nothing in common. I also thought I might have to work at feeling involved.

Nothing could be further from the truth. From the first page, I was interested and absorbed. I cared about the characters and I cried for them. I recommend this book to any lover of romance, and I won't hesitate to pick up the next Wiesner story I find.

5 Hearts and Sweetheart Award Nominee! Another classic Karen Wiesner. She took some vaguely-connected people from the same hometown and expanded on the series in a fabulous continuation.

You could read this book as a stand-alone, but why would you want to? The characters had multi-faceted personalities that gripped my interest and never lost their pull on my heartstrings. I didn't want to put the book down.

This book had emotional consequences and just expanded my interest in Wiesner. She completes her books so well she is definitely on my must-read list. The secondary characters were introduced to the readers so that I wanted to know them even better.

I couldn't help but love them. I highly recommend this book to everyone. The sensuality was slight and well-written.

This book is complex and, in my opinion, one of her best. Kudos, Karen!

Great Read!

I read the first book in this series some time ago and it stayed with me. So I re-read it and then moved on to this book and I was not disappointed. If anything, I thought this story was just as great if not better than the first one. In this story we see Jace, who made an appearance in the first book. Not only do we get his love story between him and Darlene Foxx, but her brother Brett, who was also in the first book, makes and appearance. I love how fleshed out the characters are in these stories and I've come to love Karen's writing style. I'm so wrapped up in wanting to know more about these characters, that of course I'll have to read the third book now.

Second in the Angelfire Trilogy

Darlene Foxx learned long ago to never rely on anyone. Darlene lives in New York City. She is a floral designer at Cherished Flowers and has been with the store since its beginning. Though she left her hometown years ago, Darlene has still not put her horrible past totally behind her. She has a long list of guys who have walked out on her since then. So, basically, Darlene has created solid walls around her heart and refuses to let anyone in. But there is one man, Jason "Jace" Radcliffe, who always manages to get through her defenses. Darlene and Jace have known each other since childhood. He was her first love. For the past eighteen years Jace would show up at her apartment, stay a few weeks or months, and the moment Darlene let down her defenses he would walk out of her life. But now Darlene's life has changed drastically.

When Jace walked out two years ago, Darlene began dating Todd Roziminski. The moment Darlene informed Todd that she was pregnant, he walked out. He took all her money with him. Now Darlene is almost eight months along in her pregnancy. She has sold all her nice things to get money for the baby. Each day Darlene works long hours, walks home, and crashes in bed from exhaustion. Darlene is not really awake when Jace walks into her apartment and back into her life.

Jace has been in love with Darlene forever, but she never lets him get close. Each time she walls herself away, he leaves. Yet he always ends up returning. After being gone two years this time, Jace has decided to return and never leave Darlene again - no matter how much she hurts his pride. It shocks Jace to find Darlene pregnant, her hair cut short, and with little more than an old couch to her name. Jace knows that Darlene wants to tell him to get out, but he manages to keep her from saying the words out loud. He knows that he deserves her anger. He, like everyone else, left her. But now, even though she would never admit it, Darlene needs help. And whether Darlene likes it or not, Jace is determined to stay this time. He will regain her trust and win back her heart even if it takes forever.

**** FOUR STARS! In this story, both Darlene and Jace have major emotional turmoil. The main trouble between them is Darlene's feelings of being unworthy and her refusal to tell Jace how she feels. I simply could not understand Darlene's stubbornness until she finally told Jace how life with her parents had been. The author clearly shows how vital communication is in a relationship.

Though this is the second title in the Angelfire Series, it is a stand-alone story. You do not have to read any other title to enjoy the tale. If you are searching for a light romance, something perfect to take with you on vacation, then this is it. I loved every minute with Darlene and Jace. ****

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

5 Hearts and Sweetheart Award Nominee! I started this book with unease. I couldn't imagine how the author would capture my attention with a man who'd caused such sorrow in the previous books in the series, but in FOREVER MAN, she did what she does best--captured my attention and forced me to allow her to captivate me.

I couldn't put the story down. Wiesner definitely does not write cookie-cutter stories. This book was my favorite in the series, intense, emotional, and beautifully written.

The secondary characters, as well as outside forces that created the storyline, were effective in telling this dynamic story. The characters were obviously directly opposite in lifestyle and income. They dressed differently, reacted to others differently and yet they managed to grip my heartstrings.

The sexuality was emotionally gripping. I highly recommend this book, in addition to the others in this series. You won't be sorry to have read this book as well as the others.

5 Stars! Wow, this series is so good that I can't wait for the next! I loved that Mikey lost an incredible amount of weight and loved Diane Hoffman from afar.

As he came from a bad childhood, he’d never known what love was and thought he didn't deserve it. Mikey is quite shy and has no idea he’s a hunk, nor does he feel comfortable with attention. I'm glad he ran to the rescue every time Diane called.

I'm encouraged that Diane followed her boyfriend when he started acting suspiciously. She learns that, after ten years of being in with Robert Drake, he’s been living a double life. He’s married and has children; now she’s the OTHER woman!

For ten years, Robert has strung her along. Diane wanted nothing more than to be married and have children of her own. Now that would never happen.

Despite what she now knows he’s married, Robert wants to continue their affair. Diane realizes herself she’s weak-willed around him. Can Mikey help her find her strength?

5 Stars! Rox and Jamie grew up together, sharing a love of music. She fell for him despite that he’d followed in his father’s scoundrel footsteps, cheating on his wife and being unable to abide by anything that required a commitment from him.

Jamie genuinely loved Rox, despite his initial panic and stupidity when she tried to get him to admit it. How far he was willing to go to prove it to her, especially when she gets the most devastating news a person can get, made for an emotional read that almost broke my heart. Readers will want this couple to get the happily ever after they deserve as much as I did.

5 Stars! Take two broken and scarred people living with dark secrets before they find each other and learned how to trust and fall in love, and you have one hell of a story! Wiesner will make you weep and laugh with this very touching book that will claim your heart.

5 Stars! The only thing my mind will come up to say right now about this story is ‘Wow’. I just finished reading it, and I have such a wonderful sense of satisfaction. Wiesner’s dedication to writing heartwarming stories comes through loud and clear in this gem.

5 Stars! Oh man, do these books keep getting better and better! With each one, I have to remind myself these people aren’t real.

4 Stars! A captivating reading. Wiesner does a super job of making a book that is in a series very readable as a standalone story.

Her characters with all their flaws come alive and reach right in and touch the reader’s heart. As she weaves their backstories in, one’s heart grieves for the hurts they’ve suffered. Wiesner makes PROMISES IN THE DARK a memorable, vicarious experience.

IMMUTABLE is one of the most unique, creative, and captivating stories I have read in a long time. I can't wait for Book 2. The galactic world she has created is so multilayered that I can easily visualize it as series or movie.

The plot has ongoing surprising twists and turns that keep you guessing as reader and startling you with new possibilities. At the heartbeat are the themes and characters struggling with good and evil, love and rejection, broken dreams and hope. Ends, new beginnings, and the unfathomable unknown cloaked in extreme danger. Get ready to leave the earth we know behind and travel into a future expanse beyond our imagination.

Epic Space Adventure with Engaging Characters

This interstellar adventure set in the twenty-second century deals cleverly with the problems of faster-than-light-travel, instantaneous communication, and relativistic time dilation by invoking alien technology gifted to Earth's refugees. We don't need to understand how it works, because the human protagonists don't understand much about it, not being astrophysicists or engineers. Tori is a librarian, and Raze is a diplomat. They're engaging characters, and their relationship as lifelong friends beginning to realize they're in love with each other is believable and relatable. The potential complication of attempted seduction by a brother-sister pair of advanced aliens is worked out in a mature, compassionate way. Tori's lack of self-confidence is believable, too, not at all carried to ridiculous extremes. I love her collection of pets. (But how does she keep a pig, even a miniature one, in her little cabin -- is he litter-box trained?) We encounter various extraterrestrial species with physical and cultural differences that make each unique but not too alien to identify with. Even the villain, whom we meet in the opening scene, has a potentially sympathetic side. This novel drops a hint, probably to be pursued later in the series, implying a reason why all those species follow the basic human body pattern.

The narrative gracefully balances the overarching plot of interstellar warfare and diplomacy with character development and relationships. Some minor points niggled at me, e.g. while Tori may have a sentimental motive for wearing glasses, why does another character also wear such an archaic item, given the stated availability of visual correction surgery? On the whole, though, this novel is highly recommended for fans of futuristic SF with romantic elements. The conclusion leaves plenty of sequel hooks without resort to a frustrating cliffhanger ending.

Totally Invested in these Characters

Immutable was a longer than normal reads for me. So, when I got to the end, I figured I'd take a break and read another. NO WAY. By the next day, I realized I was so invested in these characters I couldn't stop.

Wiesner has a way of drawing the reader into the lives of humans and aliens alike, presenting interesting theories of how much alike we all are in spite of physical and cultural differences. She presents them against a pulse-pounding backdrop of impending war and intergalactic destruction while human and aliens work to bring peace in spite of politics. Immutable hits all the issues peace keepers face.

IMMUTABLE, Book 1: Arrow of Time Chronicles by Karen Wiesner is one of the most unique, creative, and captivating stories I have read in a long time. I can't wait for Book 2. The galactic world she has created is so multilayered that I can easily visualize it as a series or movie.

The plot has ongoing surprising twists and turns that keep you guessing as a reader and startling you with new possibilities. At the heartbeat are the themes and characters struggling with good and evil, love and rejection, broken dreams and hope; ends, new beginnings, and the unfathomable unknown cloaked in extreme danger. Get ready to leave the earth we know behind and travel into a future expanse beyond our imagination.

Karen Wiesner has created an absolutely fascinating future with believable characters, interesting technology and a stunning plot. I can't even begin to imagine how much time it took to do all the research, build the world and flesh out these amazing characters. The author must have some kind of superbrain, but I've been suspecting that for quite a while.

As always, Karen Wiesner shows her wonderful talent for storytelling. I have never known her to write a (space) science fiction tale before; however, she has done a fantastic job on this one. Nothing seems forced or rushed. Everything is explained thoroughly as tensions slowly build. I was hooked from the beginning until the very end. I am especially intrigued by the Vreah species and hope to get a glimpse of their world someday.

As for how this story is written, it is told by following several main and secondary characters. Each chapter begins with the name of the character it will be following. This is a terrific beginning to a new, four-book series and I am looking forward to the next book that will be titled INEVITABLE.

This novel grabs you by the throat! While it's far from the first time Ms. Wiesner has switched genres, I was fascinated with the crew about the Aero seeking a home among the stars while Earth is healing. I liked that Raze and Tori had been friends all their lives and they couldn't imagine not being together.

I fell in love with the clumsy Astoria, who tripped over her own feet and injured herself almost on a daily basis, and how Raze loved her anyway, despite a distraction with the Vreah ambassador. The story is complicated by an alien race who wants to enslave everyone in the galaxy. Wow! Now I must read Book 2!

Arrow of Time Chronicles, Book 1: Immutable

This novel grabs you by the throat! While it’s far from the first time Ms. Wiesner has switched genres, I was fascinated with the crew about the Aero seeking a home among the stars while Earth is healing. I liked that Raze and Tori had been friends all their lives and they couldn't imagine not being together. I fell in love with the clumsy Astoria, who tripped over her own feet and injured herself almost on a daily basis, and how Raze loved her anyway, despite a distraction with the Vreah ambassador. The story is complicated by an alien race who wants to enslave everyone in the galaxy. Wow! Now I must read Book 2!”

4.5 stars! A fantastic beginning to a new sci-fi series.

Earth inhabitants could no longer ignore the imminent global warming crisis. All around the globe, catastrophic flooding, extreme and ferocious weather anomalies put life in jeopardy. Finally, all nations came together that allowed them to undertake a course of survival.

In 2073, fifty-eight years ago, a species called the Vreah arrived in the Human’s solar system. They shared their knowledge and technology. Humans built dozens of orbital space habitations in their own solar system in stable orbits of otherwise uninhabited uninhabitable planets.

Astoria “Tori” Bertoletti is the librarian and planet cataloger of the first Human Ambassadorial spaceship called the Aero. Raze Salen is mankind’s emissary and Tori’s best friend. The ship is on a routine mission to the far-flung regions of the galaxy when they receive a distress call from their oldest space habitation in the Sol System. The structure has been brutally attacked. All inhabitants have been kidnapped or killed. The crew aboard the Aero search for clues to explain the attack and to figure out what species did the deed. After more similar distress calls, the clues point to the culpability of humanity’s own short-sightedness and desperation when they first began seeking out spaces in the universe to call home. In the midst of the imminent threat of war, Raze and Tori must show evidence of humanity’s wrongdoing to their government as well as to their allies. War is coming and the Humans need all the allies they can get.

***** FOUR & A HALF STARS! There is a romance between Tori and Raze, but it is only touched on (here and there) until far into this book. The main focus is on introducing the Human’s allies, the attacks and fallouts, crew interactions, and basically setting everything up for the next two titles.

If you are a reader that enjoys details, in the back of the book you will find a list of a human timeline/history. It even informs you of the main classes of spaceships. There is also a listing of culture specifics, the names of important characters, and definitions of a few unfamiliar words/terms.

As always, Karen Wiesner shows her wonderful talent for storytelling. I have never known her to write a (space) science fiction tale before; however, she has done a fantastic job on this one. Nothing seems forced or rushed. Everything is explained thoroughly as tensions slowly build. I was hooked from the beginning until the very end. I am especially intrigued by the Vreah species and hope to get a glimpse of their world someday. As for how this story is written, it is told by following several main and secondary characters. Each chapter begins with the name of the character it will be following. This is a terrific beginning to new series (trilogy?) and I am looking forward to the next book that will be titled “Inevitable.”

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

As usual, Karen Wiesner draws her readers right in and doesn't let go. I have no idea how she always manages to handle a complex plot and such a huge cast of characters. It's totally jaw-dropping!

I love the way the characters develop. All the descriptions are vivid, the interactions between the human and alien cultures are fascinating. This would make an amazing TV series because it has the right mix of suspense, romance and special effects. I for sure would binge-watch it!

4 ½ Stars!

Main and secondary characters return and are accompanied by new characters in this episode of the quartet. The author swept me away from real life into a new universe once again. I only came up for air once before diving headlong back into the Tori and Raze's chaos.

I suggest reading series in the order in which they came out. Otherwise the dealings with the Shojani will not make much sense. This story is not full of battles and violence. Instead, it is filled with diplomacy, meeting new and interesting species/cultures, and even a bit of romance.

I found it nice to actually go to one or two of the alien planets and view their colorful worlds and customs. I have personally been in contact with the author to ask about the length of this series and have been told that there will be four books total.

Satisfying Conclusion to an Epic Series

This final volume in the Arrow of Time Chronicles effectively weaves together all the story arc threads developed in the previous three books in a satisfying conclusion. Alliances become stronger under the shadow of a common danger. Not without loss, the civilized worlds of the galaxy are saved (for now). Our favorite couples overcome serious threats to their relationships in believable ways. The reformed villain achieves redemption (one of my favorite tropes). As in the rest of the series, the principal characters have appealing, individualized personalities, and the worldbuilding highlights the differences among the various cultures even as they begin to accept their newly revealed commonalities. The lingering mystery of those common elements and the "yes, but" epilogue don't, for me, detract from the overall sense of closure; those features of the story just lend an increased feeling of realism. My only reservation is that some of the interstellar societies seem to accept radical changes in their fundamental cultural customs with surprising speed and ease.

Great Characterization and Action

Indomitable, the fourth installment in Karen Wiesner’s Arrow of Time Dystopian Science Fiction, brought this series to a satisfyingly suspenseful end. At the end of Indelible, Book 3, I wanted—needed an ending to this story of all the lives the series brought into my world. Would Halon earn his redemption and prove he has the answers to the impending war that will decimate all the worlds in the galaxy? Can he and Vespera finally be together in a world on the brink of annihilation? Will Tori and Raze finally get their happily ever after?

It all depends on the multitude of civilizations we’ve met throughout books 1 through 3, civilizations whose varied environments have shaped them each into unique cultures with their own colors, beliefs, and skills in spite of sharing the same base DNA. Though they all share a common cause, to save their worlds, they still need to trust one another and unite to overcome the evil Sinshe and turn their device of mass destruction into one that will rebuild dying planets and save multiple cultures.

Whether sci-fi or romance fan, you will love this series with all its complex plotlines striving valiantly toward a common, triumphant end.

Reviewed By: award-winning author of the St. John Sibling Series, Barbara Raffin

Arrow of Time Chronicles, Book 4: Indomitable

Wow, there's so much action I never wanted to stop reading. Raze loves Tori so much that no other woman holds a candle to her and Tori felt the same about him, but there are complications of the supernatural kind. Nothing can ever be easy. Additionally, Spacers have to deal with Earthers (those left on the dying planet) wanting more control. What will happen if the Earth leader chooses war if their demands aren't met? I loved Sloane's determination to set Parliament (the Human ruling council) straight even when she was badly hurt and dealing with the man she loves being held hostage by the Earthers. All this is happening while an enemy far beyond the capabilities of any other culture in the galaxy is almost ready to unleash a weapon of mass destruction. Raze must seek out as many cultures in the galaxy to band together and stand against this enemy. An organic threat is also prevalent and must be dealt with, as all species are in danger because of it. Throw all these things together into one big mess, and you HAVE to read this book to find out how it all resolves."

The series concludes. I will sorely miss it.

Newlyweds Tori Bertoletti, librarian and planet cataloger, and Raze Salen, mankind’s emissary must separate. Ambassador Raze continues to negotiate formal alliances while also having to deal with the unshakeable bond with Wyn. Tori is with the best scientific minds in the galaxy and is trying to figure out how to stop the organic menace swallowing the universe in darkness.

Verspera Vos, female ambassador of Vree, and Halson, former Supreme Monarch of the Shojani, have managed to spend some alone time together. Halon is still trying to prove that he can be trusted and is helping the Galactic Alliance with their plans. Verpera is unexpectedly pregnant and worries for the future.

Abe Barlow is second-in-command to Captain Sloane Dale of the liveship Aero. When Abe shuttled down to Earth, he was taken prisoner by the people. He must convince his captors that “Spacers” have it just as hard, if not harder, than “Earthers” do; however, they must help each other and work for a better future. Captain Dale is informing Parliament of the same thing and negotiating with Vijay, the leader of the group holding Abe.

**** FOUR STARS! This series must be read in order. Otherwise, you will find yourself lost, confused, and unhappy with this story. Having read the previous titles, I am happy to be reunited with all the characters that I have grown close to. I worried for Tori and Raze’s relationship, for Abe and Sloane ever getting to be with each other again, and even for the romance between Vespera and Halon. The author allowed me to watch as Raze went through a difficult and dangerous rite with a foreign culture. (That was fascinating!) She also allowed me to witness Abe’s dealings with his captors, as well as Captain Dale’s battles with Parliament and her negotiations with the Earthers.

The only thing I did not care for was how rushed the last few chapters felt. There are a lot of negotiations in this novel, yet I came to appreciate how the author managed to let me see those events as they happened without them becoming boring. That shows talent, in my opinion. I look forward to more from this amazing author. ****

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Engrossing Read by A Brilliant Author

Amazing book!!!! Just finished this 2nd book about Konrad. And as intended I am left waiting for the 3rd!!!

It was a difficult book to read emotionally because it always bothers me how man can be so inhumane to man because of religion, race or any other reason.

The character development is deep and wide. I feel Konrad's deep anguish at what he is made to do and I feel his sense of humanity and caring for others and the conflicts this raises in him.

The chilling portrayal of some of the other SS and Gestapo officers and men is very real and quite disgusting. Kudos to you. I tell everyone that Max is my favorite author who never disappoints, is an in-depth researcher on the subjects of which he writes and are capable of writing about many diverse subjects.

I have had authors I have followed in the past, but have lost interest in reading them because their books are so much of the same. Not him!!! His many interests, experiences and apparent zest for knowledge keep me coming back for more!!!

Fantasy readers won't want to miss this! “THE TRISKELION is a powerful start to the Guardians of Glede: Beginnings series with a host of interesting, well-defined characters, intriguing settings, and an epic quest. One of the things I liked best was how the author didn't paint in too broad of strokes, particularly in this--its beginning.

Fantasy novels (especially those in a long-running series, as this one is) tend to have an overwhelming amount of characters, settings and subplots that seem to be thrust upon the reader within the first few pages of Book 1. In this book, we're given a manageable number of each, introduced just when needed, yet the scope of each is large and evolving enough to sustain the series arc that readers are being led into with this initial offering.

Fantasy readers won't want to miss this entire series, and the spin-off Next Generation.

Great adventure in a rich setting

JennaKay Francis weaves a magical tale in a rich world that grabs you from the getgo! Our 14 year old elf hero is much like any human teen, filled with angst and adventure. Great start to a marvelous series!

Gentle watercolor paintings, a goose and farm issues.

She did it again! Amazing ending!

I can't express just how highly impressed I am with Courtney's ability as a writer. Her very first page in this work resonated with me. She was able to capture that with which I'm personally familiar. And, now after being exposed to two of Courtney's novels, I'm amazed at how she keeps the reader enthralled and rewards them with amazing endings. I'm truly a fan, now. I've discovered a writer who isn't recognized nearly enough for her talent.

Excellent Read

I enjoyed this novel immensely. I found more there than originally expected and was surprisingly rivetted by the characters and their interactions. This is truly an out of the ordinary must read.

FIVE STARS! This author has written many stories, in multiple genres, but I feel that THIS type of story fits her best. It has the flavor of an old Gothic Romance (of which the few I still hoard will never be tossed out) yet it can still be classified as a Christian Romance.

The characters are well developed. They never felt flat or two dimensional. The female is frightened, naïve, untrusting, and often compared to a fairy or sprite.

The male has made mistakes in his past and tries to keep an open mind – be it about the living or the dead. If this is a taste of what the rest of the series will be like, then I refuse to wait a second longer to begin book two.

FIVE STARS! There are so many of us out there that recall those old Gothic Romances with great fondness. Those romances had a bit of the supernatural within them and, in rare cases, not all of them had a perfect ending.

But that is what kept me guessing back then. Would there be a perfect and happy ending or would it end with a bit of creepiness? In the not so distant past, Gothic Romances came back but always had a happy ending with all loose ends tied up.

Again, so many of us loved them and yet the Gothic Romance would disappear for several years, reappear a bit different, disappear, reappear a bit different, and so on. Well I am thrilled to say that the Gothic Romance seems to be coming back again thanks to Karen Wiesner. (Woo-Hoo!) So I bet you are wondering what the “a bit different” is this time. Karen Wiesner includes a bit of the modern time.

The story has the same spine chilling creepiness, but is set in the present time and includes modern troubles. This tale involves a couple who has undergone a recent, personal tragedy which is compounded by Cain’s parents’ ethics. (They care about Cain being hurt by Amberlyn, just as the two ladies before her did.) The pair have not been married long, a couple of years, and Cain is adrift, unable to realize how much his distraught wife needs him. Karen Wiesner’s writing style is easy to read and understand.

She creates well developed characters and gives each their own personality. I have read many of her books in the past – she has written in various genres – but I believe the Gothic Romances are her best ever. Highly recommended to one and all.

FIVE STARS! This story is simply more proof that Karen Wiesner was born to write Gothic Romances. The author writes good romances, but her dark Gothic-flavored stories are the absolute best!

With a town such as Bloodmoon Cove, she certainly has a lot of potential tales to dive into. Personally, I hope to learn more about the people that live in this secluded town and their ghosts. Author Karen Wiesner's Gothic Romance give readers chills while delivering happily-ever-afters.

FOUR STARS! This installment of the Bloodmoon Cove Spirits Series will send shivers down your spine. I read the entire thing in one afternoon – during a thunderstorm that seemed to make the story even creepier.

It broke my heart to think of the years these two main characters could have been happily together, but at least they are now. Various characters from the previous titles of the series play secondary roles. It was refreshing to see them again as they helped this couple with Dominic. Karen Wiesner writes stories that readers will always remember fondly.

FOUR & AND HALF STARS! The wonderful thing about this series is that each story can stand alone. You do not need to read any of the previous titles to enjoy this chilling tale.

It starts out slowly, so readers can be introduced to the main and secondary characters. But after the first chapter, things take off at a sprint and they never really slow back down. The characters are well developed, believable, and not idiots as many in supernatural romances or movies are.

If the situation looks too dangerous, alternatives are discussed. Of course, thanks to the imp that must rest on this author's shoulder, it does not matter. Something will force them to make a move and pray for the best. I loved every second of this spooky tale.

5 Stars! To say that I enjoyed this eerie story would be a huge understatement. Wiesner managed to send a chill up my spine not once, but twice. That does not happen often. It is testament to how potent the poison is on the tip of her pen. Hey, Writers Exchange, publish this series faster!

5 Stars! What a spooky novel. I just loved it! My heart went out to the little girl who eventually named herself Ice. I could see Bennet’s love for her even from the start. This story had me fretting from moment to moment about what would happen. I can hardly wait to read the next in the series!

5 Stars! HELL HATH NO FURY, the 10th book in Bloodmoon Cove Spirits Series, was so scary! Even so, I couldn’t stop reading.

Bella and Marsh were easy to love, though Ori was a bit free-spirited. After Bella’s mom’s death, the three friends find out Bella’s inherited a house that’s perfect for the shop they want to open together. The legacy is just too good to pass up, even if this inheritance comes with the stipulation not to live in or sell the house.

When good sense goes right out the window, bad things happen. This story had me on pins and needles because true evil lived in that creepy house. Talk about not being able to put a book down! I can’t wait to find out what happens next in this series

BAD BLOOD weaves together people and episodes from previous novels in the series to create a satisfying culmination for the Bloodmoon Cove story cycle. Sympathetic protagonists and secondary characters face dire threats in a conflict whose outcome will change the town and the tribe forever, whether for better or worse. The overarching series theme of the past elders’ disastrous rupture of a portal between this world and the spirit realm at last reaches its resolution.

The climactic battle is entirely worth the wait. Especially effective is the way the author blends mundane, wholly realistic problems and tensions with mythic motifs. Because full appreciation of the story depends to a great extent on knowledge of previous installments, most new readers wouldn’t find this book a suitable entry point. For established fans, however, it’s a can’t-miss experience, as they will rejoice in witnessing some characters attain well-deserved happiness.

BAD BLOOD weaves together people and episodes from previous novels in the series to create a satisfying culmination for the Bloodmoon Cove story cycle. Sympathetic protagonists and secondary characters face dire threats in a conflict whose outcome will change the town and the tribe forever, whether for better or worse. The overarching series theme of the past elders’ disastrous rupture of a portal between this world and the spirit realm at last reaches its resolution.

The climactic battle is entirely worth the wait. Especially effective is the way the author blends mundane, wholly realistic problems and tensions with mythic motifs. This is a can’t-miss experience, as readers will rejoice in witnessing some characters attain well-deserved happiness.

The Series Final has arrived.

One hundred and twenty-five years ago during a ritual on Bloodmoon Mountain, the elders of the Mino-Miskwi Native American tribe tore a hole in the veil between the physical world and the spirit realm before disappearing. George Mauson and Chenoe Eponi are some of the last descendants of the tribe. As the tribal guardian, one of George's duties was to protect the living from the spirits and to send the evil spirits back where they came from. Another duty was to help lost spirits move on to the next plane.

Rafe Yager is George's great nephew and settled in Bloodmoon Cove five years ago. Though Rafe now has a wife and son to protect, he must still deal with the spirits that he sees around him.

George has been (very slowly in Rafe's opinion) teaching Rafe about the tribe and more about dealing with the spirits that surround them. George has always been taught not to follow the old ways for fear of making the tear worse and flooding the entire world with menacing spirits. But George is undergoing a spiritual crisis. Perhaps the old ways are the only way to heal the tear after all.

***** FIVE STARS! In the series final, Wiesner ties together all loose ends (including the spirit of the Umbra Law Firm) to bring about a very satisfying end to the problems haunting and causing havoc to Erie County. After feeling as though I knew some of these characters personally and for so long, I find myself a bit sad at the knowledge that I will never meet them again. (Not to mention how much I enjoy it when an author gets all mystical in the tale.)

This story is more exciting than most of the others in this series. Toward the ending, it became breathtaking. Literally. At one point I realized that I was holding my breath. Why? Zombies. (Yet, as my husband says, "Everything is better with zombies.")

Karen Wiesner writes creative and intriguing stories that fluctuate between tugging on your heart strings, making you chuckle, and warming your soul. *****

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

FUN book!

My daughters and I laughed out loud while reading this book! There are two stories with the same family/friend characters. The main character is a boy-inventor who has some adventures and a little trouble with his inventions!

Awesome Story

Michael Rogers use of his imagination in the “Capital Bound” series depicts a glimpse into the hearts of Christ followers everywhere as well as Christ’s love for us. Michael displays this beautiful picture of love alongside an intriguing exploration through space. I am anxiously awaiting the release of Book 2.

Great book!

This book is amazing! It is entertaining and captivating. It’s very well written and a fun read. 10/10 recommend this book and this author!

Writer Wendy Laing has taken an actual lighthouse where she has been a guest at the lighthouse keeper's cottage: The Cape Otway in Victoria, Australia as the starting point for her nicely wrought tale, and she has woven an entertaining book of eight chapters for early readers. Through the magic of a time tunnel children Aaron and Gracie Brandon are taken to a long ago time where they meet a marvelous old Scottish sea captain's ghost. The pair had been less than enthralled while vacationing with their parents to discover the old lighthouse where they are staying has no video games or anything else interesting for them to do. And, then they meet Captain Angus! When they do everything changes. Cap'n Angus takes the pair on virtual reality trips sailing on masted ships, with opportunity for meeting one of their ancestors along with watching a sea rescue and other adventures.

Wendy Laing has done it again! This talented writer continues to produce excellently written, well researched materials sure to be used in the classroom and for home reading alike. Captain Angus, the Lighthouse Ghost is an inviting venture for children sure to keep youngsters entertained as they travel through the interactive links allowing them to make a voyage through the internet.

Writer Laing really understands how to make history come alive for young readers. Children will make stops at sites where they can tour old ships, discover lighthouses and learn a little about them in the process. Young readers are sure to enjoy following the links and learning a little of history without their realizing they are doing so. Captain Angus, the Light House Ghost is a delightful guide children are sure to like. The Links to sites will pique their curiosity.

Chapter titles include: Cap'n Angus, Spirits and Ghosts, Land Ahoy!, Rescue!, The Tower, Ship Ahoy!, Aurora's Spirit, A Light in the Future and The Beacon of Hope.

Captain Angus, the Light House Ghost is a read to book for the younger set. As such it provides a marvelous opportunity for quality parent child time as they sit together at the computer reading and traveling the links to various sites. Older children will enjoy reading and manipulating the work themselves.

The only thing I find lacking from a teacher standpoint, and in no way detracts from the delightful tale itself: I like to see a target audience noted and the word/vocabulary list at the end of the books I use in the classroom when possible. These just make it easier for teachers, and parent home teachers too to quickly decide if this book will fit into our particular teaching need at the moment.

Combining Mystery & History with Adventure

Aaron and Gracie didn't want to spend their summer vacation at the Cape Lighthouse station, but their parents insisted this was where the family would vacation this year. They were sure it was going to be a long, boring summer. There was nothing to do!

They set off to explore the area on their first day of vacation and found a tiny, old cemetery near the lighthouse. It was eerie and creepy and it made them feel sad. But only for a moment. Then sadness turned to fear when they were startled by a deep voice behind them. The children spun around to find themselves face to face with a tall stranger in sailor's uniform and a sea captain's hat. They were very nearly scared speechless.

When the stranger talks to them, seeming to read their thoughts before they even speak them out loud, they soon realize they are looking at a ghost! Captain Angus turns out to be a friendly ghost, and once they get past their fright, the children quickly become friends with the spirit who lives in the lighthouse.

The kids don't know it, but this lighthouse ghost has a special mission, and he wants the children to help him fulfill it. So begins a story of mystery and history in an enchanting ghost story filled with fantasy and adventures

Maybe I've been under a rock, but I thought that crop circles was a wonderfully unique thing to base a story on. It's why I read the book, and I wasn't disappointed.

On something so esoteric, Ms. Evlin builds a great story. The details about crop circles and the interesting background of the society creating them are delivered without ever falling into the dreaded info-dump. She has a large cast of characters, but I never got them confused, and I liked them all, even the bad guys. The romance was low-key and delightful. The suspense built gradually from nuisance pranks to murder, ending with a tense and exciting climax.

This was a fun book to read, cover to cover.

Wow this was amazingly good.

Mesmerizing Crop Circle Story

This is a very good book with a creative premise. I love Ms. Evlin's wonderful way with words. The story is thought provoking but never dry. I was intrigued until the very end. I've already shared it with friends.

Crop Circles Intrigue

Have you ever wondered where those intricate crop circles come from? Frances Evlin explores that idea in this novel and does a great job of keeping us entertained, intrigued and turning pages!

Circles of Deception

This book explores just one of the many possibilities about the creation of crop circles. I have been interested in crop circles for a very long time, and have even walked in one.

Ms Evlin approaches the topic of crop circles from a different perspective than any I had thought of. I'll be the first to admit that I can't believe these fabulous designs are created by people tromping about in a field under cover of dark. Then again, I've always held a belief about life beyond this Earth and solar system.

I found the book entertaining and thought provoking. Especially the part about the government involvement. An easy read, but satisfying.

Psychics and Crop Circles

In Frances Evlin’s latest novel, “Circles of Deception”, Children’s book author Risa McKensie, while driving, suddenly becomes aware that a man is about to jump off a bridge. She reports it to 911, but is unable to explain, even to herself, how she knew the man was suicidal.

This opening scene in Evlin’s paranormal suspense novel draws you into her story of psychics and the phenomenon of crop circles.

Risa McKensie has been interested in the phenomena for a few years, so when an intricate crop circle appears in Eastern Washington not far from where she lives, she is determined to visit the site and perhaps write a fiction novel about them.

In her earlier research, Risa has found that some crop circles were faked, but there was no explanation of how others had been created, and somehow she can sense which are genuine.

Does she have some psychic sense? In investigating the local crop circle she meets people with extraordinary powers who are involved in their creation. She also finds that someone or some group does not want the crop circle phenomenon to be written about.

Circles of Deception is a well-written and exciting Paranormal Suspense. Are crop circles all faked by some guys pulling a board around a wheat field? Are some faked but others real phenomena? Someone doesn’t want those questions answered and will use any means to stop Risa from writing about them.

These five fabulous Triple Aces Ranch romances contain strong protagonists struggling with issues while falling in love. Karen--the wonderful writing wizard--Wiesner provides her fans with a terrific Texas anthology.

Wiesner packs each book in this series with characters who share intense and strained relationships--a variable that makes their romance stories that much sweeter in the end. This collection is great for whiling away a relaxing weekend.

I'm still bawling after reading this collection. The author has brilliantly made us face the heart-breaking and bitter truths of life. A must read. Just be prepared to have your heart broken.

The Cowboy Fever Series is a complete collection of stories suited for everyone. They will break your heart, make you fall in love, cry and laugh. These are not light-hearted reads. They may evoke deep-down hidden emotions. Still, you should read them at least once. You won't regret it.

Each of these gems is a quick, satisfying read and Wiesner keeps things interesting by varying the plots and character motivations while building a community of memorable heroes and heroines that pop up in each other's stories. This series is a fine way to get your western romance on.

Wings of Love" {Cowboy Fever Series, Book 1} 5 Stars! "Wiesner has written this story in such a way that I sympathize with both of main characters' plights. If this is a taste of what's to come, than I look forward to the rest of the stories in this series. I'm left with a warm feeling and the belief that miracles are possible.

Wings of Love is a heartwarming holiday story with an incredibly sweet ending that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

A quaint romantic Christmas story all about miracles. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was rooting for the guy to get his girl.

The journey Amanda and Wings take comes through well. I felt their conflicting emotions and confusion on how to interpret each other. I was surprised I got to know the main characters so well and got as invested as I did in the outcome for the length of the story. I recommend this to anyone of all ages who like cowboys and sweet love.

Losses and Gains" {Cowboy Fever Series, Book 2} "I really enjoyed this novella. A few of the characters are misunderstood, and their dramas were each played out with interesting storytelling.

This is so much more than a romance novella. I was immediately drawn into the story and into the characters' lives! The relationships, interactions and conversations between the characters are well-written and credible. This is a great, quick read that will keep you turning the pages and enjoying life on the ranch!

As the story unfolds, it hooks you in and makes you continue reading and feeling the characters' pain.

For Always" {Cowboy Fever Series, Book 3} Reviewer's Top Pick and 5 Stars! "For Always is filled with characters who will tug at your heartstrings and have you cheering them on to finding happiness. It was so easy to get pulled into their lives! Wiesner's style of writing is so easy to read and time flies as you become immersed in the story.

4 ½ Stars! "The cast of characters were well rounded and likeable. Wiesner does a great job with her prose and descriptions, and she made it all believable for me. I give For Always 4.5 Lost, Lonely, Deceptive, Life Changing, Romantically Longing Stars!

Taming April" {Cowboy Fever Series, Book 4} Reviewer's Favorite and 5 Stars! "The development of the characters came naturally with so many twists and turns. I loved this romantic, humorous novella. Wiesner makes it very enjoyable for the reader.

The first part of the novella tore my heart out. I felt so many mixed emotions. This was a very quick read that will leave you smiling. I give Taming April 5 Emotionally Charged, Hot Cowboy, Fun Filled Stars!

The Only One" {Cowboy Fever Series, Book 5} Reviewer's Favorite and 5 Heartfelt, Emotionally Charged, Second Chance Love Stars! "Wiesner does a wonderful job making the reader connect with the devastation, torment, heart-wrenching sadness that encompasses these two characters. The reader is a part of the story in every way. Don't miss out on this wonderful series. A definite must for you TBR!

There's no doubt Wiesner has mastered the art of storytelling. The Only One is a love story told in a gripping way. I got carried away because of the vivid depiction of the character's emotions. This is just the stuff that romance stories are made of.

Variety and spice

Herb's stories could easily be made into movies, or at least a tv mini series....you know the good guy is going to win but the how of the adventure holds your attention.

A funny thing happened to me while I was reading Ghost of a Chance by Dee Lloyd. You see, I don’t read romance novels – it’s not that I don’t respect them, and it’s not that I don’t know that it has been, and remains, one of the most popular fiction genres out there – it’s just that I never got around to reading one. What I know of romance came pretty much from the front covers of the “bodice rippers” my mother used to read back when I was a kid which showed well endowed young women swooning into the arms of tall muscular heroes whose most endearing quality appeared to be their dental work.

That, for me, was romance. Boy, did I ever have it wrong. Milly’s twin sister Yvette has been missing for some time when the novel opens, and Milly has been haunted by nightmares in which she relives what she believes to be Yvette’s brutal murder.

Enter Bret, a man with a mysterious past relating to secret government work now working as an investigator, who has an encounter with a ghostly apparition on a lonely stretch of Florida road –Yvette – who manages to get out two words, “Warn them” before she disappears. Bret and Milly meet, and together work to find out what happened to Yvette, and find her killer – if, indeed, there is one. While Ms. Lloyd and her publisher have chosen to call Ghost of a Chance “romantic suspense”, they could have just as easily – and accurately – called the novel a mystery/thriller.

Yes, there is a love story here – but it progresses naturally from the events surrounding Milly and Bret. Ms. Lloyd deftly relates their growing passion while at the same time never letting either of them – or the reader – forget that there is a murderer out there, and that they have to find him/her. Plot twists abound, danger lurks around every corner and – from a strictly mystery point of view – there is no cheating here.

This is a very complex story, and yet the reader never finds themselves lost or confused. We find out the truth when Milly and Bart do and, when we do, we wonder how we could have missed it. Where Ms. Lloyd truly excels, however, is in the development and presentation of her characters.

Writing with what I can only call an elegant brevity, Ms. Lloyd develops her characters naturally throughout the course of the novel, as opposed to giving the reader a laundry list of attributes right at the start. The characters in this novel are complex, multi-dimensional people, and the reader is allowed to get to know – and care – about them gradually. Even the secondary and minor characters are exquisitely drawn and very memorable – an absolute must in a story this complex.

There are no stereotypical “women who always need rescuing” or “men who have all the answers – and a great set of pecs besides” here. Ghost of a Chance is peopled with capable, intelligent characters that the reader is glad to have gotten to know by the story’s end. And so yes, a funny thing happened to me while I was reading Ghost of a Chance by Dee Lloyd.

After years of assuming that any novel with the word “romance” attached to it couldn’t possibly appeal to me, I found myself riveted and engrossed in a prime example of what had been, for me, a totally alien and dreaded genre. Ghost of a Chance is, quite simply, a great read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes quality fiction – regardless of genre-bias. I give this novel ****1/2 out of five stars.

From the attention-grabbing opening to the eminently satisfying ending, Dee Lloyd's GHOST OF A CHANCE proves why her books receive rave reviews and awards… Ghost of a Chance works on two levels. First, as a great romance between Bret and Milly, and second, as a suspenseful story of murder and the supernatural. For readers who like their suspense spooky ala Mary Higgins Clark and their romance steamy, this book is a good bet.” -- Monette Draper,

Reviewed By: Atlantic Bridge Reviews

Practical ex-agent Bret Thornton believes there is a non-emotional solution to any situation. When he’s told by a bloody ghost on a lonely road to "warn" an unidentified " her", he heads to an old pal’s bar. Seeing Milly, the ghost’s identical twin sister, singing in the bar makes him doubt his sanity.

Milly doesn’t want Bret’s help in her search for her missing sister, but when someone tries to kill them both, she gives in. They cope with vicious attacks, an insistent ghost, and their own determination to maintain their independence. Of course, they fall in love anyway.

Plunging temperatures, an unnatural silence broken by the eerie wail of saxophone had Bret Thorton rattled. For the past week, every time he drove down that short stretch of road, which passed the deserted construction site, it had been the same--except tonight. Tonight Bret encountered on that stretch a woman he barely knew, Yvette Pelletier, who issued a grave warning, "Danger--Warn Her." The fact she was walking down the middle of the road wearing one shoe and all battered and bloody was unusual in itself.

The fact she simply vanished into thin air sent Bret in search of his old friend and a stiff drink. Milly Brzezynski had been plagued by the same horrible nightmare for the past week. She struggled with a faceless assailant as his fingers squeezed the life from her.

Did this have anything to do with her twin sister, Yvette, who had disappeared without a trace a week ago? Her twin-sense told her it did. Bret and Millie emerge as well rounded complex characters, supported by a wonderful cast and vivid imagery. Author, Dee Lloyd creates a fast paced, spellbinding mystery in Ghost of a Chance for anyone who loves a powerful story of betrayal, murder and money, while weaving the story of two people brought together by a ghost--a romance which will warm your heart.

GHOST OF A CHANCE is a fast paced, action filled suspense with interesting characters, likable hero and heroine, sexy romance, and a bang-up finale. I couldn't put the book down until I'd finished reading the last page. Two thumbs up and a high-five. Buy this book! You'll like it too.

Ghost of a Chance by Dee Lloyd is a fascinating tale of betrayal, murder, ghosts, and love. The main characters Bret and Millie are both twins, both extremely stubborn and bossy, and both determined to have their way. Throughout the story, these two are very attracted to one another but continue to push away from a relationship only to come back together when danger threatens one of them.

Ms. Lloyd leads the reader on a merry chase trying to find who is endangering Bret and Millie and what happened to Yvette. I enjoyed this tale and would love to read another story about some of the supporting characters. I would like to know what happens to Bart, Bret’s twin, Kit, their cousin, or aunt Flo. Each of them were entertaining secondary characters that would make great main characters.

Ghost of a Chance is a mystery story with a paranormal twist. The clues to a woman's disappearance are being left by...the dead woman herself! Her twin sister, Milly, and Bret, a former agent of an agency no one wants to talk about, both are visited by this hint dropping ghost who leads them to the solution... and each other.

I really enjoyed the way Bret and Milly, attracted from the start, manage their relationship. Both the love-making and the fighting seemed real, less simply put there to keep the plot moving. And the way the ghost makes her presence known tended to leave goosebumps up my spine. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other of Dee's works.

Bret Thornton recently finished his last assignment for a covert federal agency and now works for a security firm. He attended his cousin Kit's wedding not long ago where he met Yvette Pelletier, the attractive attorney who was Kit's maid of honor. Passing through an abandoned construction site a few days later, Bret has an experience that shakes him badly enough that he needs a drink.

He might as well look up Buzz, an old service buddy who has a bar in the neighborhood. The Grove turns out to be more than a saloon; it's an upscale restaurant with Yvette singing at a piano bar -- or so he thinks at first. Emilienne has owned and run The Grove since her husband Buzz's death two years ago.

For several nights she's had frightening dreams and the feeling that the dreams are connected to her twin sister Yvette. While entertaining the customers this night, her attention is caught by a man watching her with unusual intensity. Later, she's not surprised when he turns out to be the man who asked for Buzz.

Milly discovers Bret knew Yvette--which partly explains his stares. She's somewhat surprised at his take-charge attitude when she tells him Yvette disappeared shortly after the wedding. Bret insists on helping her investigate the matter.

GHOST OF A CHANCE jumps into the ghostly elements of the story without preliminaries. The plot takes right off building suspense from there. Even though the villain's identity is revealed fairly early, the build-up of evidence and proof keeps a grip on one's attention.

Character development proceeds more slowly. Bret and Milly grow on one as the attraction they both reluctantly feel develops into more, and as they interact with their families and other minor players. I've found Dee Lloyd's romantic suspense novels to always have a logical storyline with challenging conflicts and likable people.

The touch of the otherworldly in this one doesn't detract from the realism at all; it adds an intriguing new spice to the mix. Try it; you'll like it.

Ghost of a Chance is a very exciting and well written mystery/romance. Bret and Mille are attracted to each other right away, but both are reluctant to get too close. Bret is not sure he is ready for a commitment, and Millie's memories of her late husband are very much with her.

As they work together to solve the puzzle of Yvette's disappearance, the slowly intensifying feelings they have for each other become a safe haven, as they uncover a web of murder and deceit. The characters in this story are very interesting, very believable. The descriptions are rich, but not too long and drawn out.

This is a fast moving story, a nail-biter, and hard to put down. The romance is sweet and sexy...and sometimes funny. Ms. Lloyd has a good one here. I look forward to reading more of her work.

Top Reviews I give this novel ****1/2 out of five stars.

A funny thing happened to me while I was reading Ghost of a Chance by Dee Lloyd. You see, I don't read romance novels--it's not that I don't respect them, and it's not that I don't know that it has been, and remains, one of the most popular fiction genres out there--it's just that I never got around to reading one. What I know of romance came pretty much from the front covers of the "bodice rippers" my mother used to read back when I was a kid which showed well-endowed young women swooning into the arms of tall muscular heroes whose most endearing quality appeared to be their dental work. That, for me, was romance. Boy, did I ever have it wrong.

Milly's twin sister Yvette has been missing for some time when the novel opens, and Milly has been haunted by nightmares in which she relives what she believes to be Yvette's brutal murder. Enter Bret, a man with a mysterious past relating to secret government work now working as an investigator, who has an encounter with a ghostly apparition on a lonely stretch of Florida road –Yvette--who manages to get out two words, "Warn them" before she disappears. Bret and Milly meet, and together work to find out what happened to Yvette, and find her killer--if, indeed, there is one.

While Ms. Lloyd and her publisher have chosen to call Ghost of a Chance "romantic suspense", they could have just as easily--and accurately--called the novel a mystery/thriller. Yes, there is a love story here--but it progresses naturally from the events surrounding Milly and Bret. Ms. Lloyd deftly relates their growing passion while at the same time never letting either of them--or the reader--forget that there is a murderer out there, and that they have to find him/her. Plot twists abound, danger lurks around every corner and--from a strictly mystery point of view--there is no cheating here. This is a very complex story, and yet the reader never finds themselves lost or confused. We find out the truth when Milly and Bart do and, when we do, we wonder how we could have missed it.

Where Ms. Lloyd truly excels, however, is in the development and presentation of her characters. Writing with what I can only call an elegant brevity, Ms. Lloyd develops her characters naturally throughout the course of the novel, as opposed to giving the reader a laundry list of attributes right at the start. The characters in this novel are complex, multi-dimensional people, and the reader is allowed to get to know--and care--about them gradually. Even the secondary and minor characters are exquisitely drawn and very memorable--an absolute must in a story this complex. There are no stereotypical "women who always need rescuing" or "men who have all the answers--and a great set of pecs besides" here. Ghost of a Chance is peopled with capable, intelligent characters that the reader is glad to have gotten to know by the story's end.

And so yes, a funny thing happened to me while I was reading Ghost of a Chance by Dee Lloyd. After years of assuming that any novel with the word "romance" attached to it couldn't possibly appeal to me, I found myself riveted and engrossed in a prime example of what had been, for me, a totally alien and dreaded genre. Ghost of a Chance is, quite simply, a great read and I would highly recommend it to anyone who likes quality fiction--regardless of genre-bias.

"Dee Lloyd's 'Ghost of a Chance' is a tale so well written the reader is swept into a maelstrom of paranormal activity, mystery and murder from the first page. Thoroughly developed characters bring intense emotion into play and allow the author to explore the unique relationship and spiritual/emotional bond between twins. An exciting and sometimes hair-raising read, 'Ghost of a Chance' is a definite keeper… just don't read it on any dark and stormy nights or you may never listen to a saxophone again..."

Paranormal favorite

Millie's twin has been murdered and appears to her in dreams. She also appears to Bret and urges her to "Save her!" Following those vague instructions lead to tense situations while they fight the attraction they feel.

Dani is an eight and a half year old girl you would like to have as a friend.

Dani Pepper: This is a very funny young girl who sees the world in her own quirky way. Her adventures in learning and her Ideas on growing up

show us a very clever girl who takes us on an amusing journey to the finals of a state spelling bee. She makes school fun and outrageous.

Her misadventures with 'take your child to work day' will have you cheering for her. She is the self proclaimed second best speller in Fisher Pitt

Junior school.

Three Stars

yes--a fun romp in sixth grade !!

5 Stars! Author Karen Wiesner writes stories that will not only entertain fans of mystery and romance, but also warm their hearts with Christian faith. Readers will not find any hot, steamy bedroom scenes to fill pages (which often entice readers to skim or skip pages).

Instead, this story will test your wits, give you a beautiful romance that is blind to skin color, and leave you with a deep feeling of satisfaction. Totally fascinating and very inspirational.

“ Souls on (B)Oring Street on a tender love story that filled my soul with goodness and love!”

Amazon Customer ”

“ I love this whole series. Karen Wiesner is a fantastic author. I will read more of her books.

Hotcha, Amazon Customer ”

Unique Fantasy
Most first fantasy novels are fairly predictable. The protagonist is either a good guy or a rogue forced into playing the good guy. This novel is a pleasant surprise.

Candale is a bit of a spoiled brat with unpredictable, and usually self-centered, moods that seem to work against him most of the time. This dubious hero is forced by prophesy into a role he is ill-equipped to serve. I found myself fascinated by his plight, his need for the support he constantly rejects, and his drive to find out what his destiny has forced him to face.

This is a great start to a multi-volume tale. I look forward to seeing how the author resolves the challenges set before this reluctant hero.

I love it.
This book is absolutely excellent and could not put down. I just loved it and got second one. Would highly recommend it.

FANTASY WRITING AT ITS BEST

*A Copy of this Book Was Given To Me By The Author In Exchange For An Honest Review*

The adventure takes place in Carnia, and imaginary world where you quickly learn to accept magic, mages and witches as normal.

The story opens with Candale, nearly eighteen and a Royal Prince of the realm desperately ill, and having proved impossible to be cured by healers. You quickly realise that he is the ‘odd one out’ in the family and feel sorry for him. You soon learn that his mother is not the Queen, but Mayrila, a witch his grandfather the King knew and paid. Myrila is called to the palace and, for more payment, cures Candale and we are observers as he learns of the legend that he may be the Shadow Seer. This is ridiculed by his parents but from then on he devotes every waking hour to looking into it, acquires friends and travelling companions to help him, a female bodyguard, Trellany, and a travelling bard Teveriel. Neither believes Candale but both are very loyal to him and are both great helps.

The story and the characters are developed at a rate easy to follow and can be read as a ‘stand-alone’.

However, whilst there is no cliff hanger to leave you frustrated it is obvious that there is much more to come and I, for one, look forward to reading about the further adventures of Candale and his friends.

***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official

A TERRIFIC READ!

Set in Carnia, a fictional medieval kingdom, "The Shadow Seer" tells the story - or rather the beginning thereof - of prince Candale who is prophesied to be the long awaited Shadow Seer. The prince had been suffering from fits and seizures for years and now - after recovering from an illness that almost killed him - he is having vivid nightmares, seeing and hearing things and starting to have visions. Together with his friend Teveriel and his female body guard, Trellany, he sets off to visit the Mage School, White Oaks, to discover for himself what exactly those ancient prophecies have to say about him; not such an easy undertaking with a secret order seeking to murder him.

"The Shadow Seer" is a comfortably slow paced read. The author takes time to build her fictional world and introduce her characters thoroughly. The characters are well-crafted and realistically flawed, and especially so the main character, Candale. Do not expect this prince to come rescue you on a white steed, as he is somewhat of a coward, preferring to keep himself safe where possible. Still, I could not help liking him and feeling rather sorry for him as he discovers some nasty truths about his own past, has to deal with ever increasing dreams and visions, and has to tolerate his somewhat overprotective father.

This book will be a treat for readers with experience in the fantasy genre as a rather wide range of paranormal phenomena are touched upon during the course of the story. Although "The Shadow Seer" is a slightly slow and sometimes long winded read, it certainly makes up for lost excitement with a horrific, shocking, cliff-hanger ending. At least we know there will be more books to follow.

Reviewed By: (Ellen Fritz)

Highly recommended

The world and its inhabitants are thoroughly fleshed out, and you find yourself routing for them throughout. The story has a heart and a warmth that endears oneself to it greatly. This is the kind of novel that made me fall in love with the fantasy genre initially, with its riveting plot and characterisation.

I dearly hope the series continues for many, many more books. Until they are released I shall wait impatiently.

A Thoroughly Enjoyable Read

Ellenessia's Curse is one of the few books that hold the unique distinction of so thoroughly engrossing me that I read it in one long marathon reading session. I was simply unable to put it down longer than it took for me to grab something from the fridge or visit the throne room ;-) The characterization in this book is brilliant and the world is beautifully depicted, and both of these are accomplished without the text becoming tedious (something that makes it hard for me to enjoy a lot of fantasy books). I never had a problem seeing the characters and settings in my mind. It was easy to identify with Prince Candale and come to care for him. His friendship with Teveriel is charming and surprising in that it is not a type of relationship I have often found in fantasy writing. All in all, this book left me wanting more, and not just because of the ending.

I have already read this book more than once and will surely return to it again when the mood strikes me. It is a great book for immersing yourself in and forgetting the troubles of the real world (That's why we all read stories, isn't it?). I'm (not so) patiently awaiting the next book in the series, and in the meantime I can always go back and relive the first.

Highly Recommend and beautifully written!

If you love the world of magic and days of old you will LOVE Fran Jacobs. Her land of Carnia catches hold of you from the first page and with her beautifully written characters you will find it hard to put the book down.

Review of The Shadow Seer

The Shadow Seer, Book One of Ellenesia's Curse, is the compelling tale of the handsome, young and pure Prince Candale of the Kingdom of Carnia, whose growing pains spur on his burgeoning gifts as a prophet and seer; threatening to spiral out of control, into madness. Fran Jacobs' epical story of swords and sorcery, mages and bards, witches, warriors and demons is teeming with intrigue; uniquely depicting the classic battle between good and evil - as the fate of the world hinges upon the chaotic Prince Candale. Jacobs particularly shines as the creator of highly identifiable characters, whose imperfections and idiosyncrasies make a colossal impact.

Part 1 of book 1 has given me a chance to read the promising start of a dark trilogy, filled with deadly secrets that left me turning the page and wanting for the next.

SECOND IN A FIRST RATE SERIES

*A Copy of this Book Was Given To Me By The Author In Exchange For An Honest Review*

This is much less action filled read than the first in the series, with events unfolding slowly. I thought that Prince Candale was just beginning to get a backbone in Book One, then he is back to his old ways in this one. Also this could not be read as a ‘stand alone’ and ends with a cliff hanger to get us to read the third in the ‘Curse of Ellenessia’ These things together prompt me to only give it four stars. It is still a very good fantasy tale, just not up to the standard I expected. There is plenty of action, a good plot, but you just have to live with a wishy-washy hero in Prince Candale.

***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official**

Absolutely brilliant

This book is absolutely excellent and could not put down. Cannot wait for next one. Would highly recommend this book.

5 Beacons! With the story Bugs, the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention. The ending in Broken Wings is so twisted, I had to do a double take on it…wow!

Intense. Obsessions will have your adrenaline racing as Pete scurries through every obstacle in his path. Blind Revenge had me tossing in the covers and at times still feeling for my eyes.

After reading Fixated: Okay, for sure, anyone in a chat room even briefly should be extra careful. In this anthology, there are five stories that will quench the thirstiest mystery readers. The whole series surrounding Detectives Pete and Danny are fascinating; not to mention fast-paced and loaded in emotion that will have you spellbound.

Wiesner and Spindler take a story and turn it into a piece of art. Their suspense chillers are so cleverly dazzling that it leaves the reader eagerly anticipating the next installment. Their writing is so driven that it leaves the reader with the story still refreshed in their mind days later.

This is a collection of stories that readers should not miss. The plots are so well developed with enormous twists and turns that leaves the reader rapidly turning pages to the end. Once you read one of Wiesner and Spindler’s books, you just can’t stop!

5 Stars! I truly felt bad for Detective Pete Shasta in Murder on the Heartstrings when his plan to take his wife on a romantic trip is thwarted. This story was a real head scratcher.

In Flashback, Detective Danny Vincent always gets the creepy cases whenever his partner is away. Just like Danny is, I found the quirky circumstances unsettling. As I read, I constantly had to look over my shoulder.

This story really creeped me out! In Double Take, Victor Brooks, the owner of Brook's Gallery is married to Risa Nitzberg from Fixated in Falcon's Bend Case Files, Volume I. I loved how Pete and Danny used their abilities to solve this mystery. In Retribution, both Lisa and Melody aren’t too happy that their husbands Pete and Danny spending so much time in the backyard watching their neighbor strut around in a tiny bikini.

With Melody now pregnant, my heart ached for Lisa, who can’t have children of her own. Lisa caught the sleuthing bug in Murder on the Heartstrings, and it was interesting (scary for Pete) to watch her solve this. In Up in Smoke, Pete wants to find the perfect Christmas gift for his wife.

I understood how hard it was for him, knowing Lisa was ready to start a family together by adopting, but he came from a dysfunctional family. He’s not sure if he’s emotionally up to the task of fatherhood. This mystery was so funny, I laughed myself silly while Pete rooted out the criminal who set fire to the only Christmas tree farm in Falcon's Bend!

In Ghost of the Past, a story unfolds and Amber solves this 16-year-old mystery, leaving the reader feeling sad and shocked. All these stories make me hunger to read the next in the series and find out if Danny gets any more weird cases!

Falcon's Bend Case Files, Volume II (Falcon's Bend Mystery/Police Procedural Book 8)

I truly felt bad for Detective Pete Shasta in Murder on the Heartstrings when his plan to take his wife on a romantic trip is thwarted. They barely arrive at the resort when they’re snowed in--and there’s a murder. Pete’s on his own, given that the local authorities can’t get to the lodge with the roads impassable. I have to give Pete a high five for at least making the effort to et away from work with his wife, even if it didn’t work, and the together time they had was Lisa helping him solve a murder. This story was a real head scratcher.

“In Flashback, Detective Danny Vincent always gets the creepy cases whenever his partner is away. A missing woman suddenly shows up again after seven months. Before Lucinda Staub disappeared without a trace, she was married to an older man and had an affair with her neighbor (and boss). Her husband refused to give her a divorce and her lover refused to run away with her unless she was divorced. Since showing up again out of the blue, she’s claiming to have no memory of where she's been or how she returns seven months pregnant. Just like Danny is, I found the quirky circumstances unsettling. As I read, I constantly had to look over my shoulder. This story really creeped me out!

“In Double Take, Victor Brooks, the owner of Brook's Gallery is married to Risa Nitzberg from Fixated in Falcon's Bend Case Files, Volume I. When three paintings are taken from his gallery, Amber and Jensen are called to the case. I loved how they used their abilities to solve this mystery.

“In Retribution, both Lisa and Melody aren’t too happy that their husbands Pete and Danny spending so much time in the backyard watching their neighbor strut around in a tiny bikini. Cassandra just moved in the house next door with her two children who aren’t allowed to play in the backyard. Jealousy aside, Lisa and Melody are convinced something isn't right next door. With Melody now pregnant, my heart ached for Lisa, who can’t have children of her own. The two wives decide to take matters in their own hands. Lisa caught the sleuthing bug in Murder on the Heartstrings, and it was interesting (scary for Pete) to watch her solve this.

“In Up in Smoke, Pete wants to find the perfect Christmas gift for his wife. I understood how hard it was for him, knowing Lisa was ready to start a family together by adopting, but he came from a dysfunctional family. He’s not sure if he’s emotionally up to the task of fatherhood. This mystery was so funny, I laughed myself silly while Pete rooted out the criminal who set fire to the only Christmas tree farm in Falcon's Bend!

"In Ghost of the Past, a story unfolds about a spoiled 16 year old who got pregnant. Scared, she gave birth and put the baby, alive, in a dumpster! Now, countless years later, Ericka believes she's being stalked. Amber solves this 16-year-old mystery, leaving the reader feeling sad and shocked.

All of these stories make me hunger to read the next in the series and find out if Danny gets any more weird cases!!

Good

Hard to put down really great read. Multiple stories one as good as the next one. Read and you won't be sorry.

4 Stars! You do not have to be familiar with the series or the characters to love these tales of crimes and adventures. Each novella picks up where the previous leaves off, but the characters change.

This makes the novel a more interesting read for me. First Sight: Though Warren and Amber are responding officers, Chad is the real hero. I am amazed how the authors were able to give the characters developed backgrounds even though the story is novella in size.

Super job. Identity: Warren and Amber from the previous novella are mentioned but take a backseat as the story focuses on the Shasta family. Pete may be a cop, as was his father, but his sister Crystal was the opposite.

Having served her time, the authors brought the siblings together. Watching this family's drama play out was considerably interesting to me. Cupid's Romance: Characters from the two previous novellas in this novel are mentioned but only in passing.

The authors insert an interest twist toward the end to make the story even more intriguing. Out of Mind: For those who do not know, anterograde amnesia means the person goes to sleep and forgets everyone and everything that happened to her since the trauma or event. Molly is twenty years old and wakes up believing she is five.

The story is very well told. Time is also spent with Amber and her husband, whose lives together becomes more developed. Lonely Hearts: This novella is told from the viewpoint of several characters, mainly Shelley and Lisa's.

All the characters from the former novellas are preparing for a busy holiday and, feeling as though I know them personally by now, it is fun to watch the group as they begin to gather. Shelley and Ariel have been in previous novels, but if you have not read any of the previous titles, you will still be able to fully enjoy this story of fraud and murder. Assassin: This novella, in my humble opinion, should have been a full-sized novel.

5 Beacons! A masterpiece with twists and turns and a suspenseful touch of erotic pleasure, and romance with just the right blending of intriguing characters to make this story excellent beyond words. It is so compelling that it sticks with you like glue even days later.

Pete and Vincent dive into a whodunit with a good solid plot and so much fascination that not only will the story have the detectives guessing this incredible mystery; the readers will be equally amazed and surprised! A great colorful cast of characters that interweave to create a well-crafted brilliant story. I loved the way the authors gave Pete and Danny a life.

The two authors have thought of everything to keep the reader hypnotized. I absolutely love their style of writing. Authors Karen and Chris have devised an exciting story that has a consistent smooth flow with the dialogue and scenes.

They have penned a book that keeps you glued to your seat. It is sensual and full of great creativity. Their writing is impeccable and extraordinary and this book truly delivers and excels!! Keep writing because you both are truly talented beyond words.

5 Stars and Reviewer's Top Pick! Authors Wiesner and Spindler really gain their stride in the pacing and momentum of TEARS ON STONE. There are no throw-away characters.

I found this book to be a tantalizing read, a page-turner that kept me up all night. You’ll want to read it yourself to find out if it has the same dangerous effect on you.

5 Pixies! In THE FIFTEENTH LETTER, it all rings true. I appreciate the characters interactions, not only at work but in their personal lives as well.

The mystery/crime is excellent. Toward the end of the book, I found myself leaning into my screen and so tense my neck hurt. That's how intense the action got. If you're a fan of Shannon, McBain or just excellently executed procedurals, I highly recommend this one.

5 Hearts and Sweetheart Award Winner! Wiesner and Spindler have again combined to give us a romantic thriller full of action and the type of relationship building that makes this such an addictive series. The people on the police force in this small town seem to grow on me more and more.

The authors weave the story in such a way that it keeps me on the edge of my seat guessing and searching for clues with the law officers. One of the many strengths in this series is the seeming reality of the relationships, dialogue, and characters. I highly recommend this series for any lovers of great romantic suspense.

5 Stars! I like that AS PATIENT AS DEATH contains more of the Falcon's Bend residents' lives. Investigative partners at the Falcon's Bend Police Department, Pete and Danny have a lot going on in their personal lives.

Danny's having a hard time with his marriage. Pete and Lisa's family is growing, and I was so proud of Pete for agreeing to adopt despite his own emotional issues stemming from his upbringing on the subject of family. His wife Lisa caught the amateur sleuth bug in previous books in the series and now her obsession with their suspicious new neighbor is causing problems none of them could have imagined.

My fear for her inadvisable snooping made me wonder how this could possibly end well. Thankfully, there's never a dull moment in Falcon's Bend these days. I can't wait to read the last few books in the series, but hopefully Lisa loses her interest in detective work after this traumatic experience!

5 Stars! There is never a dull moment in this mystery drama (and romance). As I read, my rainy afternoon seemed to fly by. Wiesner and Spindler packs a lot in each Falcon’s Bend novel. I cannot recommend this story highly enough.

5 Stars! As suspicions abound and too many suspects are in question, I found myself without a clue who the murderer was. This book rocked me with the emotions pulling at me from all the characters’ situations even as the mystery scared me into nail-biting reading.

Falcon's Bend Series, Book 6: Pretty Fly (Falcon's Bend Mystery/Police Procedural)

Falcon’s Bend police detective Danny Vincent's sister, Shayna and her co-worker Gage’s feelings for each other run deep. But Gage has a dark secret he’s afraid will end their relationship if he reveals. And, when it does finally come out, Shayna flees to her hometown of Falcon’s Bend. Naturally, something bad happens immediately. She’s staying with Danny and Melody, and his neighbor is Shawn Futrell, the source of her bad-boy crush as a teenager. Even now, his hypnotic spell on her doesn’t seem to have broken. Meanwhile, Danny and his investigative partner Pete Shasta have a difficult case to solve. They’re called out to a campsite where they discover Shawn’s wife, who’s been missing for a week, is dead inside the tent with her illicit lover. As suspicions abound and too many suspects are in question, I found myself without a clue who the murderer was. This book rocked me with the emotions pulling at me from all the characters’ situations even as the mystery scared me into nail-biting reading.

A killer with an unusual way to kill someone and little chance of being caught.

Shayna “Shay” Vincent works in Chicago at an advertising agency. She and her coworker, Gage Keveris, have been a terrific team for over a decade. During this time they have become more than simply friends. Though in love, neither has done more than kiss or enjoy spending time together in public. For the first time, Gage invites Shayna to his apartment and she hopes he is about to propose. Instead, Shay learns that Gage has been wed to someone named Allegra the entire time. Gage tells Shay that he has not seen Allegra in several years and how the woman keeps refusing to grant him a divorce. Gage goes on to explain the horrible situation he has been in for over ten years. He ends the conversation by informing Shayna that he and his lawyer are going to court in a few days for a Divorce Deposition; therefore, he would be unable to go with her during her annual vacation to visit family in Falcon’s Bend.

Shayna is beyond hurt. She always believed that she and Gage shared everything. Needing time alone, Shay goes to Falcon’s Bend to stay with her brother, Detective Danny Vincent. Unfortunately, Melody, Danny’s wife, is away on business; however, their young daughter, Deidre, is there. Time with her niece is exactly what Shay needs to help sooth her heart and allow her to think clearly before making any rash decisions.

Danny and his partner/friend, Pete, have a sketchy case on their hands. Shawn Futrell reported his extremely young wife, Taylor, missing – a week after they had an argument and she had stomped out of the house. Shawn claims that this was not the first time Taylor had left for several days or a week, but it was the first time she had missed work. He also claims that she has an unknown lover. But Shawn is far from being a saint either. His last two wives are dead, his past with all ladies is well known and he clearly cares nothing for Taylor’s well being. Even his teenage son seems to resent his father. When Taylor turns up dead, things really heat up … and even Shay is soon standing in the crosshairs of a killer.

***** FIVE STARS! There is never a dull moment in this mystery drama (and romance). The focus switches between the relationships of Danny’s family, Shayna and Gage, and a serial killer who has unusual way of killing someone with small chance of discovery. Something is always going on. This is the type of story where you really must pay attention or you may miss something vital. As I read, my rainy afternoon seemed to fly by. (I looked up and was surprised to notice the sun had gone down.)

Karen Wiesner packs a lot in each Falcon’s Bend novel. Even a couple of secondary characters (two dating patrol officers) get a bit of time in the spotlight. I cannot recommend this story highly enough. *****

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Loved this and just leave me wanting more historical fiction from Max

Exciting! Ancient Egypt comes alive

Wonderful, detailed story, vivid characters. The authors meticulously research creates a plausible and engaging story of the end of the Ramesside dynasty.

Great read

Great read from 1st to last page looking forward to next 2 in series

Great read

It’s a great read , it will really take you back to ancient Egypt.

Well worth a read After a rather slow start, the book got better and better. I will definitely look out for the next in the series.

Problems with the copy-editing prevent me giving 5 stars. There were random question marks in little boxes scattered throughout the ebook text, which I found distracting. Also felt it got a little bogged down when the same event was told from different character's viewpoints. This felt unnecessarily repetitive, and could have been shortened. Not to be faulted on characterisation and research into the period

Reviewed By: Amazon Customer

The lead up to the end of a dynamic dynasty I loved reading this book especially about the legendary Ramesses 11. After such a long reign to read about how the family fell about trying to take power and control and you are almost sitting on the edge of the chair wondering what's going to happen next.

Reviewed By: dee43

Brilliant story for enthusiasts of the Ramisside era. A great story by a superb story teller whose books I always enjoy and admire for the depth of his research. Once again he has made history come alive. Can't wait to begin the next volume which I bought today!

Reviewed By: Vic H.

Relaxation reading Excellent reading next one please

Reviewed By: Amazon Customer

Five Stars if the rest of the series is as good looking forward to them.

Reviewed By: dennis cass

Five Stars Really enjoyed book one and into book 2 now. Anxious to know what happens to Seti.

Reviewed By: helen burns

Brilliant!! Great read.

Reviewed By: kathleen taynton

Five Stars Excellent!

Reviewed By: Andrew Findlay

Five Stars BRILLIANT

Reviewed By: Horsford

Four Stars Looking forward to the next instalment

Reviewed By: Steven Legg

Tausret, Messuwy, Seti, Merenptah, and a neutral narrator tell us . . . . . . this story, alternating their perspectives on events during the 18th dynasty of ancient Egypt. It's always the question of the succession, right?

And here Merenptah succeeds to the through as an old man already, following the death of his 90-year-old father, Usermaatre. Then eldest surviving son Messuwy expects to be named heir, but isn't. A promise Merenptah made years before to his father makes 10-year-old Seti most likely to succeed. But King Merenptah makes no announcement, even after son Seti grows up.

And following all these developments is the young woman prodigy Tausret, half-sister to Seti. Tausret is level-headed, aspiring, and worthy, saving Egypt (Kemet) from an invasion and a plot to kill both King and favored son.

Overton's books are always interesting, full of colorful characters, intrigues, wonderful heroines, realistic settings, and captivating plots. No exception here, and I think I'll stop here and go download the next two books in the series, centering in turn on Seti and then Tausret.

Reviewed By: pjburn

Great writing as well told Ancient Egyptian historical fiction comes to life as the court characters endure life and death. The intrigue and twists and turns unfold in this tale. Enjoyable reading experience.

Reviewed By: Frogee Gibson

HOOKED ON OVERTON'S EGYPT I have become addicted to the stories by Max Overton. I have been to Egypt touring most of the places he writes about and he "peoples" the locations and time periods in a very plausible way.

Reviewed By: DAVE MASTERS

Five Stars Exceptionally well researched. Each historical personality comes vibrantly alive. A superb and thoroughly exciting rendering of this Egyptian dynasty

Reviewed By: Amazon Customer

Ok book

Reviewed By: Rebecca LeClair

Good but...

I love anything on Ancient Egypt. There were very interesting parts of this book that I enjoyed. I will read the other two books in the series.

good book

Good reading, great for reading before you go to sleep.

I was positive I would enjoy these 3 books!

I felt so positive that I would enjoy these books, that I immediately ordered all three at the same time! I am so glad I did!

Fall of the House of Ramesses, Book one-Merenptah was such a wonderful read! It was interesting, and an easy read, except for some confusion I had with all the names, but I always got the gist.

As soon as I finish this review, I am going to start reading the continuing saga with Book 2-Fall of the House of Ramesses-Seti.

Christine Schulz

Another great start to a series!

I loved the author's Scarab series and I was very happy to see that he has written another series set in Ancient Egypt, this time dealing with the Ramses era.

The great Ramses has died and leaves Merenptah on the throne, who is already old. So now he must decide who will rule after him: Messuwey, his eldest son, or his youngest son, Seti. His choice will cause strife in the land as one gets chosen to be heir and the other vies for power. Throw in some unsavory characters, a priest of Amun who will do anything to have the god be preeminent in all the land and rebellious tribes invading from the northern lands, and you have a great story full of all the things I enjoy.

I am on to the second book!

Loved this

Loved this and just leave me wanting more historical fiction from Max

This is the second book in a three book series. I read both book 1 and this one (book 2). Overton did his research well on what is known about the historical events, people and customs of this part of ancient Egypt.

The story really brought the characters to life and helped me learn how they were related to each other and what happened during their reign, so that when I went to Egypt and saw where they lived, their temples and their tombs, I remembered who they were and it really enhanced the experience. Good story. Fun to read.

Five Stars

Great read author does not disapoint

Great story

Another great story of ancient Egypt. Life, death and court intrigue abound throughout this well written story. King Seti is the King of ancient Egypt.

... haven't finished book 3 yet but so far an excellent read. I have read most of Max Overton's ...

I haven't finished book 3 yet but so far an excellent read. I have read most of Max Overton's novels and find them very accurate and entertaining

Four Stars

Good story linem,

A good read

I recommend the book to those who are interested in ancient Egypt. The book is a good blend of history and fiction. I cannot wait to read the next book of this series.

The Fall Continues

Just started reading. Book 2 is following in the footsteps of Book 1.

A good solid read.

Four Stars

Very good read and good continuation from book 1

A very good story

As with the first book in the trilogy, the story is compelling, the characterisation is good and I found myself gripped. As with book 1, I found the pace was slowed and interrupted when the same scene was told from a couple of different characters' viewpoints. I could accept a few sentences to re-tell then pick up the action with the next character, but I found the re-telling of the same scene slowed things down too much. Probably only happened 2 or 3 times but enough to be a distraction. Another thing that prevents me giving 5 stars is the use of ancient terms for the gods and for upper and lower Egypt. I totally accept this is for authenticity. But the problem with reading on a Kindle rather than a paperback is it's not straightforward to flick back to the beginning and check the author's note for the explanation of the ancient vs Greek names. So, other than Heru, who I grasped was Horus, I struggled with the names of gods. I grasped that Waset was Thebes and Men-Nefer Memphis, but I'm sorry to say I'm not a good enough student of Egyptology to have remembered the others - so I found this annoying. A distraction in an otherwise very well written and believable tale.

An excellent war chronicle!

Even though I enjoyed Book One more, I still felt this was an excellent book, and gave it 5 stars, as did my fellow readers.

Too much war and battle scenes described in horrific details for my taste, but that was the Civil War era of brother against brother for the throne. So despite my squeamishness, I found this to be an excellent war chronicle.

Since I am now on book 2, I am beginning to understand all the confusing names, and the different names for the same characters in this book.

I am now looking forward to picking up my Kindle, and starting Book 3-Tausret!

The last chapter in the story of the Ramessian legacy

The story continues with Seti taking control and the lengths taken to secure the throne leading to the final chapter in the story of Ramesses 11 and all the inter fighting between families who think they have more rights to rule than others.

Love it!

Another fantastic series by what is becoming one of my favorite authors of ancient Egypt!

Foolish, foolish, Tausret! What a foolish woman, Tausret turned out to be! All of her decisions were so without forethought or reason. She was always influenced by her emotions, not be any cleverness on her part. She seemed stupid, actually.

I loved all three of these books by Max Overton. Mr. Overton, can you please write some more books about the new Ramesses dynasty? I know that my fellow readers will be as anxious as I am to read about the next generations of pharaohs.

Reviewed By: Christine Schulz

Another fantastic series! Just wanted to let the author know that I loved this whole series! And I was particularly glad to see a certain character get what he deserved :)

Reviewed By: SignoftheTimes

Max writes a story which is hard to distinguish from historical fact, although he has virtually none to base it on! I can read his books over and over and I did just that with book 2!

Reviewed By: James Ashton

Another fantastic series by Max Overton Fantastic series. Max Overton is a wonderful author.

Reviewed By: Tammarah

Fabulous Ending Book three of this series is as captivating as the first two. I am sad to see the series end but I know Max will enthrall his readers again with something new and wonderful.

As a wanna be Egyptologist and frequent traveler to Egypt this book series gives me more insight to the family of perhaps the most famous pharaoh in Egyptian history, Ramses II. Where some of the facts have been lost or still remain hidden in the sands of Egypt Max fills in with thought provoking possibilities.

Do not miss this final chapter in Ramses II family history. If you have not already done so, start with book 1 and be prepared to want to go from one book to the other until the end.

Reviewed By: Sara Jane Sesay

I was pleased to find out Wiesner is doing a series of this community of Peaceful, Wisconsin. There are many supporting cast members who were screaming to be acknowledged during Book 1. Tamara and Robert Wolfe’s story was told so beautifully.

The expertise in revealing the storyline created a spell-binding tale that I just couldn't help but love. The author is truly gifted with a remarkably talented way of expressing her story. I can't wait for the next installment.

Wiesner takes the reader expertly through one story of a couple accepting God’s will and waiting for His timing. Thank you, Ms. Wiesner, for writing a charming book with insights that can help all of us in our daily struggles.

All couples go through different phases of their relationship. From loving newlyweds to empty nesters, life is constantly changing. Karen Wiesner offers readers a story that demonstrates how a marriage can not only survive, but also thrive in face of change.

Tamara and Robert also demonstrate that the physical intimacy of marriage can continue throughout the years. I enjoyed the story, especially the Christian slant. Christian women will enjoy this new romance by Karen Wiesner.

The realism and sincerity of this book and the way its author discloses the story from both points of view make this novel not only marvelous romantic reading but also a great input about marriage relationships. Wiesner excels at developing such an enchanting story that will captivate you from beginning to end, making you feel like more than just reading the story you had experienced it. I highly recommend this book.

In this first entertaining Family Heirlooms inspirational family drama, the enjoyable storyline is character-driven mostly by the lead couple, but ably supported by a strong support cast especially the extended family. Fans will appreciate Robert’s actions and reactions when Tamara announces her intention of a designer gift basket business; as he makes the tale worth reading.

I liked Tamara very much. The way she had to deal with a controlling husband. She always came thru with God's help. She was very strong in God. She was like a cup of cold water. This could teach us a few things of how to trust God in our time of trials. I enjoyed this story very much.

An outstanding Christian romance! BABY, BABY by Karen Wiesner is a story about what happens when a wife starts a successful home business from what she’s made in the past for friends and relatives. The main characters, Tamara and Robert, have realistic problems that many married couples face.

As they struggle with what’s the right thing to do in their lives, Robert and Tamara never forget their love for each other. Their prayers are poignant and revealing. I think Wiesner did an outstanding job of portraying a wonderful role in Tamara as a strong woman who wants to please God and keep her family intact.

I highly recommend this inspirational romance. I look forward to reading more books by Karen Wiesner.

Tamara is a beautiful, loving and supportive character—I’d love a friend like her. The writing flows well and kept me engaged and interested. I was anxious to learn how matters were resolved. I highly recommend reading Wiesner’s works if you enjoy lifelike stories that deal with real Christian issues.

In this first book of Wiesner's Family Heirlooms series, a number of couples are having marital problems. Their belief in God and his ability to see them through makes this a heartwarming and inspiring romance. The message of love and faith is presented in an entertaining and non-preachy way.

As I read the book’s description, I knew I would like the book, but I had no idea I'd be drawn in so completely. Wiesner’s ability to paint such a wonderful picture with her words was outstanding! As I read Tamara and Robert’s story, I thought to myself, 'She's writing about real people who live real lives, and they have real struggles.' The love they shared for each other is what every marriage should be, but, when they actually discussed their problems, I was excited to read on. Wiesner has me truly captivated with her characters and their real life situations.

This is an interesting story that shows how faith can lead the faithful. For those that enjoy inspirational stories, you will greatly enjoy this one. The reader is taken on a journey as Robert and Tamara find their way through Tamara's decision of having her business and what it means for them together.

It is interesting to see how they grow through the story. The characters are complex and well-written and move the story along very well. For readers that enjoy this genre, this is definitely a series to check out.

I cannot express how loving BABY, BABY is with all the emotions that encircle in this moving relationship with Tamara and Robert. I enjoyed reading how they undergo so many different levels in their marriage. Watching them finally come together and reach that mark makes it all worthwhile.

With well-developed players, and a love that tugs at the heart, Karen Wiesner remarkably brings believable people and a town to life. They are able to stay close-knit and work through matters, even with many obstacles. I love how she demonstrates how the years in a marriage can still hold faith, hope, charity and forgiveness in this tender story.

As far as the reader will see, this first novel is more about tolerance and letting the wife enjoy some time she desires with friends and get her business off the ground. What he does, is fine, but when two people clash like this, there are only two courses of action - divorce or compromise, and the reader will enjoy finding out which one will apply to the couple.

Normally I don't like to read books with a religious tone to them, but I am very glad to have read this one. I enjoyed it very much. Wiesner has penned a fabulous read. Anyone who's married, thinking about marriage or just thinking about long-term relationships should read this book. Powerful!

I debated with myself for a while about whether I should read, much less review, Karen Wiesner's BABY, BABY. You see, this is an inspirational romance and in the past I have a very hard time identifying with the principles of the main characters in inspirational romances. This story, however, turns out to be very different from the others.

I liked the characters, who were smart and reasonable. Thanks to them, the story turned out to be a well-written and even a heartwarming read.

In BABY, BABY, Karen Wiesner creates a heartwarming family and a sweet couple in Tamara and Robert. BABY, BABY does a great job showing a romance changing and growing even after years of marriage. Both Tamara and Robert look beyond their own wants and examine God’s will for their lives. This is truly a heartwarming story.

Wiesner throws her characters headfirst into the Refiner's fire. To keep their marriage intact, Robert and Tamara have to overcome pride, trust and a bad parental role model. Wiesner shows the raw side of misplaced trust. Before the end, you'll be wincing at mistakes made and rejoicing at the choices made as a marriage emerges--newly formed--under God's grace.

A refreshing look at family conflict wrapped in a sweet story of love, faith and forgiveness. I look forward to the next book in the Family Heirloom Series.

This story was a nice, quick read. It wasn’t complicated; it wasn’t meant to confuse you; it was simply meant to be a nice story. Karen Wiesner does a great job giving her readers one of those books that is very light on the heart and a great summertime read.

This is a simply a story of faith, love, and trust. This is a story is very real in the fact that couples get into arguments all the time and it’s how you handle them that decides the fate of your marriage. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a light read.

This would be especially good for Christian women. I myself am not a religious person, but still found this a pleasant read. I got a little angry at Robert’s ignorance and stubbornness when it came to the issue of women earning an income, but the end result put a contented smile on my face. This is definitely a great beach read!

The Wolfe family greatly resembles the Cleaver family from the old television show Leave It to Beaver. It is up to Tamara to care for the children, keep the house spotless, take the kids to (and be part of) all after school activities, and have a hot meal (usually made from scratch) waiting on the table when Robert comes home. Even Tamara's nights are not her own.

All Robert must do is work his eight hours and come home for Tamara to pamper him. Author Karen Wiesner brings the Wolfe family into the new century. Though it is obviously due to the influence of Robert's father, the mind-set about only the man being allowed to financially support the family is a thing of the past.

And I am in awe of Tamara. Personally, I can think of very few women who have been crafted from the same mold as Tamara. (Keeping the house totally spotless, cooking all the meals, and caring for all the kids more than makes a full time job. Yet instead of relaxing for the few precious hours that she has for herself, Tamara prefers to turn her hobby into a part time job!).

I had a bit of trouble believing Robert's stubbornness at first, especially as I witnessed him down-playing the talents of a woman he was supposed to love, until it dawned on me HOW he came to be this way. My epiphany came from a minor character, Robert's sister. Wiesner's subtle inclusion of his sister is what finally, to me, made Robert's character believable. If you are looking for a sweet, Christian romance, you have no need to go any further than here.

5 Stars Robert is from the old school, believing that Christian wives should take care of their homes and families, not having jobs outside the home. He grew up being taught that it's the man who's responsible for providing for his family financially. His wife Tamara held fast to her faith in God always making a way for them.

While her marriage had weathered many storms, Robert seems to feel threatened and like a lesser man by her independence. To be fair, Robert had grown up in a family with an extremely controlling father who was a million times worse than Robert could ever be. I loved that Tamara was so giving and listened to her family and her neighbor with an understanding heart.

Ultimately, Robert is a good man who cares about his wife and children. The issues he has are about his own worth and value as a husband and provider. Baby, Baby should be required reading for backwards men who need a lesson how good women are at multitasking!

Believable and Emotionally Engaging Story of Growth Within a Marriage

I enjoyed BABY, BABY very much and loved the way the ending worked out. Robert's wrongheaded attitude is quite believable once we know about his father's bad example, and his coming to terms with the new knowledge about his parents' relationship makes Robert's change of heart credible. I felt sorry for him and even sympathetic to him despite being thoroughly exasperated by him, too. Naturally, my main sympathy was with Tamara.

Peaceful, WI

Tamara Wolfe is Thirty-Seven years old. Her life has been filled to capacity since she married her high school sweetheart, Robert, right out of high school and having several children. Now that her last child is in preschool, Tamara makes the decision of taking her long time love of creating designer baskets and to turning it into a business. What she doesn’t expect is for Robert to be against it so she seeks wisdom by praying. She just wants a small space of time for herself and that has her questioning if she is actually being selfish. She also wonders if it is actually God is leading her in that direction or is He leading her to continue being the outdated model of a wife of being submissive but not equal.

This is an interesting story that shows how faith can lead the faithful. For those that enjoy inspirational stories they will greatly enjoy this one. The reader is taken on a journey as Robert and Tamara find their way though Tamara’s decision of having her business and what it means for them together. It is interesting to see how they grow through the story. The characters are complex and well written and move the story along very well. For readers that enjoy this genre this is definitely a series to check out.

ENJOYED VERY MUCH!

BABY,BABY by Karen Wiesner is book 1 the Family Heirlooms Series. I liked Tamara very mush. The way she had to deal with a controlling husband. She always came thru with God's help. She was very strong in God. She was like a cup of cold water. This could teach us a few things of how to trust God in our time of trials. I enjoyed this story very much. Received for an honest review from the author.

RATING: 5

HEAT RATING: SWEET

Reviewed By: DorothyA, My Book Addiction and More

Baby, Baby by Karen Wiesner is a story about a family’s struggle when the wife realizes she can make money from something she’s done in the past as gifts of love. The main characters, Tamara and Robert, have realistic problems that many married couples face. As they struggle with what is the right thing to do in their lives, Robert and Tamara never forget their love for each other.

Their prayers are poignant and revealing. I think Wiesner did an outstanding job of portraying a wonderful role in Tamara as a strong woman with wanting to please God and to keep her family intact. I highly recommend this inspirational romance, Baby, Baby. I look forward to reading more books by Karen Wiesner.

real to life characters in a warm, believable story.

Tamara and Robert have had a nice marriage raising several children together. They have shared their ups and downs and most importantly have shared their faith. As their youngest child enters pre-school, Tamara is encouraged by a stranger to market the gift baskets that have been a labor of love for her to make special and give as gifts. Before she even realizes it Tamara is buying the materials and passing out flyers through her friends and sister-in-law who think this is a grand idea.

Unfortunately, when Tamara presents the idea to Robert he is angered and threatened. Robert's father had always insisted that it was the husband's responsibility to provide for the family and his wife had no business going out to work. Robert had no idea how limiting this was for his mother and he has managed to forget his mother's unhappiness at the restrictions placed on her.

Robert argues that setting up the basket business will effect Tamara's household and family life. Also he insists that they don't need the extra money that she could bring in. Even if it would help with upcoming college expenses which will stress their budget if he doesn't get the promotion he is fighting for at work.

Robert is a worrier and has had times of depression that Tamara has patiently worked through. Now he gets more tense as the promotion looks like it will go to a less qualified co-worker. He also wonders if Tamara might be attracted to another man at their church who has had a secret crush on her for years. Tamara is concerned that Robert may even be trying to force her to get pregnant to keep her with young ones so she can't develop this side interest. His behavior causes pain and hurt for Tamara and frightens his sister who thinks that he will be unreasonably dictatorial like their father.

Tamara is a beautiful, loving and supportive character - I'd love a friend like her. Robert's work stresses are very vivid to me as my husband had to deal with a similar situation. The tension builds and secrets are revealed. The couple experiences much stress and some estrangement before they can talk clearly and hear each other's concerns and desires. This communication problem is so real in life, as are the problem of worrying too much and the issue of submission being improperly used as a tool of control in some Christian households.

The writing flows well and kept me engaged in the interesting problems. I was anxious to learn how the matters were resolved. I highly recommend reading Ms. Wiesner's works if you enjoy life-like stories that deal with real Christian issues.

Interesting quotes:

Tamara's thoughts:

Has she been so giving that her own husband felt no compunction about being selfish and insensitive to her? Location 1533

Tamara to a friend whose husband isn't a believer:

"Ed doesn't own your soul. The Lord does, and He wants to be the source of your reliance." Location 2033

Wiesner has, once again, exceeded my expectations. She had my attention from the first page and never lost it. The series of poignant scenes and tumultuous soul searching was incredibly heart-wrenching.

She wrote as if she knew the subject from first-hand knowledge. To read this story was a highlight of my weekend and this is a book I will treasure. It will definitely go on my keeper shelf.

This Family Heirlooms inspirational family drama is a wonderful character driven tale that provides a profound look at a troubled marriage. Readers will appreciate this deep look at marital relationships though the mindsets of the Samuels’ trio.

I really enjoyed this novel as the conflict seemed so real. Failure to tell each other what they wanted was a disaster just waiting to happen to this couple, yet thinking back over my own marriage, I saw my husband and I were almost as bad! In Shadow Boxing, the questions are asked: Was getting married after indulging in passion not allowed unmarried teenagers who belonged to faith-based families enough? Is their daughter enough to keep them together even when she heads off to college?

What an emotionally packed tale! I found myself so immersed in the characters' lives. You can tell (feel actually) they love each other very much but don't really know how to express it.

Once again the author allows you see inside the heads so you know just what they're thinking, and I really do enjoy that. I can see myself going back and reading this book again. Great dialogue in a relatable story.

Wiesner has written a riveting story about a married couple trying to find their way back into each other’s lives. Beautifully written with an inspirational message throughout.

A well-developed story. I appreciate the author’s wonderful ability to create real characters. I enjoyed the depth and presentation of the emotional issues.

This second installment in Wiesner's Family Heirlooms Series is an affecting story that takes a realistic look at a troubled Christian marriage. The hero and heroine's determination to do the right thing, and the lack of communication between them, is believable, and the reason for their actions is understandable.

There is a definite Christian theme throughout this book. The characters are real. The situation is real. This is a great, realistic read.

SHADOW BOXING is an incredible read. The emotions are wide-span throughout with in-depth characters that cling to the reader. This endearing, poignant story makes the heart leap with joy.

Justine and Joshua make it a realistic read as they try to work out their marriage. I know when I read a book by Karen Wiesner, I'll never be disappointed. She composes captivating stories that enthrall and leave a lasting impression that's hard to forget.

This story pricks at the heart and gives one hope that no matter how hard some matters appear, there is a solution. This book is an extraordinary read and a gem to be treasured.

This book can stand alone with re-appearing characters. SHADOW BOXING was a good Christian book. I liked all the characters. Most of them love God. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys inspirational romance and family heirlooms.

In this second story of the Family Heirlooms Series, we return to Peaceful, Wisconsin. As with most of today's families both the husband, Joshua, and the wife, Justine, each enjoy their own career. The main problem is that by marrying due to a sense of responsibility, instead of allowing their romance to take its natural course, their relationship became as if frozen in time.

The author, Karen Wiesner, has done a wonderful job of showing how such a couple can have conflicting emotions and how vital open communications are. As for Vash, I hope to see more of this intelligent young lady in future books of the series; even if it is only as a counselor for other main-couple characters. Brava!

Don't attempt to read SHADOW BOXING without a box of tissue within reach. I cried and ached for both Justine and Joshua as I read. Wiesner is a master of manipulating your heart strings as you're drawn deeper and deeper. Leave it to her to take a sensitive subject and write a beautiful, romantic novel out of it.

An Outstanding & Enjoyable Story!

Karen Wiesner's book, SHADOW BOXING, treats readers to a beautiful love story that speaks to the heart. From the first page I was captivated by the characters Justine and Joshua Samuels. I enjoyed reading this second book in the Family Heirlooms Series. I felt so invested in both characters, Justine and Joshua, that I wanted to reach out to them and offer them advice with their struggles in their marriage. Wiesner pulled me into the thoughts of her characters by giving more depth to their big worries and concerns about their married life together. Wiesner includes quotes about love at the beginning of each chapter which I also enjoyed.

Vashti, the teenage daughter of Justine and Joshua, is an important part of the story because she forces her parents to deal with their problems by giving them a mission trip to Mexico for their anniversary gift. Vashti fears that her parents will divorce when she goes off to college and they become empty nesters. She keeps her parents focused by a unique approach while they are all three in Mexico.

I highly recommend SHADOW BOXING by Karen Wiesner and it's a relevant Christian book that makes an emotional impact about love that you won't forget. If you haven't read Book One in the series, that's no problem because this can be read as a stand alone.

I ENJOYED THIS TITLE!

SHADOW BOXING by Karen Wiesner is book #2 in the "Family Heirlooms" Series,but can stand as a stand alone with re-appearing characters. "Shadow Boxing" was a good Christian Book. I liked all the characters. Most of all they loved God. I enjoyed reading book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys inspirational romance,small towns,and family heirlooms. Received for an honest review from the author.

RATING: 4

HEAT RATING: SWEET

Reviewed By: AprilR, My Book Addiction and More

An emotionally packed tale

Joshua and Justine grew up together. Justine's life was full of responsibility between keeping up with school, keeping house and taking care of a dying father. The only respite was seeing and being with Joshua. When Justine finds out she's pregnant, she and Joshua marry. Now their daughter is grown and ready to leave for college. So where does that leave their marriage when all that's held it together is caring for their daughter. Can a marriage born out of responsibility ever be more than that? They just might find the answer to that in an unexpected missions trip planned by their daughter.

What an emotionally packed tale! I read this very quickly because I found myself so immersed in the lives of both Joshua and Justine. You can tell (feel actually) that they love each other very much but don't really know how to express it. Once again this author allows you see inside the heads of our lead couple so you know just what they're thinking and I really do enjoy that. I loved Joshua. He was all the things a good hero should be. Kind, gentle and protective but he really had difficulty with expressing his feelings. I liked Justine. She was very capable and yet unsure. I enjoyed watching this couple strive to redefine and save their marriage, grow as individuals and learn how to be with each other. I also loved their daughter Vashti. She was so bubbly and interested in helping her parents. There is a little twist near the end that was great. I must confess that the missions trip is my favorite part in this story. I can see myself going back and reading that again. Great dialog. If you've ever had problems in your marriage many aspects of this story will be relate-able. It deals with sin, guilt, forgiveness and love. Shadow Boxing is the second book in the Family Heirlooms Series. A thank you goes to the author for providing this complimentary copy for review.

“

CONTINUE FAMILY HEIRLOOMS SERIES!

FOOLISH GAMES by Karen Wiesner is book #3 of the "Family Heirlooms Series" of the Inspirational romance,but can be read as a stand alone,with re-appearing characters from the other two books. See,"Baby,Baby",and "Shadow Boxing". What a wonderful Christian Kimberly was. How she tried to keep everyone together,and how God gave her such a good husband. It would be great if everyone could have as much God in them as Kimberly. A great story! Received for an honest review from the author.
HEAT RATING: SWEET

DorothyA, My Book Addiction and More, amazon review ”

A young Christian woman struggles with seeking pardon from those she's hurt when she can't seem to get past her own inability to forgive those who have wronged her.

Three years ago, Samantha Samuels had suffered under the violent hands of Ryder Feldmann, a juvenile delinquent her pastor father had been counseling. Now she's completed her psychiatry training and plans to help other victims of violent crimes at the rape counseling clinic in her hometown of Peaceful, Wisconsin. Unexpectedly, she finds herself sharing an office building and Sunday services at her new church with the older brother, a divorce counselor, of her attacker...the very man she'd been in love with before her rape.

In the time since Kyle Feldmann's brother was jailed for his crime against Samantha, he's lived with the torment of all he's lost because of his sibling. Before the tragedy that stole Samantha from him and destroyed his dreams, Kyle had begged her to risk her father's disappointment and elope with him. Seeing Samantha again after so many years, being near her, only puts him right back where he was before the rape. Kyle wants to heal Samantha, love her, and fulfill the dreams he grieved the loss of--by marrying her. But how can they be together forever when she's still so broken?

All her life, Samantha had wanted her father's approval, but his selfish part in putting her in a dangerous situation has led her to a painful place of desperately needing to forgive him and her attacker...and being unable to in all the time since the traumatic event that ripped her life in two. As she gives her heart to Kyle once more, her already fractured relationship with the Lord is tested. In the crossfire of faith, she wonders if glass angels shatter beyond recognition when they take a leap of faith, or if they can heal and become stronger than ever before.

“

Worlds Collide, Book 6 of the Family Heirlooms Series

I enjoyed Marc and Keiko's story while Marc struggled to be a gentleman with Keiko. As her parents’ customs dictate, she’s been engaged to an older man since she was a child. Her secret feelings for Marc solidify her desire to disobey their wishes and break the engagement that has nothing to do with love. Keiko and Marc have been best friends since the day they met, working at the same missionary hospital in Japan. Marc is also friends with Keiko’s brother. The two siblings have accepted the Lord but aren’t ready to tell their parents. When Marc returns to America, Keiko can’t bear to be separated with him. But can they find a way to be together when they come from such different worlds? I enjoyed watching the couple struggle with their desires, needs, and family traditions as well as the glimpse into a different culture.”

Hotcha, Amazon Reviews ”

Sword of Faxinor, by Michelle Levigne is the forth book in her Chronicles of Faxinor series. I, however, did not read the first three books in this series. And I do not feel that lost. So I do believe that this book could be a stand alone. Though I do admit that I have every intention of going back to read the first three. Eventually. There are a lot of book in the world.

I loved the Characters the best. Above all world building and plot development, the story of a young man, lost at sea, separated from his family, and accepting his destiny was really engaging. If you liked Treasure Island or Kidnapped, then give this book a try.

This book is set mostly at sea. A large, ancient and monster filled sea. The tone is simultaneously light and dark. If that doesn't make sense to you go watch a Pirates of the Caribbean movie. In fact if you liked Pirates of the Caribbean, and are looking for similar fare, then you should really read this book.

Five Stars

Very Good

This book will have you laughing, crying and empathizing with Zoë throughout the entire story. It's well-written. While reading it, I felt as if I were a part of the characters’ lives as Zoë talks with the reader, sharing her thoughts, feelings and experiences.

She's such a likable character and someone readers can relate to on many levels. Readers will be sucked right into the drama and will want to keep reading until the end!

This was a really good and worthwhile book to read. Fast, fun, and definitely enjoyable. Highly recommended.

I'm an avid fan of Ms. Wiesner and enjoy her heartwarming stories that make you feel that you are there in person and not reading a book.

The first Friendship Heirlooms inspirational romance is a strong spinoff of the Family Heirlooms Series. The protagonists are a super pairing. Using hyperbole to embellish the engaging storyline, readers will relish Curt's redemption as Zoe puts him through an emotional gauntlet (which she's running through, too).

Even if you're not a Christian, you'll still enjoy this tale very much. That's one of the things I like most about the author, Karen Wiesner. Each character has its own developed background; however, the main and secondary characters have fully developed ones, too. Each title is a stand-alone story and, as always, each story is fabulous!

The book tells the story of Zoë Rossdale and Curt Bertoletti. It's an "ex-lover" story, the usual ex stuff, but really a good one. It took me a loooong while to finish the book because every time I picked up this book, I couldn't control my emotions and tears would stream down my face.

I usually take my books everywhere I go and this was the one book I couldn't read in public. Past the first quarter of the book I was sobbing. [The story made] my heart ache, literally. When Curt left Zoë (broke up with her on the phone), it's like the whole world came crashing down at her.

She was fired in her first job, she caught her father having an affair with her mother's sister, she stopped school, lost her apartment, and it came to point where she couldn’t even buy her own food! Who would not cry reading that kind of story? Anyway, it's all about forgiveness.

I know the feeling. You've been hurt and even if you can forgive him, you can never forget those bad things he did to you. This is such a heart touching emotional story.

Another thing I loved in the story was Curt and his family. They're Italian and they're very sweet. That's something I immensely enjoyed reading! All in all, I loved the book!

The story might seem like just another common romance tale, but it had much more to offer. The characters were richly drawn and had a lot of depth. The language was quite simple and yet the sentence structure was perfect.

This is a delightful, short novel with incredible depth of emotion packed into it. It should be a movie! Secrets get revealed on almost every page, which kept me reading and entertained.

We’re sucked in. Author Karen Wiesner allows the reader to navigate nothing short of your soul. There’s a lovely prescription here in this book for being a better and happier person, but you can read this novel for the pure joy, laughter, and funny antics that happen.

I loved it! Wiesner outdoes herself yet again with another well-written story.

FOUR STARS! What I did not mention in my synopsis is that no one in Curt's family, except his mother, has ever approved of Zoë. The woman that Curt had dumped Zoë for is also in this story.

So Curt has his work cut out for him in proving his fidelity to Zoë. Another thing I did not mention is that Zoë and Curt both have big Maine Coon Cats. If not for those two cats, the pair may never have gotten back together.

Each character has its own developed background; however, the main and secondary characters have fully developed ones. Zoë's roommate will have her story told in a later title. Zoë's two other friends had their stories told in the Family Heirloom Series (of which this new series is a spin-off). Each title is a stand-alone story and, as always, each story is fabulous!

The Clumsy Girl's Guide to Falling in Love

I freely chose to review this book as I am a avid fan of Ms. Wiesner and enjoy her heart warming stories that make you feel that you are there in person and not reading the books. The book is about an introverted string bean of a woman with size fourteen feet that can out eat any man AND STILL NOT GAIN WEIGHT! (BIG SIGH) Zoe has a hatred of all men after her mom died , but before she died she said she thought her dad and her aunt were having an affair. After she was expelled from college he threw her out as she was homeless until she got another job a co-worker took her in and refused to take her money. She believed that she was unloved since her mom died, and she had a hard time believing her co-workers only wanted to help. She had no friends as she never gave them a chance to know her as she feared being hurt again, but she gradually her co-workers in. Months later, she met Curt Bertoletti and she let him in and opened up her soul to him as she had to no other person, but he dumped her for another girl who was beautiful and had it going on. To make matters worse, he broke up with her by leaving a message on her telephone! Now she felt totally smacked down and rejected!

I loved that Curt manned up and saw that the girl he had lusted over for years only used him to get what she wanted and that he had a inner war with himself whether to pursue Zoe again and beg to take him back as he realized that she was his other half, but his family had never approved of Zoe because she was not Italian and that she was such a clumsy woman who tripped over her own feet .

The book tells the story of Zoe Rossdale and Curt Bertoletti. Curt left Zoe for another girl and Zoe couldn't let go even after three years. They met again while Zoe's walking her cat just after she had her hair cut off and suddenly, Curt realized his mistakes (actually after seeing her new straight hair!) and found himself wanting to reconnect with Zoe. It's an "ex-lover" story, the usual ex stuff, but really a good one (oh well, except the last part - explanations below).

It took me a loooong while to finish the book because every time I pick up this book, I couldn't control my emotions and tears would stream down my face. I usually take my books everywhere I go and this was the one book I couldn't read in public. The last time I read this book in public was in my doctor's clinic. I couldn't hide my red eyes to my doctor and I had to explain everything to her, like giving her the synopsis of the story *lol*. It was such an embarrassing day for me! After that, I vowed to never read romance in public ever again!

Past the first quarter of the book I was sobbing, makes my heart ache, literally. When Curt left Zoe (broke up with her on the phone), it's like the whole world came crashing down at her. She was fired in her first job, she caught her father having an affair with her mother's sister, she stopped school, lost her apartment, and it came to point where she can't even buy her own food! Who would not cry reading that kind of story? Anyway, it's all about forgiveness. I know the feeling. You've been hurt and even if you can forgive him, you can never forget those bad things he did to you. ;( This is such a heart touching emotional story....

Another thing I loved in the story was Curt and his family. They're Italian and they're very sweet. There are too many Italian things to learn while reading this book. That's something I immensely enjoyed reading!

The only thing I didn't like in the story was the christian theme, it was there all along but I failed to notice it in the first few chapters. It became a "hardcore christian" the last 50 or so pages. I've read a lot of christian-romance books but more often I knew the content before reading. In this book, I didn't know about the christian thing, and I found the lines a little "preachy". All in all, I loved the book and this one's gonna get 4-stars from me!

This book will keep you up long into the night reading, providing a roller coaster ride from start to finish. The plot is excellent, keeping you intrigued, surprised and amazed. The pacing was excellent, never lags and keeps you glued, anxious to see what will happen next.

As I finished, I was sorry to say goodbye and did so reluctantly. The characters were masterfully developed, portrayed as very real and human. Wiesner has crafted another winner.

The second fantastic Friendship Heirlooms Series inspirational romance is a tense suspense starring two vulnerable, lost souls finding each other twice while also obtaining solace with the Lord. His angel and her hero come together in a strong tale as Karen Wiesner provides an entertaining second chance drama.

Get out a big box of tissue for this story. In the Friendship Heirloom Series, we meet secondary characters from the Family Heirlooms Series. LeeAnn had been introduced in GLASS ANGELS, Book 4.

I couldn’t help loving Michael Fremont, who had such a sad and tragic childhood, yet he protected his next door neighbor LeeAnn, a shy girl bullied both at home and at school. When they’re finally free to be together, the past still won’t let them go without a fight. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Karen Wiesner again has reached into the troubled lives of her characters and brought hope, love, and God into their lives. A fantastic read. I anticipate reading more of this series!

One of the things I like best about Karen Wiesner is that she writes realistically and keeps drawing me back for more. I enjoyed every moment I spent reading this gem and plan to pick up another of her titles to read during my upcoming vacation. Wonderful, as usual.

Wiesner’s second Friendship Heirlooms book is interesting, with several surprises.

FOUR STARS! One of the best things I like about Karen Wiesner’s stories is that she writes realistically. When two or more characters have different views of a situation, Wiesner states the view point of each person.

By doing so, I, as the reader, can understand why each character reacts they way s/he does. I can empathize and with most, if not all, characters and (therefore) understand their dilemmas. Most every tale that I have read from Wiesner is written this way and it keeps drawing me back for more of her stories.

I state all this because I figured many reading my synopsis would wonder just how Mike enlisting and leaving LeeAnn alone could actually help her. Readers probably wonder if he was actually abandoning her when she needed comfort and stability. Only by reading the story and understanding Michael’s point-of-view will the reader be able to understand.

New readers to the series will not find themselves lost. This is a stand-alone story; however, if you read the first title in this series, you will recognize the main characters as secondary ones in this story. I enjoyed every moment I spent reading this gem and plan to pick up another of Wiesner’s titles to read during my upcoming vacation. Wonderful, as usual.

Karen Wiesner writes realistically.

Michael “Mike” Fremont lost his mother when she committed suicide in front of him while he was still in the single digits. Since then all he had done is survived. His last foster home bullied and used him like a male version of Cinderella. Mike cared about no one until LeeAnn Wagner moved in next door. Michael and LeeAnn fell in love. His love for her saved him. But as bad as his life was, her life was worse and Mike planned to rescue her.

LeeAnn was the result of her mother’s adultery. Her mother, Lindsey, had kept them moving around all of LeeAnn’s life. They never settled down anywhere for longer than a month; always running from Lindsey’s insane, murderously jealous husband. But this time Lindsey stayed in one spot for too long. Samson Oligee caught up with them. The man managed to kill Lindsey and her lover Jeremy; however, before Samson could kill LeeAnn, Michael had snuck into the house and helped her flee. Thirteen years passed …

Mike and LeeAnn settled in Peaceful, Wisconsin. Samson had been caught by the police, convicted of murdering Lindsey and Jeremy, and institutionalized for insanity. A year after his capture the institution had burned to the ground and the FBI assured them that LeeAnn’s homicidal stalker had been identified as one of the fire’s victims. Michael knew that LeeAnn had not been ready for the fierce longings that he kept in check. In order to give LeeAnn time to heal from her life-long trauma, he ensured she was safe with their friends in Peaceful before he enlisted with the Marines.

Michael’s four year tour is now over. He returns to Peaceful with the hope that LeeAnn has healed enough emotionally to consider a life with him by her side. As for LeeAnn, she has learned to care for herself and that gives her a feeling of accomplishment. She hopes that they can finally wed and be happy. So why does LeeAnn feel as though someone is in her apartment at night? Why does she not feel alone in her tightly secured home?

**** FOUR STARS! One of the best things I like about Karen Wiesner’s stories is that she writes realistically. When two or more characters have different views of a situation, Wiesner states the view point of each person. By doing so, I, as the reader, can understand why each character reacts they way s/he does. I can empathize and with most, if not all, characters and (therefore) understand their dilemmas. Most every tale that I have read from Wiesner is written this way and it keeps drawing me back for more of her stories. I state all this because I figured many reading my synopsis would wonder just how Mike enlisting and leaving LeeAnn alone could actually help her. Readers probably wonder if he was actually abandoning her when she needed comfort and stability. Only by reading the story and understanding Michael’s point-of-view will the reader be able to understand.

New readers to the series will not find themselves lost. This is a stand-alone story; however, if you read the first title in this series, you will recognize the main characters as secondary ones in this story. I enjoyed every moment I spent reading this gem and plan to pick up another of Wiesner’s titles to read during my upcoming vacation. Wonderful, as usual. ****

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

fantastic inspirational romance

Michael's Angel

Karen Wiesner

Lulu.com, Jul 30 2015, $14.95

ISBN: 9781312769083

When Michael Fremont still was able to count his birthdays on his fingers, his mother told him she never wanted him just before she committed suicide in front of him. Over the next decade he bounced around the foster family program. The last few years he stayed with the aptly named Stern family in Chicago while his foster sister Eliza blackmailed him. However, in two weeks he will leave the system and the Sterns, and take his vulnerable BFF LeeAnn Wagner with him.

LeeAnn and her mother spent a lifetime running from her husband who wanted his cheating wife and someone else’s child dead; since her dad died Leeann is seemingly is free, but remains haunted by her harrowing past. Meanwhile, feeling unworthy of LeeAnn, Michael panics when his desire for her seems out of control. After insuring her safety and heeding a pastor’s advice, Michael enlists in the Marines.

When his military service ends, Michael needs to know how his angel is. In Peaceful, Wisconsin, Michael finds a much stronger LeeAnn. Already in love with each other and both finding solace with the Lord, he prays she gives him a second chance and she prays he takes a second chance. In the darkness looking into Eden, someone else covets a second chance at LeeAnn and if necessary Michael.

The second fantastic Friendship Heirloom inspirational romance (see Clumsy Girl’s Guide To Falling In Love; LeeAnn is a support character) is a tense suspense starring two vulnerable lost souls finding each other twice while also obtaining solace with the Lord. His angel and her hero come together in a strong tale as Karen Wiesner provides an entertaining second chance drama.

Harriet Klausner

In this next book in the series, we gain insight into the best friend of Ashley, the heroine of the previous story. Jazz had been with her throughout her childhood horror and they remain close in the present. In SHARDS OF ASHLEY, Jazz and Wesley broke up when he learned some disturbing details from her previous life.

As a pastor, he’d had to make a choice about whether she was the wife God wanted for him. But it quickly became clear to him that she was. Married life is filled with joy neither could have imagined before, but there’s an elephant in the room never discussed.

Even as an adult and married woman, Jazz continues to look out for her aging father, a characteristic that’s beautiful to behold. But forgiving herself for the past isn’t easy when closure about so many things is lacking. This story is a tear-jerker.

I rooted for Jazz and Wesley to find a happily-ever-after the whole time. Can’t wait to find out what’s next in the series!

In Peaceful, Wisconsin, young teens Chad Feldmann and Winnie McBride have sex. She becomes pregnant and gives birth to a baby girl. To avoid the errors that most kids having kids do, Chad insists they remain celibate until they graduate and marry. Three years later, after the couple completes high school, they wed and raise their child Kally.
Winnie feels resentment towards her husband and daughter as she sacrificed much for them to become a family. As she works two jobs and takes care of little Kally, her disappointment is further fueled when Chad uses his college fund that his family banked for him to pursue his dreams. Chad knows he made foolish mistakes out of love and his constant fear his soulmate would leave him; but his recent actions to insure he can care for his two beloved females instead may fulfill his nightmarish prophecy.

The fourth fabulous Friendship Heirlooms series (see Forever And All That Jazz) star two wonderful protagonists as Chad and Winnie have love, a baby and marriage in that order, but apparently also a dying relationship. With a strong support cast (a trademark of Ms. Wiesner as for instance this lead couple were in the Family Heirlooms Series drama Glass Angels), fans will relish the return to Peaceful although what appears to be the end of a marriage.

5 Stars In Peaceful, Wisconsin A&A Design Elaina Houston reflects back to her childhood in which her parents demanded 24/7 perfect behavior (as defined by them) from her. She tried to live up to the parental paragon but failed as no person could meet the expectations demanded by her father and mother. Eventually she gave up attempting to live someone else’s fantasy at the cost of internal tsuris; though since she quit trying Elaina almost always focuses on the bad from her past while ignoring the good.

Her only reliefs from self-induced misery are her belief in the Lord, and her Odd Jobs co-worker and BFF Ethan Lynwood as he likes the “real” Elaina. Super-egotistical Ethan believed in his unfailing genius that led him to make terrible errors that hurt others as he covered for the misdeeds of his father and especially his brother Sebastian. The camel’s back broke when his sibling’s actions led to the suicide of Abby, a girl Ethan liked.

Giving up on “evil” Sebastian and deciding to leave his family behind in Chicago, Ethan fled to La Crosse to escape from his enabling mistakes; as he has learned wisdom without humility and passion for the Lord and people lead to prideful transgressions. Two years ago Ethan met Elaina. In love with God and each other, neither anticipated their pasts to arrive with vengeance.

The fifth fantastic Friendship Heirloom inspirational contemporary (see First Comes Love and Forever And All That Jazz) is a delightful novel starring two protagonists who turned to God to help them deal with dysfunctional family histories. The suspense comes late, but brings completeness (and full circle) to a tremendous drama.

CLUMSY GIRL’S GUIDE TO HAVING A BABY, by Karen Wiesner. Although this is a sequel to CLUMSY GIRL’S GUIDE TO FALLING IN LOVE, you can appreciate the new novel without having read that one or any of the other books set in Wiesner’s fictional town of Peaceful, Wisconsin. This story unfolds partly in Zoe’s distinctive, funny first-person narrative voice and partly in third person from Curt’s viewpoint.

The author makes both characters sympathetic and understandable. The interaction of feminine insecurity and masculine cluelessness is delightful and touching. Wiesner pulls off the most effective type of humor, in which the humorous predicaments aren’t funny to the protagonists suffering through them.

At the same time, the serious aspects of Curt and Zoe’s relationship and the problems they grapple with remain convincingly real. The supporting cast features a charming group of quirky, relatable secondary characters. The reader doesn’t feel, as in some relationship-centered stories, that the hero and heroine live in a social vacuum.

This novel also has inspirational content, and the religious dimension is realistically integrated into the story as a natural part of the couple’s life. By the conclusion, hero and heroine achieve a fully satisfying and believably well-earned happy ending

I just loved this book, and I marveled at Vashti Samuels's strong faith in her God, and the way she kept herself pure for her husband. It was so refreshing for her to stand firm in her beliefs even when her two best friends, Roz and Justice, deserted her because of Roz’s selfish need to have Justice to herself. I felt so bad that Justice found himself caught between the two most important women in his life. ALL GOOD THINGS is a must read!”

Vashti goes through this rollercoaster ride of emotions. This, to me, has become the author’s trademark. Wiesner writes the most heartbreaking yet uplifting Christian romances I've ever read and continues to be one of my favorite romance writers today. The characters are well-developed and, by the end of the story, I feel as though they're almost real.

5 Stars I just loved this book, and I marveled at Vashti Samuels strong faith in her God, and the way she kept herself pure for her husband. It was so refreshing for her to stand firm in her beliefs even when her two best friends, Roz and Justice, deserted her because of Roz’s selfish need to have Justice to herself. I felt so bad that Justice found himself caught between the two most important women in his life. ALL GOOD THINGS is A MUST READ!

Friendship Heirlooms Series, Book 7: All Good Things

I just loved this book, and I marveled at Vashti Samuels strong faith in her God, and the way she kept herself pure for her husband. It was so refreshing for her to stand firm in her beliefs even when her two best friends, Roz and Justice, deserted her because of Roz’s selfish need to have Justice to herself. I felt so bad that Justice found himself caught between the two most important women in his life. ALL GOOD THINGS is A MUST READ!”

Keep tissues handy because there are a lot of tears.

Vashti Samuels grew up in Peaceful, Wisconsin, with her two best friends, Rozlyn Gosnik and Justice Adams. Vashti never realized that Roz felt only jealousy and animosity for her because she believed Justice was attracted to her. During a tender moment between Vashti and Justice, Roz walked in. Abruptly, Roz made her own feelings for Justice known and emotionally blackmails Justice into choosing her and permanently breaking all ties with Vashti.

In the years that follow, Roz and Justice wed and have a volatile marriage. It ends when Roz kills herself, almost taking Justice’s life with hers. Vashti had not allowed herself to think of Justice as anything but the best friend she lost to another best friend. When her mother informed Vashti that Justice was in the hospital and how it happened, Vashti rushed to Justice’s side only to be told she was the last person he ever wanted to see. Vashti accepted it and left.

For six months, Vashti had been spotting Justice in the crowds during her various conferences. Then he was in the hospital again; this one close by to her latest conference. (It was no coincidence he was nearby.) Justice’s mother cannot get to Justice quickly. She asked Vashti to check him out of the hospital and stay with him until she could get there. During this alone time together, Vashti wondered what happened to Justice. Where was the moral, upright, good Christian man she once knew so well?

**** FOUR STARS! Most of my synopsis is told on the back of the book. The story actually begins when Justice is in the hospital (the first time) after Roz’s death. The character of Vashti goes through this rollercoaster ride of emotions with more grace than I could ever have done. This, to me, has become this author’s trademark. Wiesner writes the most heartbreaking, yet uplifting, Christian Romances I have ever read and continues to be one of my favorite romance writers today. The characters are well developed and by the end of the story, I feel as though they are almost real. ****

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

“

A Sweet Read
I loved this cozy mystery by Christine DeSmet! Her engaging characters leap off the page as do her vivid descriptions of the Lake Michigan scenery. And then there are the delicious descriptions of fudge that make your mouth water. Thankfully, there are recipes available at the back of the book.
Candy shop owner and fudge maker extraordinaire, Ava Oosterling, provides a wedding venue for her friend at her inn and also agrees to make the table arrangements--edible fudge lighthouses patterned off those in the county. But disaster hits in the form of a gang of thieves, a dead body, and Ava's involvement as an undercover detective. The result is a rollicking mystery that keeps you entertained from beginning to end. This light read is highly recommended!

Margaret Mizushima, Amazon Review ”

Series continues to satisfy!

Christine DeSmet's Door County cozy mystery series continues to hold my interest and keeps me wondering what hijinks Ava and her friends (boy and girl) are up to. She doesn't disappoint in this one, and if you like cozies this series is tops.

Rarely do I laugh out loud when reading, but there are a couple of moments in this novel, the fifth book of the series, that caught me so off-guard that I did! The characters are charming, the food sounds delicious, and the small town is enchanting - everything a cozy should be!

No Fudging on Suspects!

Have plenty of chocolate handy as you read Undercover Fudge, the fifth Fudge Shop cozy mystery in Christine DeSmet's series.

Ava Oosterling, master confectioner, innkeeper, and self-appointed detective in Fishers’ Harbor, Wisconsin, has more than the usual suspects to investigate following a murder in her own backyard—during a friend’s wedding, no less! Follow Ava and her best friend and co-sleuth Pauline throughout picturesque Door County as they tackle grifters, goats, goons, and twisting clues galore to solve this case that has the local sheriff in fits. It’s sure to please your sweet tooth as well!

What's a wedding without fudge lighthouses and a mysterious death?

In Undercover Fudge, we return to Fishers' Harbor in beautiful Door County for a friend's wedding. Ava Oosterling does double duty as the village fudge shop owner and the proprietress of a B&B, with the added excitement of hosting a wedding. Of course, with Ava's luck, things don't go as smoothly as hoped. Despite the sheriff's warning, Ava ends up getting drawn into a twisty plot that covers everything from missing vintage china to fudge lighthouses to guns hidden in old textbooks. A great cozy mystery (and don't forget a new fudge recipe!)

Melt in Your Mouth Mystery

I love this series about Ava and her fudge shop and the trouble she always seems to get herself into. I like to read all kinds of genres, but when I want to escape with a light read that will keep me engaged and guessing, these mysteries set in Door County are my go-to. You don't need to read the others to be able to understand the characters or the plot. Since I've been to Door County I always feel as though I'm right there in Ava's pocket as she searches for clues to solve the murder. And if you haven't been to Door County, then you will get a firsthand glimpse of why you must visit. Christine DeSmet does such a great job of creating characters I care about and then weaving their stories into a suspenseful drama. Undercover Fudge revolves around a wedding to be held at Ava's Inn. As she and her best friend plan and prepare, nefarious guests begin to arrive--each one with a plausible reason to commit the crime. It's such a fun read--fudge lighthouses, a goat in the wedding party, a fender-bender, and through it all--a little romance, too.

Light hearted mystery with just the right amount of drama, but with a side of humor.

This series is a wonderful, light hearted, easy read. There is an overall shadow of humor throughout despite the serious nature of the crime. I love the location in which the series takes place, in Door County, Wisconsin. If you have never been there, it deserves a visit.

Ava Oosterling, fudgemaker/innkeeper/sleuth of picturesque Door County, Wisconsin, works her way through a complex set of crimes focused on the wedding of a close friend in Undercover Fudge. The latest of the Fudge Shop Mysteries by Christine DeSmet, this one leaves a sweeter taste in your mouth than ever.

Escape to Door County, Wisconsin, a little piece of New England in the Midwest: Undercover Fudge is Christine DeSmet’s fifth in the Fudge Shop cozy mystery series. Shop owner Ava is supposed to be crafting fudge lighthouses for a friend’s wedding reception. However, she loses her way after the disturbing news that her best friend’s mother might be in town with a group of grifters, targeting the same wedding.

Once valuable collectibles go missing from Ava’s inn, and a couple of dead bodies turn up, Ava finds herself in dangerous waters without a rudder. A quirky group of wedding guests unite to give her aid and comfort, proving that many hands can either make light work or a larger mess of things! Ava must come to terms with her past and face her future even as obstacles surface in the midst of a chaotic and constantly evolving case. Readers can relate to Ava as she confronts her dilemmas and will find satisfaction in the hopeful message that people can change and are deserving of grace and forgiveness.

Savor this mystery like a velvety piece of Cinderella Fairy Tale Fudge

Escape to Door County, Wisconsin, a little piece of New England in the Midwest: Undercover Fudge is Christine DeSmet’s fifth in the Fudge Shop cozy mystery series. Shop owner Ava is supposed to be crafting fudge lighthouses for a friend’s wedding reception. However, she loses her way after the disturbing news that her best friend’s mother might be in town with a group of grifters, targeting the same wedding. Once valuable collectibles go missing from Ava’s inn, and a couple of dead bodies turn up, Ava finds herself in dangerous waters without a rudder. A quirky group of wedding guests unite to give her aid and comfort, proving that many hands can either make light work or a larger mess of things!

Ava must come to terms with her past and face her future even as obstacles surface in the midst of a chaotic and constantly evolving case. Readers can relate to Ava as she confronts her dilemmas and will find satisfaction in the hopeful message that people can change and are deserving of grace and forgiveness.

Door County, Wisconsin, sets the scene with a story that's guaranteed to please your palette. The combined ingredients of a gang of thieves, a precious ancestral cup, a ring-bearing goat, mashed potato fudge, polka dancing, loose tent stakes, and a few dead bodies, serve up one heck of a delicious read!

Guaranteed to Please Your Palette!

Door County, Wisconsin, sets the scene with a story that's guaranteed to please your palette. The combined ingredients of a gang of thieves, a precious ancestral cup, a ring-bearing goat, mashed potato fudge, polka dancing, loose tent stakes, and a few dead bodies, serve up one heck of a delicious read!

Fudge, History and Mystery
The story unfolds in the picturesque village of Fishers’ Harbor where the scent of fudge wafts through the air, blending seamlessly with the rich history of Door County, Wisconsin. Ava Oosterling is preparing her Blue Heron Inn for Christmas guests and the upcoming wedding of her best friend. When a murder shakes the tranquil village to its core, eight residents, each with their own secrets and motives, become the focal point of the investigation.

Among them is Ava’s grandfather, adding a personal touch to the suspense. DeSmet’s story is filled with intricate relationships, suspicions, and hidden agendas, leaving readers guessing until the very end. This latest addition to the Fudge Shop Cozy Mystery Series is a delightful blend of history, mystery, and mouthwatering fudge.

With its well-drawn characters, intricate plot twists, and a setting that comes alive on the page, this book is a must-read for fans of the genre. Be prepared for a journey through Door County that will have you craving fudge and another book from DeSmet’s captivating series. A great holiday gift for lovers of the genre and Door County.

Love the mix of magic and technology This was the first one of these books that I read, not realizing that it was actually last of the ones he has written so far in terms of sequence of events. I have read all of the books multiple times and it is one of my favorite series.

To me it is what is great about independent publishing. I would really recommend them if you like a great story line. I read a ton and this is one of the best indie authors I have come across.

Reviewed By: John M Huzinec

Great book in a great series! I've been following this author since I first stumbled onto one of his earlier books in this series (well, this world) - Reality'S Plaything. There's some tremendous worldbuilding, compelling stories, and plenty more.

This author is really one of the gems in the wild that you stumble upon sometimes. I would suggest starting with one of the earlier books in the series though.

Reviewed By: Chris

I love these books I hate writing reviews, but nobody is, so I like these books because anything can happen. I'm finished, please buy the books I want him to finish the series.

Reviewed By: Bob

You Never Know to Whom You're Talking.

You would not have got very far into Patricia Bernard chilling tale “Ghosts Dancing on Water” before you realised that Stevie Switch is someone that you would go to some considerable lengths to avoid annoying. Quite how to describe Stevie I do not know – I am not psychologist – but he is definitely not criminally insane. Criminal insanity is concerned primarily with intent and the ability to form it. Stevie definitely has the ability to form intent. In fact, that is what the book is all about: Stevie’s intentions, the way that he forms them, and the meticulous and patient way in which he carries them out.

Sociopath? Maybe, I couldn’t say for sure. Psychopath? Definitely, but considering his train-wreck of a family, and the ghastly experiences of his childhood, it is hardly surprising that he turned out like he did. Mind you, a lot of other people suffer as much or worse and do not turn into serial killers. Genes must have a lot to do with it. Stevie thinks so. Stevie thinks quite a lot about genes.

Stevie is not entirely evil. He has virtues, and patience is one of them. Roy never understood that; he thought that Stevie was finally learning to do as he was told. Silly Roy. And Stevie is loyal to his friends, as Pablo found out. Stevie did not have to stay until the bitter end, but he did. But then Pablo did not really understand Stevie either. Melody Rose had suspicions, but she never really understood. Lily does. Only too well. She is the only one who does.

Patricia Bernard has a good way with words. They flow easily and naturally. You can almost hear the Australian accent. At times it is almost as if Stevie is whispering in your ear as he explains what he is doing, and why [it is all in the first person]. It is creepy stuff. Melody Rose gets a say, too, and Pamela, and Rachel, and Claire and others even after – well, you’ll find out in good time. And then you, too, will be able to understand Stevie. Or, at least, insofar as any normal person can understand him. And when you do, you will also understand the truly frightening part of this story: there are people like Stevie walking around the streets, sitting next to you in a café, maybe evening living next door.

There is one thing that you won’t understand, however. Why are there no ghosts along the Swan River or the Brisbane River, yet they cluster like flies along the Yarra?

This is a good one. Four stars.

Stephen Symons.

A truly enjoyable and surprisingly captivating trilogy

Having read and enjoyed many of Max’s novels, I decided to step outside my usual historical fiction comfort zone and try something completely different. Cryptozoology has never been a particular interest of mine, so I wasn’t sure whether this trilogy would grip me the way his other books have. To my surprise, it absolutely did.

The first book hooked me with its clever blend of science, mystery, and the unknown, and each instalment kept me guessing right up to the final page. Before I knew it, I was diving straight into the second and then the third book, eager to see where the story would lead. I never expected to enjoy a series featuring Neanderthals and mythical creatures as much as I did, but the way Max weaves these elements together makes the world feel both imaginative and strangely plausible.

It’s an entertaining, well written trilogy that sparks the imagination and leaves you wanting more.

very interesting, got me to read more about the ...

very interesting, got me to read more about the aborigines and about Australia in general. Did end somewhat abruptly, but I guess that was to make you rush to the 2nd book!!

Five Stars

Fantastic

Four Stars

Fantastic!!!!!

Australian Mythology - Fascinating!

I was intrigued by this book set around the Glass House Mountains in Australia and can’t imagine where it will lead in the other books in the series, which I am anxiously awaiting to become available. I am not a believer in the paranormal and have read very little on the subject but will always keep an open mind when reading about most subjects. As I had already read Max Overton’s historicals with his meticulous research and descriptions I thought I had nothing to lose, and could only become a little more educated about Australian mythology by reading this story. Indeed I did, and with his usual style and flare I was transported to Australia and immersed in an intriguing tale. Another must read by Max Overton.

Glass House

An Amazing adventure that entices the mind and makes you think. The writing is visual and alive. I can't wait for book two!

Great read!

In GLASS HOUSE, the first book of a trilogy, Ariana Overton once again weaves a fascinating tale of complexity and imagination. Confronting our cultural myths as well as scientific theory, GLASS HOUSE deftly challenges the fine line between imagination and reality.

Drawing a bit from her own background, Ariana's American heroine Samantha Louis (Sam) and Australian hero James Hay are brought together by a remarkable discovery -- a black obelisk, made of such dense material as to defy a diamond bit. This find provides the opportunity for scientific study.

As the Aborigine Elders gather -- in defiance of politics and their own security -- to honor Dreamtime and the Ancient Ones at the scientific site, the obelisk is shattered and new possibilities for the human race begin.

The quest for answers regarding the destroyed obelisk brings together Sam, James, and a half dozen others. They head toward GLASS HOUSE, a mountain in remote Australia accessible only by hiking through a dangerous and almost inaccessible land. Along the way, they meet with both the face of death and the birth of salvation for the human race.

GLASS HOUSE draws from science and myth, including Neanderthals, Yowies (similar to Bigfoot), UFOs, Bunyips (similar to the Loch Ness monster), and the mythology of the Aborigine. Such disparate subjects become a kaleidoscope of elements that resolve themselves into a remarkable pattern that leaves the reader wondering at the simplicity of the explanation for most mythologies. My hat is off to this remarkable author and this remarkable book. If you've an appetite for the paranormal or mythological beasts, GLASS HOUSE is a great read.

Australia Comes Alive

If you have a hankering to travel to the land down under,this is the novel that will transport you there. Beautiful vivid descriptions, scenery that will take your breath away, characters that live and suspense that makes you shudder. Australian mythology abounds here. This book will appeal to romantics, adventurers, sci fi and mystery lovers alike. I can't recommend it highly enough.

A truly enjoyable and surprisingly captivating trilogy

Having read and enjoyed many of Max’s novels, I decided to step outside my usual historical fiction comfort zone and try something completely different. Cryptozoology has never been a particular interest of mine, so I wasn’t sure whether this trilogy would grip me the way his other books have. To my surprise, it absolutely did.

The first book hooked me with its clever blend of science, mystery, and the unknown, and each instalment kept me guessing right up to the final page. Before I knew it, I was diving straight into the second and then the third book, eager to see where the story would lead. I never expected to enjoy a series featuring Neanderthals and mythical creatures as much as I did, but the way Max weaves these elements together makes the world feel both imaginative and strangely plausible.

It’s an entertaining, well written trilogy that sparks the imagination and leaves you wanting more.

Gypsy Road Series, Book 1: Leather & Lace (Gypsy Road Contemporary Romance)
In this light contemporary romance, Bethany Briggs is a shy, virginal salon owner. Her older brother raised her after their parents died. Needless to say, he’s overprotective despite that she’s 24.

She’s so naïve he’s afraid if she’s allowed to make her own decisions--and mistakes--she’ll get hurt. On the surface, Rod Summers is the very definition of bad boy. I was skittish of him from the minute he walked into Bethany’s salon.

The rumors about his temporary conquests are legendary. Even someone as sweet as Bethany has heard them. Yet her heart beats faster at her first sight of him while Rod has truly never met anyone like her before.

This couple from completely different worlds embodies the romantic ideals of leather and lace. I loved this story.

Flesh and Blood Randy Briggs only wanted to protect her but she was so jittery that he just had to hold her, and then after one night of hot sex, bang !! She was gone and he had no way to contact her and looked for her everywhere! Ten years later, he rehab houses and sold them at a profit, but the last house sold before he could find another that had him staying at his sister's boyfriends place.

The place was huge and he was hesitant to move in as Rod had invited his girlfriend and her brother to stay with them without asking his sister. The emotions of JoJo and Randy sizzle on the pages as Randy is determined to get his woman! Ms. Wiesner has an excellence and the passion in writing her books that endear readers to seek out more of her books.

Fire and Ice

In this 4 1/2 star read, Jon Rushing is the man of Tracey Scott's dreams. Their attraction is apparent at the outset, but Jon cannot fulfill Tracey's deepest need. Only a child will make her feel complete and give Tracey the cemented relationship she desires, and Jon has had a vasectomy. Tracey is unlike any woman Jon has met, a prize he cannot lose. He promises to be her knight in shining armor. Tightly written and fast-paced, the story deals with serious issues every modern woman must face. Wiesner's work will appeal to fans of more sophisticated women's fiction without alienating the romance genre crowd.

The last was absolutely the best for Karen Wiesner's Gypsy Road Series. This book had me choked up and ready to cry far too many times, and I find myself wanting to pick it up and read it again. Blackie was phenomenal.

Talk about deep issues! And Lori was easy to identify with and feel for. Wiesner writes deep, gritty characters--real people, and she does it well.

Get this series and enjoy it. You want these for your keeper shelf!

Wiesner's imagination gives readers a gift in her Gypsy Road Series. A poignant, moving story with a hero to die for.

A romance that will have you reaching for the tissues--and you'll love every moment of it! A delightful page-turner. When you're done, you'll want to go back to read it again! This one's a definite keeper!

Well written, worth a read.

Sweet, silky, sensual--Lori's lingerie will surely capture the crowds as her spirit has captured Blackie's haunted orphan heart. The successful illustrator pours his guarded heart into his work, drawing what he believes is true--a comic book presentation where he is the Gypsy unworthy of, but in love with, the fascinating Princess. As Blackie illustrates his world for comic fans, the author of this sweet romance illustrates the conflicting passion of Lori and Blackie.

As Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard wrote, 'Love knows nothing of rank or riverbank! It will spark between a queen and the poor vagabond who plays the king...' So seems the love of these two; both in their reality and in their comic book personas, however they are drawn.

Characters so alive they pop out of the page to grab you, a dilemma so delicious it reaches every cavity of your heart. Karen Wiesner, the queen of sexy romance, has once more written an emotional drama that sizzles with sensuality. Her riveting tale about the healing power of uncompromising love beats all my secret fantasies.

Gypsy Road Series, Book 4: Vows & the Vagabond

I was torn apart by this book. I felt sorry for Lori as her mom never wanted children and gave her up the moment she was born and left her to her dad. Blackie had been left by a dumpster, abandoned by his parents. I can only imagine how something so horrible played with his mind, and I was so glad Lori's dad gave him a place to stay and loved him like his own son. Jerry thought he was protecting his very young daughter when he forced Blackie to make a vow not to go after Lori. As Lori grew up, she did destructive actions just to get Blackie's attention. Time after time when Lori got into trouble, it was Blackie she called. Karen Wiesner writes novels that almost seem real. I feel with the characters, and I sometimes curse a blue streak at them. The books in the Gypsy Road Series (this is Book 4) can be read out of order easily without confusion.

Theaterfriend

This books is not something that I usually would read but Peter did such a great job at writing, that I could not put the book down. Can't wait to see what Peter has up his sleeve next.

What an Awesome Read

Helga's story is charming and gives you an inside look at what this little girls family endured during the war. It's the first time for me read something from the other side of the war. Even though the book is fiction, it is based on a real persons memories and brings history to life.

Peter writes riveting tale of a young girl's life in Germany, who loves horses and all she wants to do is have the opportunity to ride.

It's wonderful story that is easy to ready and holds your interest all the way through.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants a fascinating read.

Yes? Yes!

Made me stay up reading long after I should have been asleep - really a lot o’fun! By all means, yes!

Realistic Romance

Ahh, finally, a love story for the not so young. A realistic romance for those who think the stars have gone out of their eyes. The heroine Cassie flirts with second chances and love wins out,

Five Stars

Wondetful

a good read

I like this author very much. she cares about her readers very much. The characters are well developed and consistent.

Well told story!

This is a fun story with intelligent characterization, believable situations, and a solid sense of place. Not your average romance.

A tale of growth
This is the story of a maltreated child who carries out a terrible act but repents and changes his ways. It is told through the eyes of a wise old lady who has a strange connection with the young boy. Heartwarming in parts, shocking in others; very readable all the way through. I would have given it five stars but for two things: the ending seemed rushed; and the author's refusal to spell out rude words, which, as these appear often throughout, I found highly distracting.

The Road to Second Chances is Paved with Landmines
The story was well-written and kept me hooked. It shows what can happen when people care enough to break the downward spiral. It shows tragedy, anger, and hatred, but then, kindness, forgiveness, and then some mistakes and action, followed by more prejudice and action, and... I don't want to spoil the ending.

From the Midst of Tragedy Comes a Hopeful and Redemptive Story
Dr. Rich's latest book Hit & Run is a compelling read right from the opening paragraph to its final word. It tells the story of an enraged and out of control 14 year old boy named Chuck (Charles) who purposely runs over and kills 6 innocent children, as well as their crossing supervisor. Fortunately, he narrowly missed an 84 year old woman named Sylvia who in many ways becomes the most pivotal character in the story.

Ironically, it is Sylvia who is able to establish a paranormal relationship with the young perpetrator. This leads us on an unexpected journey toward healing and redemption that not only benefits the boy, but also the families that have suffered unfathomable loss, and the greater community. The beauty of Dr. Rich's writing is that he comes at it from a psychological and societal perspective.

In fact, Dr. Rich is a retired psychologist. His professional wisdom and narrative sensibilities shines through his writing. This is especially true through the engrossing and developing dialogue between Sylvia and Charles, as well as how the psychologist Dr. Vlad is able to provide needed counseling to help others deal with the very real impact of trauma and loss on their lives.

This novel is a testament to the power of love, and Sylvia becomes our ultimate guide. All who have their lives touched by Sylvia's loving spirit eventually learn compassion for others... even those who have been so hurt that they have experienced profound anger, despair, and hatred. Hit & Run is a story well worth reading in that it helps us to embrace love over hate, thereby raising our social consciousness.

Love Always Wins
Is it possible for a hell-bent teenager to turn himself around? In this story, we see a drug crazed, typical inner city youth, tired of being alive at the age of fourteen. He is angry at the world and determined to take a lot of innocent people out with him.

When Charlie Debnall drives an out of control car into a group of elementary school children as they attempt to cross the street, it unleashes a chain of events which eventually lead to total and complete transformation from the inside out. Not only are school children and the crossing supervisor brutally murdered, but aging Sylvia Kraz, also attempting to cross the street with the aid of her wheelie walker, narrowly misses her demise at the hands of Charlie. Sylvia gets a good glimpse of Charlie's face, making eye contact, as he speeds by leaving carnage in his wake.

With her uncanny artistic abilities, she sketches his face then experiences Charlie appearing to her in her bedroom through mental telepathy. Her drawing of his face leads to his arrest and yet the visits continue. Sylvia's psychologist assists her in working through her traumatic brush with death and guides her into a past life regression which establishes her connection to Charlie.

When Sylvia agrees to help look after Charlie's little brother, Tommy, a bond of trust is formed. Over the course of the story, we see a collage of characters all woven together with one goal in mind and that is to help Charlie and his little brother, Tommy, break the pattern of abuse and learn to be good decent humans. What they don't realize is that they are all growing and learning in the process of helping the boys.

This is a touching story which brings to light paranormal activity and past life connections and how those connections continue to weave through each lifetime. A fascinating read, that keeps you turning one page after the other, and holding your breath when Charlie "stuffs up", as he calls it. This is a great story with a message of hope and inspiration. Love wins.

Thought provoking
Most normal people feel horrified and sickened by a senseless crime, particularly one committed against defenceless children. The crime in Bob Rich's book 'Hit and Run' is one such act of savagery and one that cries out for justice. Where this story differs from the usual crime and punishment tale, however, is in the thoughts and actions of one old lady who witnessed the deaths and came near to becoming a victim herself.

Rather than give in to a desire for vengeance against the heartless perpetrator, she is moved to forgive the young man and try to understand his motivation. What follows is a startling account of what can happen when good people decide to show love instead of the all too easy desire for vengeance and retribution. Forgiveness is not an easy path to follow, and several members of the community are reluctant to show mercy to the young man who wantonly killed so many young children.

It is a cliché that 'no man is an island unto himself' but like it or not we are each of us alone in our thoughts and inner torments -- but what if we were not? Young Charlie Debnall, his character warped and twisted by horrific circumstances and a terrible upbringing, finds his 'island' connected by a causeway to the old lady he almost killed -- Sylvia Kryz. This connection opens up possibilities that he had never imagined and leads to him turning his life around and taking the first steps on the long road to becoming a worthwhile member of society.

This is a simple story yet also a complex one with a wide array of characters on both sides of the ledger. Some people actively work against Charlie's rehabilitation; others refuse to even give him a chance, but a growing number believe in the possibility of change and it is heartening to see the gradual blossoming of a mind stunted by terrible circumstances. 'Hit and Run' is a story of hope in a world where it sometimes seems as if civilisation is crumbling around us.

MASTERFUL STORYTELLING
This story gripped me right from the first few lines. Mrs. Sylvia Kryz, AKA The Old Duck, is an 84 year old lady who is almost bowled over by a car driven by 14 year old Charlie Debnall (Chuck, a derogative term given to him by his mother because she chucked up all the way through her pregnancy). Naomi, the school crossing lady, and six children are killed.

Charlie is an angry boy who had been brutalized by his mother's numerous drunken and druggie boyfriends. The only person he cares about is his 6 year old brother, Tommy. Everyone hates Charlie, but under the influence of Mrs Kryz who believes there is good in the boy, a cavalcade of colourful characters pass through the story and become staunch allies in Mrs. Kryz's attempts to save Charlie from himself.

They include Mrs Kyz's family; Vlad Stavrou, the psychologist from Victim's Services; Reverend Martin, a Uniting Church Minister who was jailed for murdering his sister's rapist, but found God; and Brigitte, so full of hate after her husband left her that she alienated her children. There are several themes skilfully wove into this story: love, hate, revenge, redemption and second chances. The story is almost brutal in parts, but so vividly portrayed I could feel the hatred, hear the vile language used by Charlie's slovenly, alcoholic mother and Brutal Bruce, his latest stepfather.

They sent shivers of distaste along my spine. Tommy, the six year old brother, was naughty and foul-mouthed, but somehow endearing just the same. The most incredible part of this story was the parts where Charlie and Mrs. Kryz had telepathic meetings with each other.

I am not into this psychic type of thing as a rule, but the events were so brilliantly executed, they were plausible even to an unbeliever like me. Hard to say much more without spoiling the story, but believe me when I say, if you want a great read, this it. A Word of caution though. Make sure you have enough time to read it at the one sitting, because like me, you won't want to put it down until you have devoured every word.

A redemptive story for our troubled times
We live in troubled times. All around us, in country after country, people do unspeakable things. What is particularly heinous is when a young person lashes out, killing others.

Thus begins this book. Charlie, at fourteen, has given up on life and himself, and decides to share his pain by running his car through a crosswalk of children, killing a number of them and narrowly missing an elderly woman, Sylvia, in the process. Soon after the traumatizing event, Sylvia begins to have initially unwelcome paranormal contact with Charlie.

Through these contacts Sylvia is allowed a window into Charlie's past and the ugly forces that shaped his choices, and Charlie learns that not all adults are there to abuse him. This story highlights the redemptive power of love, acceptance, kindness, and loving accountability. It shows that even when we have good reason to hate, we can choose to love and to guide others rather than punish them.

It promotes looking more deeply into others to find the hurtful events that create negative attitudes and behaviors. And it encourages us to turn our own pain into something positive, rather than allow it to fester and injure us further from the inside out. These lessons are layered within a story that focuses on the here and now, day to day transformations occurring within multiple characters as they face the aftermath of violent choices and loss.

The conversations feel legitimate, and the characters could be our next door neighbors. One is left wishing that our real world could mirror the change in beliefs and attitudes shown within the story. As a person who believes in redemption and the ability to change, I recognize it often does not happen with the fluidity and speed seen in this story, but it would be a lovely world if it could.

The paranormal qualities to the story were not distracting from the reality of events. They were used in ways to make important points, and were not belabored to the point of taking away from the main plot, which appeared to accurately represent today's youth and our troubled world. This is a solid read which encourages readers to ponder our tendency to rush to judgment, and hand out consequences, without regard to what life influences someone has endured before doing something hurtful or incomprehensible.

The psychological background of the author adds an element of authenticity to the sections of the story where Charlie is helped to understand what drove his decision and how he might change, to avoid being held hostage to those influences. Anyone who has experienced similar life events would find much encouragement within those parts of the novel.

Another 5 Stars
Another 5 Stars for Bob Rich. He's done it again, a wonderful tail with many, as usual, messages leading us to good advice on social manners.

"Hit and Run" is anything but, and you'll remember this story for a good, long time!
"Hit and Run" is a story of many things, and starts as an intersection of lives through a tragic event. But instead of treading the usual "police evidence ground" to uncover the antagonist, we meet him in a most unusual way. I'll say nothing more to limit the spoilers, but suffice to say, this book took me on a journey I'd never taken before.

Which was refreshing! And it held my interest to the end, so combined with the excellent, cliche'-free writing and the imaginative tale - and honestly, most of all, the characters - this warrants a solid 5 stars. Congrats and Very well done!!

redemption story
Sylvia Kryz is speaking to Vlad Stavrou, a psychologist, explaining what she witnessed: A gleeful young man driving a red car purposefully running into her friend Naomi, a school crossing guard, and six children under the age of seven. All were killed. He only just missed Sylvia because, at age 84, she was a few steps behind them, using her wheelie for support.

For the policewoman Jemina Johnson, Sylvia drew several very accurate pictures of the young man's side features. She wanted to draw his face from the front. That night, she had a dream where she pictured him full-frontal in her room … and he appeared … foul-mouthed and aggressive.

After her dream meeting, she drew his frontal face and gave it to Jemina. This strange meeting occurrence reoccurred many times after she initially drew the boy's image. She learned his name was Chuck, because he made his mother chuck when she was pregnant with him, but Sylvia called him Charlie.

She learned he was physically abused at home and didn't care much about anything but his 6-year-old brother Tommy, who he wanted to protect. During their 'meetings' she gave Charlie advice to help him through some of his problems. The police caught Charlie and took Tommy into protective custody.

By then, Sylvia's opinion had changed. She believed Charlie could become a good person. At a memorial meeting for the dead children and Naomi, and after a priest makes statements about vengeance, Sylvia speaks, telling of the violence against Charlie and Tommy, and that violence always begets violence.

She suggests a solution—as a community they can teach these boys a better way of life. After her speech, things change but it's a slow, hard road to follow, and Charlie still faces murder charges and prison. It is surprising who decides to take part in this reclamation, but can they really make a difference in these boys' lives? Hit and Run is an interesting and beguiling read.

A romance book ACTION-PACKED!

Hong Kong Stopover
By: Jaquelyn Webb

Josie Sutherland is an Australian journalist with high hopes of a great story to catch her big break. She instead is always sent to conferences that are dull and uninteresting. She is sent to the American Computer Conference and on her way back she has a three day stopover in Hong Kong.

A disappointed & let down Josie is waiting to catch her flight from Hong Kong to Australia when she notices a good-looking, dressed for success man browsing in a bookstore. A glance from the man, forces Josie to think about her fiancé James. Who she is not in love with...she is just going through the motions of a comfortable relationship.

The man seems uneasy and on edge about buying this book, Josie notices. She just mentally shrugs it off. But, then 2 well-dressed men attempt to rob the man and she throws one of her bags to stop them. This action leads to her meeting the bookstore man whose name is Carey Court. As chance would have it, they are both from Melbourne.

The police bring them in to look at mug shots and to get statements and tell them it won't take long and they will still be able to catch their flights home. They believe it may be a case of mistaken identity. So, Carey and Josie are kept at a hotel until their flight that evening. At the hotel, Carey and Josie get to know each other. They arrive at airport that evening and there is a turn of event that leads to them not catching their flight home.

They are brought back to hotel, where they will stay for the night. This is where the wild ride begins. I don't want to give too much away. But through these events, Josie begins to question Carey and his involvement with the events, deal with feelings for Carey and hoping the events will lead to her big breakout story.

I enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed the interaction and even comedic moments between Carey and Josie. The characters were believable and you can relate to the characters. It also was action packed and quick paced and the romance was well written. Not too strong or mushy.

All in all a good read. Look forward to future books from this author.

Jennifer L.

Reviewed By: Bonges

4th book in the series dedicated to Hyksos. This series is just as exciting as the previous ones (Scarab, Strong is the Maat of Rè...). So I just finished this 4th volume and I can't wait to know the rest (I've already bought the last 3 books).

We can certainly notice that it takes a certain knowledge of Egyptian history to read these works (which is undeniable) but God that it is pleasant to read the original names of cities, peoples, characters rid of their “graced” aspect. Max Overton really revives this remote era without sinking into Manichaeism so dear to many current authors. So let me highly recommend this book (as well as all the other M Overton books) to all those who love and know Ancient Egypt. Thank you so much, Mr Overton for your books!

Such a turbulent period of ancient Egypt superbly captured and a gripping read

Couldn't put it down, a real page turner that keeps you going until the end. Can't wait for the next one

Superb blend of historical facts, theories and imagination leaving the reader wanting more

After enjoying Max’s other series The Amarnan Kings-Scarab and Pyramid Builders books 1-9, I picked up Hyksos while awaiting the release of the final book in the Pyramid Builders series. What a series, and one I had to finish before returning and reading Pyramid Builders book 10. It covers a turbulent period in Ancient Egyptian history, from the 13th Dynasty up to the start of the more widely written about 18th, where Kemet (Egypt) was split in two. Threats from neighbouring kings determined to conquer Kemet and position themselves as the 'Son of Re, Ruler of the Two Lands' is the main thread through the series. I can’t imagine how much research must have gone into this. Credit to Max’s for superbly blending historical facts and theories with imaginative and gripping storylines. There are a lot of historical characters across these dynasties and I found myself using the family trees more often in this series than I have in Max's others. Personally this only added to my enjoyment, reinforcing my understanding of the time period and relationships between the characters, both historical and fictional. Even one of the Kings of Amurru commented how difficult it as to keep track of all the changes in the Southern Kingdoms rulership, so it's not just me……. A superb read, written well and leaving the reader wanting more.

Une période méconnue de l'Egyte Ancienne

4ème livre de la série consacrée aux Hyksos.

Cette série est tout aussi passionnante que les précédentes (Scarab, Strong is the Maât of Rè...).

Je viens donc de terminer ce 4ème tome et j'ai hâte de connaître la suite (j'ai déjà acheté les 3 derniers livres).

On pourra certes remarquer qu'il faut une certaine connaissance de l'histoire égyptienne pour lire ces ouvrages (ce qui est indéniable) mais Dieu qu'il est agréable de lire les noms originels des villes, des peuples, des personnages débarrassés de leur aspect "grécisé".

Max Overton fait vraiment revivre cette époque reculée sans sombrer dans le manichéisme si cher à de nombreux auteurs actuels.

Je me permets donc de recommander fortement ce livre (ainsi que tous les autres ouvrages M Overton) à tous ceux qui aiment et qui connaissent l 'Egypte Ancienne.

Thank you so much, Mr Overton for your books !

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
A little-known period of Ancient Egypt

4th book in the series devoted to the Hyksos.

This series is every bit as gripping as the previous ones (Scarab, Strong is the Ma'at of Re...).

I've just finished this 4th volume and I can't wait to find out what happens next (I've already bought the last 3 books).

You could certainly point out that you need a certain knowledge of Egyptian history to read these works (which is undeniable), but God, it's a pleasure to read the original names of the cities, peoples and characters, stripped of their "Greekified" form.

Max Overton truly brings this distant era back to life without sinking into the black-and-white morality so dear to many of today's authors.

So I take the liberty of strongly recommending this book (as well as all of Mr Overton's other works) to everyone who loves and knows Ancient Egypt.

Thank you so much, Mr Overton, for your books!

Brilliant Series

Historical fiction is my favorite genre. There is no better writer of ancient historical fiction than Max Overton. He can bring ancient Egypt to life in a captivating way. He leads the way by writing a series and shortly afterwards other writers have books about the same time period. Mr. Overton’s books are well researched and the gold standard in historical fiction.

Please keep writing and researching!

Good story, long winded, Like all Max Overton's books very detailed

Superb blend of historical facts, theories and imagination leaving the reader wanting more

After enjoying Max’s other series The Amarnan Kings-Scarab and Pyramid Builders books 1-9, I picked up Hyksos while awaiting the release of the final book in the Pyramid Builders series. What a series, and one I had to finish before returning and reading Pyramid Builders book 10. It covers a turbulent period in Ancient Egyptian history, from the 13th Dynasty up to the start of the more widely written about 18th, where Kemet (Egypt) was split in two. Threats from neighbouring kings determined to conquer Kemet and position themselves as the 'Son of Re, Ruler of the Two Lands' is the main thread through the series. I can’t imagine how much research must have gone into this. Credit to Max’s for superbly blending historical facts and theories with imaginative and gripping storylines. There are a lot of historical characters across these dynasties and I found myself using the family trees more often in this series than I have in Max's others. Personally this only added to my enjoyment, reinforcing my understanding of the time period and relationships between the characters, both historical and fictional. Even one of the Kings of Amurru commented how difficult it as to keep track of all the changes in the Southern Kingdoms rulership, so it's not just me……. A superb read, written well and leaving the reader wanting more.

Superb blend of historical facts, theories and imagination leaving the reader wanting more

After enjoying Max’s other series The Amarnan Kings-Scarab and Pyramid Builders books 1-9, I picked up Hyksos while awaiting the release of the final book in the Pyramid Builders series. What a series, and one I had to finish before returning and reading Pyramid Builders book 10. It covers a turbulent period in Ancient Egyptian history, from the 13th Dynasty up to the start of the more widely written about 18th, where Kemet (Egypt) was split in two. Threats from neighbouring kings determined to conquer Kemet and position themselves as the 'Son of Re, Ruler of the Two Lands' is the main thread through the series. I can’t imagine how much research must have gone into this. Credit to Max’s for superbly blending historical facts and theories with imaginative and gripping storylines. There are a lot of historical characters across these dynasties and I found myself using the family trees more often in this series than I have in Max's others. Personally this only added to my enjoyment, reinforcing my understanding of the time period and relationships between the characters, both historical and fictional. Even one of the Kings of Amurru commented how difficult it as to keep track of all the changes in the Southern Kingdoms rulership, so it's not just me……. A superb read, written well and leaving the reader wanting more.

Question:

Is there a better historical fiction author than Max Overton?

NO!

If you like ancient historical fiction you won’t find a better author.

Question:

Is there a better historical fiction author than Max Overton?

NO!

If you like ancient historical fiction you won’t find a better author.

NO ORDINARY LOVE by Karen Wiesner grabs the reader from the first page and never lets go until the last, with fast and spine-chilling action. Vincent is a remarkable hero--tough, dangerous, a killer when he has to be. His only vulnerability--a need for love."

NO ORDINARY LOVE centers on two characters that mean everything to each other, practically to the exclusion of anyone else. The first half of the book centers on Kira's and Vincent's relationship, while the second half is full of action that takes unusual but exhilarating twists and turns. One particular turn takes readers to a disturbing world underneath the New York subway.

There are a few secondary characters; particularly well written are Angelo, Vincent's old mentor, and Piper, Kira's dog walker. Vincent and Kira are multi-layered characters, who even after being together day in and out for years, still don't quite know everything about each other. Their relationship is claustrophobic and obsessive, especially on Vincent's part.

Ms. Wiesner does a good job of explaining why Vincent behaves this way. The lengths that Vincent takes to protect Kira will amaze readers. NO ORDINARY LOVE is the first book in Ms. Wiesner's Incognito Series, and...in my opinion, it's a classic. NO ORDINARY LOVE is no ordinary book, which is why I give it a perfect ten.

NO ORDINARY LOVE is no ordinary book. Vincent and Kira are transcendent characters, almost larger than life, yet very human in their flaws and frailties. This is a page turner, taut, nail-biting thriller interwoven with a poignant, powerful romance.

It is truly a book I could not put down. There are some spicy love scenes, but emotions far outweigh lust. My need to learn who actually are the good guys and the bad drove me to turn page after page.

Revelations came just often enough to keep me off balance until the end, which is happy in spite of all the angst to get there. My recommendation? Buy it.

Read it. Soon!

The Incognito Series has me hooked! I was completely engrossed with these characters from word one. Page after page, I felt more connected to the storyline and was extremely impressed by Wiesner. What a wonderful piece of originality.

NO ORDINARY LOVE is a superb romantic suspense thriller that has the audience wondering what is going on from the prologue in which an agent of an unnamed (at that point) group realizes what happened. The exhilarating story line never slows down until the final confrontation as Kira's thirst for her heritage leads her and her champion from relative safety into dangerous situations. The cast--especially the lead duo and the agent searching for them--seems genuine, which in turn makes the conspiratorial cover-up by a clandestine group feel real, too. As always, Karen Wiesner writes a must read for sub-genre fans.

NO ORDINARY LOVE was an emotional read. It is obvious that Vincent’s entire world revolves around Kira. NO ORDINARY LOVE was also a thrilling suspense as Vincent and Kira face the past.

Without giving spoilers, I will simply say I loved the help they received. It was unique. I am thrilled that additional stories in this series are already available and am eager to read them.

Having read some other books written by Ms. Wiesner, I must say this was the best one of hers I've read. I felt like Wiesner was anticipating my desires as a reader and was able to deliver the story I wanted. Hold onto your hats at the end.

Wow! There are more twists, curves and hairpin turns than on a mountain road. I couldn't put it down and was surprised at how some of the things turned out.

NO ORDINARY LOVE is a delightful blend of romance and action. Both segments mesh so well that it will entertain and delight both romance lovers and action/adventure lovers alike.

I was captivated from the very beginning. The prologue started the story off with a bang that rarely, if ever, really let up. I was kept on the edge of my seat, and I’ve learned to expect this from Wiesner.

Emotionally draining and even raw made NO ORDINARY LOVE more powerful. I couldn’t put the story aside for any real length of time. The mystery is supremely gripping and extremely addictive.

Wiesner really knows how to keep her readers totally absorbed. The stories in the Incognito Series are not only engrossing adventure suspense stories but also once-in-lifetime love stories and personally it’s a combination that I really enjoy. I really have no expectation that this will change. If you’ve never read anything before by Karen Wiesner I truly feel NO ORDINARY LOVE is an excellent place to start; but be forewarned, this is the first in a series of books and, from reading other books by this author, I’m here to say that it’s very hard, if nigh impossible, to just read one.

Thankfully Karen Wiesner is quite a prolific author. This is the first book I have read by her, and now I can look forward to many hours curled up with her wonderful, suspenseful, romantic books! She truly knows how to imagine into existence deep, convoluted, intriguing plot concepts, and then to lead the reader on a twisted, curving path, in and out of present and past.

This is one author I feel confident in recommending consistently. May she continue with her writing career for many decades to come!

I was immediately drawn into this intense and complex plot. Wiesner spent a lot of time building these characters and their story. This book kept me begging for more. I couldn’t stop thinking about it and I was drawn right back into this intriguing story. I'm dying to know more.

Fans of romance and suspense will love NO ORDINARY LOVE. This is not your run of the mill romance, suspense story. Karen Wiesner has written a very unpredictable plot. Readers will not want to put this book down. Readers will enjoy watching Kira and Vincent's relationship grow and mature.

Karen Wiesner has penned a not so ordinary book in NO ORDINARY LOVE. The book grabbed this reviewer's attention from the very first page. These characters are well defined and very believable.

The prose in NO ORDINARY LOVE flows smoothly and the action keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. This reviewer felt as though she was right in the middle of the action due to Ms. Wiesner's amazing writing ability; kudos to Ms. Wiesner for this wonderful offering. The plot is well thought out and not a single loose thread is left at a very satisfying ending. This reviewer looks forward to the next installment of the Incognito Series.

The title couldn’t be more apropos. The love that Vincent has for Kira is nothing short of amazing. At the beginning I had my doubts but as I read on it became apparent it wasn’t what I’d originally started to think.

Love that selfless is rare. Vincent’s love is intense yet simplistic. Kira and her safety are everything to him.

This is a great basis for a series, and I’m anxious to find out what happened to Angelo and Piper. The Incognito Series is a perfect blend of intrigue, romance and action. The added layers, overall depth and character development put the series in a category all its own.

They’re exciting, suspenseful and keep you on the edge. Definite keepers.

Mystery, suspense, and love are intermingled in this exciting story. Karen Wiesner has written an interesting book and I look forward to Book 2 of the Incognito Series.

Wiesner has written a very intriguing story that made me keep reading and reading just to find out what would happen. Amazing, Ms. Wiesner—a great start to another interesting series and I for one can't wait to see how it continues to develop!

Romantic, a roller-coaster adventure, and mystery piled upon mystery, this compulsive reading. Wiesner weaves her tale skillfully, revealing little titbits of information excruciatingly slowly, luring the reader deeper and deeper in. Once you start, it is difficult to put down.

Wiesner has an impressive array of writing awards to her credit. It is easy to see why.

This read has you sitting on the edge of your chair, packed with the high stakes, tension and intrigue you want. If you are looking for a tight, fast paced story with serious turns and twists to keep you guessing yet demand a satisfying HEA that makes it all worthwhile, I believe NO ORDINARY LOVE will meet your expectations. It blew mine away. I'm still reeling.

Wiesner has a talent for always leaving her audience wanting to know more, and, with this book, she's done what she does best: Drawn me into the lives of the characters so I was totally wrapped up in their story. I highly recommend this novel and cannot wait for the next book in this series.

A surprising and outstanding read. NO ORDINARY LOVE is a superbly written story that will keep readers entertained from the first word to the last. I read the book in one sitting, unable to put it down. Wiesner has given readers a book not to be missed, one that will have readers ready and waiting for book two.

NO ORDINARY LOVE: that is what Karen Wiesner delivers in this very intense story of a man who gives all to the one he loves. A man who will provide, not only for the now but also for the foreseeable future, and fight to defend his love even at the cost of his own live. One cannot help but wish that out there somewhere, there is one who will love us as Vincent loves Kira.

NO ORDINARY LOVE is definitely the appropriate title for this tale of love and desire between Kira and Vincent. Ms. Wiesner has written the start of a series that both intrigues and has the reader questioning how this could actually happen. As I was reading all I had were more and more questions than I seemed to be getting answers, so the only option was to keep reading.

I was intrigued by both Kira and Vincent. Kira at the beginning came across as a young lady who had everything, but in reality had nothing. She suffered from these strange seizures and she had Vincent there to look after her—ostensibly he was her assistant, but he knew things about her that he wasn't revealing and there was definitely more under the surface that was yet to be revealed.

Ms. Wiesner has written a very intriguing story that made me keep reading and reading just to find out what would happen to the two main characters. A very interesting read. The journey of Kira and Vincent is one of devotion and undying love and also of intense sacrifice. Amazing, Ms. Wiesner—a great start to another interesting series and I for one can't wait to see how it continues to develop!

Having this be the first book of the Incognito Series, Wiesner really set the bar high. NO ORDINARY LOVE is not only action packed but it is also a sizzling romance. I read this book straight through because there was not one appropriate place to stop reading.

The story never slowed down, never got boring, and makes you want to pick up her second book and keep on going. Wiesner writes very fluidly and gives us detail just where we need it. This is an excellent book, and I hope her other books will follow suit!

What a fabulous mystery romance NO ORDINARY LOVE is! The author, Karen Wiesner, has created a story to thrill all! The first book in the Incognito Series, NO ORDINARY LOVE, rolls from the crest of a riveting wave of storytelling!

The first book in the Incognito Series hooks the reader from the prologue. This story is a page-turner and gets you hooked before the prologue is even over. It follows the story of Vincent and Kira, the defector and a subject, as they try to reconcile themselves with the past and try to move on into the future.

It has everything--drama, romance, action, and an overwhelming amount of suspense making you turn page after page. This is a brilliant start to the Incognito Series and many characters are seen in later books. A definite must-read.

One of my all-time favorites now (though I just finished it yesterday) is a romantic suspense called NO ORDINARY LOVE by Karen Wiesner. Wow! That book had me up all night wondering how it was going to end and if it was going to have a happy ending.

Romantic Suspense with Nonstop Tension

This novel maintains intense tension and suspense throughout without falling back on constant "action" (something I try to avoid in my reading, because I find it more confusing than exciting). The love between Vincent and Kira, as well as his reluctant devotion to the mentor he hasn't seen in many years, clashes with the pervasive feeling that we -- along with the characters -- are never sure who can be trusted. I sympathized with both Kira's reservations about trusting Vincent while he hides so many secrets from her and Vincent's frustration about not being able to keep her safe. Both come across as strong characters, whom we root for even when they seem to be making unwise choices. The mystery of Kira's origin is gradually unfolded with just enough slow reveal to keep the reader eager for more. Sure, the Network seems a little farfetched, but one doesn't look for mundane realism in a spy-themed romantic suspense story. :)

Incognito Series, Book 1: No Ordinary Love (Incognito Contemporary Intrigue

I loved this novel from start to finish. In fact, it should be made into a movie. It’d be a blockbuster! I love how Vincent Carson takes care of Kira Gunn, but what he most protects her from is her past. When she makes it clear he either helps her discover the reason for her nightmares or he has no place in her life (a torment for her because she’s in love with him), Vincent is forced to take a risk that might put them both in jeopardy. I could feel the love Vincent has for Kira that drives him to near obsession to keep her safe. I’m so hooked on this series! I can’t wait to read another.”

No Ordinary Book

‘No Ordinary Love’ is the title, and that is exactly what it is. It certainly describes the relationship between Kira and Vincent, if, indeed, ‘love’ is what these two odd people share. It is immediately apparent that the bond between them is very deep, very strong, and very complex. But is it love? The first six chapters of the book are taken up with outlining their relationship insofar as the secretive Vincent and the confused Kira can explain it, and we are no nearer an answer.

From Vincent’s perspective [and being male, I can speak with some authority here] it looks at first more like obsession, even monomania. From Kira’s perspective [and I speak with far less authority on this one] it appears to be ---- well, I really do not know. Nor, come to that, does Kira. Only much later do matters become clearer in her mind.

The tale is billed as ‘romance, adventure, mystery’, and it is all of these. Romantic, a roller-coaster adventure, and mystery piled upon mystery. Who is Kira, really? She does not know, remembering nothing before the age of ten. If Vincent knows, he will not say. And who, exactly is Vincent? If that is his name. And why would he dedicate his life to the protection of a woman who is not his sister, or his daughter, or his wife, or even his lover? All we can be sure of is that ‘The Network’ is behind it all. What the Network really is remains a mystery, save only that it is monumental, multinational, and has resources and technologies greater than those owned by most nations. What is real purpose? This is never clearly stated. All we can know for sure is that if it became aware of Kira’s existence, then she would live only as long as she remained undiscovered.

This compulsive reading. Wiesner weaves her tale skilfully, revealing little titbits of information excruciatingly slowly, luring the reader deeper and deeper into the lives – life, I should say – of the two protagonists. Once you start, it is difficult to put down. The prose reflects the pace of events, at times slowing, at times quickening into shorter sentences, becoming at times frantic, almost chaotic, precisely as are the thoughts and actions of Kira and Vincent. There are still a lot of unanswered questions come the finale, but these will no doubt be addressed in ‘ ‘Til Death Do Us Part.’’

Karen Wiesner has an impressive array of writing awards to her credit. It is easy to see why.

Definitely four stars.

Stephen Symons.

Oyez@clear.net.nz.

Book one in the Incognito series.

The members call it "The Network", but the covert organization really has no name. The members are incognito, totally erased from the world. The organization has branches all over the world. Only the American President and a select committee in the White House, called Oversight, even know it exists. The people of The Network often "neutralize" anyone, even the innocent, in order to preserve the organization's invisibility and remove any threat of exposure. But when a ten-year-old girl witnesses her father shot down in cold blood, one member of The Network decides to disappear with her, instead of allowing the child to be neutralized.

Kira Gunn is twenty-five and already owns a multi billion-dollar corporation. But of her twenty-five years of life, she can only remember the last fifteen. Everything else is a blank. The only constant thing in her life is a man named Vincent Carson. For as long as Kira can recall, Vincent has been there. He cares for her every need. He home schooled her. He helped her begin her business from scratch. He even taught her to use and clean firearms. But most importantly, Vincent hold and soothes her every time she has the nightmares that trigger her seizures. Those occur every time she dreams.

But the time Vincent has been dreading has finally arrived. Kira wants answers. When she learns who Vincent really is and all he has done (and is still doing) to protect her, will she still care for him? Or will she run in horror?

***** This is the first book in the Incognito Series. I found it to be a very solid foundation for what could very well turn out to be one of the best romantic suspense novels of the year. It overflows in action and drama, with just the right amount of romance. Pre-order a copy if you can. Outstanding! *****

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

No Ordinary Love

Fifteen years and Vincent Carson - that is all that Kira Gunn knew about her life. She was twenty-five years old, but she couldn't remember anything before that day when sixteen-year-old Vincent rescued her. She didn't know her true name, who her parents were, or where she was from. She knew that they had run when Vincent first found her. He had also taught her how to protect herself, and where to go if he sensed danger. But what was this danger? She ran a large corporation, wasn't totally inconspicuous, but nobody had ever disturbed their lives. Could she truly trust Vincent? As Kira starts to exert her wishes to learn more about her past, Vincent keeps pushing back, avoiding her questions, and preventing her from learning more. Kira doesn't know if this is because there truly is someone after them, or maybe Vincent himself was not someone she should trust.

No Ordinary Love was an emotional read. It is obvious that Vincent's entire world revolves around Kira. He gave up everything to focus on Kira's safety, well-being, and happiness. He had devoted everything he was to her. For him, this should be enough, but Kira needs more. She wants to know what happened all those years ago. Since nothing has threatened them since, she believes the past is over and they are safe. Personally, I was firmly in Vincent's corner. He is a hero any woman would be thrilled to have. While I could understand Kira's uncertainties, I couldn't help but feel she acted a bit like a spoiled child. Still, I could excuse her, to some extent, since there was no way for Kira to truly comprehend the enormity of their danger when Vincent wasn't completely open with her.

No Ordinary Love was also a thrilling suspense as Vincent and Kira face the past. It is unknown if anyone can be considered friend, but everyone is a potential foe. Without giving spoilers, I will simply say I loved the help they received. It was unique. I am thrilled that additional stories in this series are already available and am eager to read them.

Katherine

Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

A fantastic, action packed story!!

Vincent has been taking care of Kira since she was a child and knows her better than she knows herself. Vincent always seems to anticipate what Kira wants or needs and provides it for her before she can ask. Although they have never been intimate together, Kira hasn't been able to stop her feelings from developing towards him and wonders if he feels the same way towards her since he has made no outward show of them. Kira doesn't understand why she has been feeling the need to pull away from Vincent since she loves him very much and can't picture her life without him. She wonders if it has anything to do with her memory loss for the time leading up to when she met Vincent.

When Kira discovers that the nightmares she has had since childhood are really memories of the night her father was killed and Vincent was there, she gives Vincent an ultimatum to either help her find out what happened to her father or she will cut him out of her life completely. This decision to learn the truth will soon lead Kira and Vincent on a dangerous, life threatening mission to an organization that is known to only a few people as the Network.

No Ordinary Love is the first book in the Incognito series. This fantastic, action packed story is one that I will be keeping in my favorites file. These well described and highly developed characters have such an emotional bond between them that it brought tears to my eyes many times while reading this tale. No Ordinary Love has a lot going on as it lays the foundation for the series and details the mysterious organization, the Network for readers. This story for me was one that I didn't want to put down and when I absolutely had to, it kept calling my name until I could get back to it. Karen Wiesner has got herself a new fan with this captivating and enchanting book and I can't wait to read what else she has in store from the Network. 5 Angels!

By Tammy

Fallen Angel Reviews

A superb romantic suspense thriller

Teenager Vincent Carson took in ten years old Kira Gunn, who does not remember anything about her life before she began her Manhattan odyssey. Now fifteen years later, Kira is considered a top fashion designer, but does not know her roots or how she feels about Vincent. She craves the truth, but fears that the overly protective Vincent might be the enemy though she admits that sounds paranoid as he has been her guardian angel.

Vincent is obsessed with keeping Kira safe. He realizes she desperately seeks to know who she is and why she was alone until he saved her life. His fear is that if she insists on investigating her past, they will come to kill them. Not worried about his own life, Vincent must persuade Kira to give it up though that has become an issue, the first one to threaten their relationship. They still look for her and him as he disobeyed their order. His feelings ironically have matured from cherished older brother to beloved father to hopefully he dreams of loving mate, but deep in his gut he believes that will never happen as protecting her is his only allowance.

NO ORDINARY LOVE, the first book of the Incognito series, is a superb romantic suspense thriller that has the audience wondering what is going on from the prologue in which an agent of an unnamed (at that point) group realizes what happened. The exhilarating story line never slows down until the final confrontation as Kira's thirst for her heritage leads her and her champion from relative safety into dangerous situations. The cast especially the lead duo and the agent searching for them seems genuine, which in turn makes the conspiratorial cover-up by a clandestine group feel real too. As always Karen Wiesner writes a must read for sub-genre fans.

Harriet Klausner

As the first chapter unfolded in DEAD DROP, my throat constricted with tension and my breath labored with anticipation. The feelings that grabbed me in the previous books are back, stronger than ever. Once again, emotional drama embraces pain, hope, passion, anger and betrayal as Wiesner sharpens our focus.

DEAD DROP met my romance book needs. It embraced strong and pure passion and love, it held my absolute attention with its suspense and high tech wonders and the characters made me care while I cried, bit my nails and ate lots of chocolate as I read wide-eyed. DEAD DROP is dead on. And I'm ready for more.

Wiesner has once again surpassed my expectations with the Incognito Series! Her characters have such life and passion in them that they stay with you long after the story is over. And I have to say that I love a book that keeps you in the moment and gives you no time to think ahead of what might be coming as DEAD DROP does. If you haven't yet had a chance to read this series then you are definitely missing out on a great read!

Author Karen Wiesner continues to demonstrate the enviable capacity to enrapture her readers within the first page or two of any story. Readers, race to pick up DEAD DROP, then set aside a block of time sufficient to read it start to finish, because you will not be willing to put this book down until the end!

If possible, this story is even better than any of the previous. Readers will have a hard time finding a moment to catch their breaths.. The middle is just as fast-paced and intriguing as the beginning and the end.

The main characters are well developed and so are most of the secondary ones. All-in-all, I am beginning to believe that the author has one of the most fertile imaginations I have ever seen.

DROP DEAD is an exhilarating tale that grips the audience from the opening déjà vu sequence until the final confrontation. The lead couple makes the tale as this is no second chance at love since the Network stopped the first time and prepares to intervene again. Although Karen Wiesner's latest book can stand alone as a terrific, character-driven action thriller, newcomers will want to read the previous stories as these are some of the best novels around.

WOW OH WOW! I sympathized that FBI Agent Parris L'Engle couldn’t let go of her husband Daniel Sands even 25 years after the car accident that took him from her. As an investigator, Perry found too many anomalies to believe his death was an accident.

Now the organization that tried to recruit Daniel before his supposed death is trying to recruit their son. The Network is nefarious. I can't believe what one man had to endure before he could obtain his freedom.

I can't imagine the heartache Perry went through, losing everything and raising her son the way she had to when her husband was taken from her. I enjoyed reading this novel.

This book was just as fast-paced and suspenseful as the first three. However, I felt like I got a more up-close and personal look at the characters than I have to this point. Wiesner is a master at creating suspenseful, extremely complex plots.

Even better is her ability to bring to life powerful characters that hold you captive until the very end. The emotion is as real and deep as the danger at every turn.

Once again, Wiesner takes us on a journey that is not only fraught with masses of intrigue, oodles of tension and a cast of characters that by turns excites and utterly frustrates me. I am totally loving the series. Karen Wiesner’s Incognito Series is one NOT to be missed.

Make sure that you have a couple of books in the series in reserve because having to wait is killer. You'll want to completely immerse yourself in the world of the Network and people too amazing to not know.

Karen Wiesner has continued this series with an exceptional story of one woman’s belief in her man, her intuition and her skills. Against all odds she does what everyone told her was impossible for twenty-five years. Parris is one of those characters we can’t help but admire.

Ms. Wiesner crafts a story of intrigue and deception within agencies of the government whether covert or not that is easy to believe in the world we know. Dialogue, characters and their interactions are all well-constructed. It’s easy to get involved with the story.

Mike and Parris epitomize the relationship good partners have during investigations. Young Daniel is well done as a courageous offspring of FBI grandparents and mother. The more we learn of Parris’ and Daniel’s story the easier it is to hope a future might be possible.

This author builds the suspense well. She keeps us guessing and hoping right to the very end. This is a great read I didn’t want to put down.

Karen Wiesner penned an entertaining read of intrigue, romance, and adventure. Perry was an incredible character. She exhibits strength and passion. Fans of romance and suspense will enjoy this book.

What a beautiful little book. The pictures painted in my mind were beautiful, and that is all because of the way this book was written. Full of beautiful descriptions and characters that made me smile.

I'm looking forward to reading this to my grandson as I'm sure he will love it too. Time to purchase the other two books in the series!

Five Stars

Love this series would highly recommend

A pleasant night's read The first thing to note about this book is that it's easy reading. The language is clear, always appropriate to the emotions, so the reader can get lost in the content. That content is a detective story, featuring a policewoman, to me improbably, named Jane Doe.

While investigating a series of murders of prostitutes in Melbourne, Jane suffers a depressed skull fracture, and needs a holiday. A colleague recommends a place, at the suggestion of another policeman Jane had worked with, in the distant past. But another murder spoils the idyllic holiday. Jane is the witness who finds the body, and is out of the jurisdiction, and on holiday, but gets involved anyway. This is interlaced with the question: will she marry Oliver or won't she?

All the classical elements of a murder mystery are there, including danger to the detective, and the insertion of cues, to see if the reader can solve the crime before the detective. I'm proud to say I did, but I won't tell you. Excellent characterisation and description, and a twist including a ghost, make this book a pleasant night's reading. Dr.

Reviewed By: Robert Rich

A old fashioned whodunit A good read. Ghosts and a serial killer mixed into a read that has a female police officer as the main character. Okay can't really say that I particularly liked her but she was tenacious, determined and recovering from a head injury that let her see ghosts.

That of a husband who is still grieving over the murder of his wife and who had committed suicide to be with her. But 35 years on he was still searching for her. She has been ordered to rest after the injury that she had gotten whilst investigating a serial killer. Almost Ripper like in his actions. They meet on a deserted beach where she is staying at a small cottage. Another murder, a DNA link, flower and threats and then a showdown. Will she survive to unmask the killer?

It would have been a great read if the culprit hadn't been so very obvious. A few more suspects and a few more red herrings would have been great

Reviewed By: Kindle Customer

A pleasant night's read

The first thing to note about this book is that it’s easy reading. The language is clear, always appropriate to the emotions, so the reader can get lost in the content.

That content is a detective story, featuring a policewoman, to me improbably, named Jane Doe.

While investigating a series of murders of prostitutes in Melbourne, Jane suffers a depressed skull fracture, and needs a holiday. A colleague recommends a place, at the suggestion of another policeman Jane had worked with, in the distant past.

But another murder spoils the idyllic holiday. Jane is the witness who finds the body, and is out of the jurisdiction, and on holiday, but gets involved anyway.

This is interlaced with the question: will she marry Oliver or won’t she?

All the classical elements of a murder mystery are there, including danger to the detective, and the insertion of cues, to see if the reader can solve the crime before the detective.

I’m proud to say I did, but I won’t tell you.

Excellent characterisation and description, and a twist including a ghost, make this book a pleasant night’s reading.

Loved this

Loved this and just leave me wanting more historical fiction from Max

Depicts The Famous Battle of RamsesII

As always Max does his research and then using fact woven with fiction creates a masterpiece. The characters are rich the story fascinating. Every book of Max’s is a delight to read. Not only is this book entertaining it also teaches. Another roaring success.

Great Read

I only hope Heckman keeps writing. Her writing makes you feel like you are really at each location she writes about. I've been to the islands and she describes everything perfectly. Oh yes her story lines are fantastic. Don't want to put her books down.

KO is great!!

This is a new series for me and I really enjoyed this first book. Since I have been to Hawaii several times, I love the settings. I love Hawaiian settings and have read several mysteries with a Hawaiian locale. I'm onto my second in the KO series.

KO'd series

Very good book. Fun to read about Hawaii and you become friends with the people...Very much looking forward to more KO'd

Loved the Book

This is a terrific series and the author deftly handles her characters, her plot and her setting. Anyone who loves Hawaii will find even more to like as the author really knows it well and brings you into the life of the islands as well as the action. Exciting and enjoyable!

Five Stars

I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of her books about Hawaii, my favorite vacation place

Exciting ending.

The third book in the series didn't disappoint. I wish there were more in this series, but this seems to be the last one. Hopefully Victoria Beckman has another one to make her fans happy.

Poo

Victoria Heckman mystery thrills us again

Another great murder mystery set in Hawaii. Loved the action, the characters and the fast-paced plot woven into an insider's view of island history. Well done!

My favorite of the series

This was my Fave of the series. The subject matter it concerns is something that is real, and important to the future of the island. So,...yeah, it was awesome! hehe.

Hey, I love E-book prices!

Reviewed By: xo Dayna

the got him

a good vegas local detective novel

Excellent read!

I love discovering new authors – particularly good ones. Dennis Griffin is one of the good ones.

Griffin’s third novel, Killer In Pair-a-Dice is the first I’ve read of his. You can be sure I’m going to go back and read The Morgue (1999) and Red Gold (2000) soon.

The setting is modern-day Las Vegas. The reader is dropped into the action immediately, as a rapist/serial killer takes a victim. Griffin’s characters are good — very good. The killer is cool, efficient, and detached; the victim is terrified, angry, defiant… and then dead. Enter Las Vegas Metro Police Detective Steve Garneau, a likeable and professional investigator. Garneau soon becomes entrenched in the case and as bodies keep turning up, political and media pressure to catch the perpetrator intensify.

Griffin takes the reader into the killer’s mind, revealing the complete rage and hatred the man harbors for a certain woman that his victims remind him of. The man’s technique of using a garrote is distinctive — and intensely personal. He wraps his victims in a clean sheet, leaving few clues, and dumps them on roadsides where they will be found quickly. The press soon begins calling him the Phantom.

Garneau and his partner, Terry Bolton, make a good team. Griffin‘s writing style brings an immediate feeling of comfortable camaraderie between the two officers and he uses Bolton to balance what could easily become an all-male cast.

A sub-plot within the novel develops around the city’s political powers, adding an extra layer to an already good story. Instead of distracting the reader, this third element adds to the mystery: How does this all tie together?

The reader will not be disappointed.

Griffin pays close attention to police procedure – a feature I appreciate. I suspect Griffin’s own background in policing is what gives the novel a gritty, realistic feel. Griffin worked, among other investigative positions, as a P.I. for Pinkerton, and he attended the Central New York Regional Academy for Police Training.

The only problem I found with the novel was the copyediting was a little roughly done. This became distracting in spots, but I have to admit, as picky as I am about that, the story still thoroughly engaged me and I had a very hard time putting the book down.

An expertly woven mystery!

The first thing that attracted me to this book was the play on words in the title (paradise/pair-a-dice). After the first few pages, it is obvious that the title is very appropriate. A serial rapist/killer stalks the environs of Las Vegas, terrorizing the city to ever increasing levels.

There are several sub-plots to this mystery, and the reader can't help but anxiously turn the page to see how each of them plays out. In the end, the intricately woven story comes together in a flash of brutality as disturbing, as compelling, as the rest of the book.

Mr. Griffin's knowledge of police work and crime investigation is readily apparent. No amateurish guesswork here. It's as if you are reading from his own journal of experiences. This makes it all the more pleasurable to read.

In my opinion, Dennis Griffin is one of the very best mystery writers of our time. For anyone who enjoys this genre, his books are an absolute must!

Killer-in-Pair-A-dice

In his latest book, Killer in Pair-A-Dice, Dennis Griffin takes a simple story i.e. man stalks beautiful woman and kills her, and kills another, and turns it into a story that makes one read this while sitting with ones back against the wall. I especially liked the profiles of prominent persons living in Las Vegas. Very important information is given by the detective investigating the crime to women everywhere as to ways to react when in a threatening situation. We used to be told to submit to the attacker, but now, even in airline travel, we have to be ready to protect ourselves and others.

Las Vegas Cop Reviews Killer in Pair-A-Dice

The story is rivoting !! Dennis Griffin's book intertwines the real Las Vegas with his fictional story of a sociopathic, serial rapist and killer. You can read of the thinly-veiled political figures, police and geography of the city while following his clues to the identity of the suspect. Once you begin reading, the story stays in your mind until you reach the surprising climax. Read this book, and you'll go hunting for another Dennis Griffin masterpiece.

Unputdownable!

What a page turner!! And such a change for Mr. Griffin. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. This book is so readable that you would not have to be a crime book lover to become addicted to the story.

The characters Mr. Griffin uses are so lifelike you swear you know them personally. You are put right into the mind of the killer and can see where he is headed next. It is a complete "gripper".

Thanks Dennis Griffin for another absorbing book. I can't wait for your next one.

A real page-turner!

Dennis Griffin has written a book that will keep you turning pages until you discover who the murderer is. You won't be able to figure it out even though the clues are all there.

It's obvious Griffin, a retired law enforcement investigator, knows what he's writing about as you go along with the police detective sorting through the clues at each crime scene.

What I liked best about this story was I never quite knew what was going to happen next. A great read!

Characters had me fooled

Astonishingly, Dennis Griffin has outshown his talent in writing his latest novel "Killer In Pair-A-Dice" Once I started to read it, I was unable to put the book down. The characters were so alive that I could almost feel their presence. So many twists & turns in the story that I could not wait to see who the murderer was, that embarrassingly, I cheated. I went to the end to find out, but this did not curtail my curosity on how the players were going to merge. Although I knew the ending early, there were still many surprises.MANY SURPRISES! A definite read.

Griffin Does It Again !

Dennis Griffin's "Killer In Pair-A-Dice" is a must read book. This spine tingler is something that you just can't put down until you've reached the end. Griffin has proven himself again with this; his third book. The characters are very clear and precise. He gives you the feeling of being an observer throughout the story but never revealing the killer until the bitter end. Griffin hints at possible suspects making you think you know who the crimial is, until another twist and turn occurs, thus making you believe it could be someone else. Griffin has made this fictional tale seem true to life with the scary thing being it really could happen !

Griffin weaves a tight plot and creates brilliant characters

I love discovering new authors - particularly good ones. Dennis Griffin is one of the good ones.

Griffin's third novel, Killer in Pair-a-Dice is the first I've read of his. You can be sure I'm going to go back and read The Morgue (1999) and Red Gold (2000) soon.

The setting is modern-day Las Vegas. The reader is dropped into the action immediately, as a rapist/serial killer takes a victim. Griffin's characters are good - very good. The killer is cool, efficient, and detached; the victim is terrified, angry, defiant... and then dead. Enter Las Vegas Metro Police Detective Steve Garneau, a likeable and professional investigator. Garneau soon becomes entrenched in the case and as bodies keep turning up, political and media pressure to catch the perpetrator intensify.

Griffin takes the reader into the killer's mind, revealing the complete rage and hatred the man harbors for a certain woman that his victims remind him of. The man's technique of using a garrote is distinctive - and intensely personal. He wraps his victims in a clean sheet, leaving few clues, and dumps them on roadsides where they will be found quickly. The press soon begins calling him the Phantom.

Garneau and his partner, Terry Bolton, make a good team. Griffin`s writing style brings an immediate feeling of comfortable camaraderie between the two officers and he uses Bolton to balance what could easily become an all-male cast.

A sub-plot within the novel develops around the city's political powers, adding an extra layer to an already good story. Instead of distracting the reader, this third element adds to the mystery: How does this all tie together?

The reader will not be disappointed.

Griffin pays close attention to police procedure - a feature I appreciate. I suspect Griffin's own background in policing is what gives the novel a gritty, realistic feel. Griffin worked, among other investigative positions, as a P.I. for Pinkerton, and he attended the Central New York Regional Academy for Police Training.

The only problem I found with the novel was the copyediting was a little roughly done. This became distracting in spots, but I have to admit, as picky as I am about that, the story still thoroughly engaged me and I had a very hard time putting the book down.

test review from a test purchase :)

Great portrayal of Pioneering life in the mid 1800's.

I found the story to be "true to life" during the times depicted and the story-line moved along at a good pace. I was able to relate to my own forebears who had also been pioneers in the mid 19th Century, and there were many scenarios that had also affected my Great, Great Grandparents (NO, not the RUM - but so much else). I feel that anyone who wants to get a feeling for the problems our Pioneers experienced, in a district which we now consider only a couple of hours from Sydney, should enjoy the "history" behind the story. I certainly didn't want to put it down. I had previously read Daphne Saxby Taylor's "Wilhelmina" and will be looking for more of her Historical Novels, knowing they have been well researched and well written - and based on REAL people.

MINE is a delightfully written book that will sweep you away with the danger. Author Dee Lloyd has captured danger and betrayal, mystery and romance and inter-mixed it into a book that will not just keep your attention riveted but your fingers turning the pages.

Dee Lloyd can always be counted on for fast paced, exciting romantic murder mysteries. Fast becoming one of my favorite suspense authors, Dee writes strong, intelligent women who challenge the men around them. Her stories never fail to keep me on the edge of my seat to the very end, which comes far too soon!

...Sparkles with imagination creatively lending a new twist to the age-old prospector's tale. Bravo Dee, for the wonderful word play and the joyful celebration of love. This reviewer truly looks forward to many more tales from the pen of this talented author.

Mine builds in intensity and excitement to a fine, rip-roaring ending. Dee Lloyd offers pulse-pounding excitement leavened by a tender love story.

This is an interesting & well-written book. The dialogue is natural, the characters are believable & the plot is exciting. Who could ask for more?

Dee Lloyd is gifted with more than mere writing talent. She can see into people, love them just the same, and put that all together with skilled words. A charming read.

Mine by Dee Lloyd sure is one of those books where you wish it were a movie because of all the action and suspense in this one story. I mean from the beginning you have the suspense with someone killing George then you have Cadie's return that brings in more action, not to mention a gorgeous ex-detective Marc Banachek. Here is a man, who becomes a writer from his experience as a detective, and woman, a bookseller, that come together in an unusual way. Dee Lloyd did a remarkable job of throwing in so many loops to bring them together. I mean the book is great with all the action but to see these two come together it is as Cadie says "combustible".

Recommended for its fun-filled action and suspense that is full of rollercoaster fun with two people not looking for a relationship and about to find out that sometimes you have to take a chance.

From the first sentence in Mine I was drawn into the book by the suspense interwoven so skillfully into this love story. Dee Lloyd brought the characters to life, and I hope to read more of her books in the future.

Ex-cop turned mystery novelist Marcus Banachek has been enjoying the solitude of life in northern Ontario for several months, since the death of his friend and former landlord, George Haywood. He has no plans to vacate the premises, despite the wishes of George's granddaughter, Arcadie, and his own feelings toward her.

An artist and co-owner of a bookshop, Cadie is recuperating from a near-fatal car accident, as well as grieving for her grandfather. She's in no mood to deal with Marc, either. A mishap mere moments after her arrival at Nighthawk Lake forces the issue--Marc is virtually incapacitated for a few days, and unwillingly, Cadie briefly becomes nurse, companion and chauffeur.

Packing her grandfather's possessions, going through his papers, Cadie notices that his books have been disturbed. In spite of a methodical search, she doesn't discover any reason that anyone might have looked through George's effects. A telephone call from her Uncle Jack makes Cadie suspicious, however. He's trying to persuade her to sell the land on Nighthawk Lake--and she begins to wonder why. Could it have something to do with the value of the claims George staked on the property, prior to his untimely death?

In the hands of a less talented writer, MINE could have been a routine woman-in-jeopardy book. Ms. Lloyd has constructed a taut, absorbing story, peopled with three-dimensional characters. ... She's definitely a woman to watch. I'll be looking forward to reading her future work.

WHEN RUDOLPH WAS KIDNAPPED is better than a hot cup of cocoa topped with whipped cream and a peppermint stick! Author Christine DeSmet dishes up the best of both worlds as her characters—Crystal Hagan and Peter LeBarron—make you laugh one minute, then your toes wiggle in your snow boots the next. Book 1 in the Mischief in Moonstone Series, I'm looking forward to the next!

This story tugs at the heart of many Christmas celebrations, the children. Through a class of bright-eyed children, older generations find new meaning in community celebrations and traditions.

Rating 4 lighthouses

When her pet reindeer, Rudolph, is stolen from the live animal holiday display in her small town, teacher Crystal Hagan has a big problem. Her students fear that Christmas will be canceled. The prime suspect is old man Henri LeBarron, who played Santa long ago before he became a recluse. Crystal marches to his mansion known as the "North Pole" and meets Henri's son, Peter, who acts even more curmudgeonly and secretive than his father. To her shock, he admits to kidnapping Rudolph and he won't give him back.

Peter LeBarron finds his lonely existence charmed by the first-grade teacher who comes to his door with homemade chocolate pudding cake as a bribe for getting her reindeer back peaceably. This isn't the type of woman he's used to in his jet-set world. But is she the type of woman he can trust with the secrets of the "North Pole" and his own past?

Well written, enjoyable story, which kept me guessing almost to the end as to who the real kidnapper was.

Superior, Wisconsin may feel like the North Pole Superior, Wisconsin may feel like the North Pole, so the residents of this little town led my first-grade teacher, Crystal Hagan, do all they can to celebrate Christmas in a big way. It starts with a live nativity featuring Crystal’s own reindeer named Rudolph. It takes place in front of a huge mansion, which the children believe is the “North Pole”. But this year Rudolph is stolen from its spot in the manger. The children are upset because Santa can’t come without Rudolph. Crystal believes the owner of the mansion has stolen her pet, and his son admits it! He promises the reindeer will be returned if his father’s demands are met. This leads to some interesting negotiations and activities including Crystal’s first graders.

This story is perfect for a Hallmark holiday movie. Mayhem and toe-curling romance abound in this little town on chilly Lake Superior. The characters span all generations. Crystal meets Peter while looking for her missing reindeer. She can’t believe his father, a man who used to dress up as Santa, would take her reindeer, but the man has changed over the years, and even more just over the past few weeks. Peter has left the warmth of his Arizona home to try to figure out why his dad is selling his home and his business.

All the characters are realistic and with being a novella we need to get to know them fast. The author does a wonderful job of bringing them to life.

A missing reindeer is a cute little mystery. The mayhem that takes place leading up to getting him back is heartwarming and at times really funny. The romance, again because of the length of the story also happens quickly but not easily.

Ms. DeSmet has crafted a wonderful Christmas story. It helped to get me into the Christmas spirit and may become an annual read. Seriously Hallmark…movie, I am just saying. 🙂

A Fast, Fun Holiday Read! WHEN RUDOLPH WAS KIDNAPPED is better than a hot cup of cocoa topped with whipped cream and a peppermint stick! Author Christine DeSmet dishes up the best of both worlds as her characters—Crystal Hagan and Peter LeBarron—make you laugh one minute, then your toes wiggle in your snow boots the next. Book 1 in the Mischief in Moonstone Series, I'm looking forward to the next!

“This was a fun mini escape on a Sunday afternoon. The characters were engaging and funny. The romance sizzled at just the right temperature. Again, as with the first novella of this series, When Rudolph was Kidnapped, this story has a Lifetime or Hallmark movie feel. Being set in my home state of Wisconsin was just the thing to hook me from beginning to end.

Lori Caswell/Dollycas, Amazon Verified Purchase ”

“DeSmet masterfully mixes the real with the unreal resulting in an irresistible story of romance and life’s lessons learned. And best of all, she stirs in a generous portion of northern Wisconsin history mixed with a generous helping of fanciful descriptions of mouth-watering potluck dishes (ie. A dish to pass) thrown in. This is a fun romp told by a masterful storyteller. I loved it!

Ann Dallman, Amazon Verified Purchase ”

“Pink to the hilt--except for what's on the hammer, that's blood. A fertility rug. A St. Bernard. And priceless broken Steuben's. They all add up to murder! Could the culprit be the handsome carpenters? The karate-chopping cousin? Or maybe even the groom? I laughed my way through this romantic cozy, and you will, too!

Laurie Buchanan, Amazon Verified Purchase ”

Great book

I like all of her books. I have all of them so far.

Pink to the hilt—except for what's on the hammer, that's blood. A fertility rug. A St. Bernard. And priceless broken Steuben's. They all add up to murder! Could the culprit be the handsome carpenters? The karate-chopping cousin? Or maybe even the groom? I laughed my way through this romantic cozy, and you will, too!

Merged review:

"Pink to the hilt—except for what's on the hammer, that's blood. A fertility rug. A St. Bernard. And priceless broken Steuben's. They all add up to murder! Could the culprit be the handsome carpenters? The karate-chopping cousin? Or maybe even the groom? I laughed my way through the romantic cozy, and you will too." —LAURIE BUCHANAN, author of the Sean McPherson novels

Sometimes you feel like a full meal. Other times you want a tasty snack. A Moonstone Wedding is the delectable bite you sneak in before dinner.

This novella is a quick read filled with giggles, farcical situations, and non-stop action. When Margie Mueller receives a fertility rug from her fiancé’s family before the wedding, the older bride worries her mother-in-law and husband might expect her to pull off a miracle. After the family descends on Moonstone from Italy, Margie receives a threatening note…and then the first body appears.

The clash of cultures between Wisconsin and Italy makes for plenty of laughs. The mystery is light as is suitable for a novella. The killer’s motive addresses a surprisingly heavy subject for a humorous novella, but author DeSmet keeps it light with twists and farce. This is a fun read to slip in between novels, such as DeSmet’s Fudge Shop mysteries.

Can solving the mystery of arson light a fire in your heart? In Moonstone Fire, it will. John "Bozeman" Hall is a kind-hearted man with a past Dolly O'Toole, a woman on the run, and her son Finn captured his heart and mine in DeSmet's compelling addition to her Moonstone series. A perfect love story that will leave you breathless.

Sweet book

Great artwork, great story

outstanding

Great book, really enjoyed it.

Loved it, just like I love all of JennaKay's books.

As well as an appreciative reader, I also published this book (only accepted because I liked it:)

Elfin Crown Prince Terran is ordered to find a wife and produce an heir within the year or forfeit the right to the throne to his younger brother, who he knows, would do anything to get the crown...

For the entire review please go to the Best Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Review site on the web, Bitten By Books for the review of Nitesh in it's entirety. You won't be sorry.

Absolutely amazing young sci-fi book. This has been a favourite of mine since I got this book over 20 years ago. I've read it countless times since and love it every time.

I really adore all of the characters, don't spot any plot holes, and get pulled through the book with seamless perspective changes and great writing. I always read the whole trilogy, and am looking forward to passing my love along to my nieces and nephews in the coming years.

One of my favourite childhood books!

This was one of my most favourite book series when I was young. I have always been interested in buying it, but I couldn't find it anywhere. It was to my surprise that I found this one as an ebook. Thank you so much and I hope you will release the rest of the series in ebook form

Ranks with the best!

This is my first reading of a Marlow book. I have been reading L'amour, Grey, Kelton and many others for over 50 years. The personality descriptions of the characters, the place settings and descriptions along with developing 3 characters of diverse backgrounds into a cohesive and friendship bound unit really shows its own degree of depth. I'm looking forward to the next read.

Intriguing book

I don't read these types of books, but was asked to by my husband. I found it very intriguing and not boring at all. Would recommend this book to people who like sci-fantasy. Very well done for first book written.

Great Read

This one will hold your attention and keep you reading when you should be working on something else. Great twists and turns that all have a believeable logic, the plot is very well built and executed. Can't wait for a sequel. Am passing this read around to friends. Love the no smutt.

Good book

This was a very good book. Differnet then what I am used to but that is what made it so interesting.

Danger, Intrigue, and Lots of Romance

The story opens with Cordelia burgling Karl's home to get a book to ransom her kidnapped twin sister Miranda. She has mysterious psychic powers and plans to use them to save Miranda. Instead, Karl catches her. Later on, she learns about the dark heritage in her bloodline. Karl is a vampire and has been watching over her family for centuries. Miranda winds up in the evil clutches of vampire Josef, her mother's brother. Josef, who considers humanity an inferior species, has a devious agenda for his half-human, half-vampire nieces. For any chance to rescue Miranda, Cordelia must join forces with Karl. They form a blood bond that leads to deeper intimacy than either one expected. Cordelia struggles with her worries for her twin sister, her dawning love for Karl, and the exhilaration and terror of embracing her inhuman side.

Passion in the Blood has all the ingredients for a great tale - conflict, compelling characters, and intriguing subplots. The conflict starts at page one, with Cordelia trying to steal the book. She'd never burgled a house before, and aside from the embarrassment of getting caught, she's torn with conflicting emotions of right versus wrong. Carter does a great job with layering her characters. Cordelia starts out hating her mother and with good reason, for her mother abandoned her and Miranda at birth. She wouldn't give her mother the time of day, but when she finds her mother badly injured, she willingly donates blood to save her. That's the last thing I thought Cordelia would do, but Carter orchestrated the plot in a way that maintained my suspension of disbelief. Carter does the same effective layering with Karl, who swears he'd never commit himself to an "ephemeral," the vampires' word for human. The conflict occurs on several levels; Cordelia and Karl fear intimacy. Cordelia, who hates horror movies, is terrified at the prospect of confronting vampires, let alone facing her inhuman side. Will she and Karl fall in love? Can she and Miranda escape Josef? Can she forgive her mother? I don't want to spoil the ending for you, but the subplots, heat, and ever present danger kept me turning the pages.

For fanciers of paranormal, vampire, and romance fiction, I highly recommend this book. I rate it five stars.

HOME is a heart-wrenching and emotional, inspirational novel. The characters and their experiences are so realistic, it made me think of what's important in life and the consequences of each choice made.

...If you love characters so realistic, you actually feel like you know them inside and out and can’t be satisfied until each one is in a good place, you’ll want to read DESTINY.

Some couples should not have children! I was so angry with Brayla's folks. I wanted to do them harm.

It is amazing Brayla reached the age of thirty and hid in her deceased Dad's home to play videogames all day! Her two best friends, Lena Young and Shaun Levi, tried get her out more. At a party, she slept with Shaun when they were drunk.

I was impressed with Shaun, as it was clear he wanted to take their relationship further, but Brayla was clueless given that she’d never known about love. Even her parents and aunt never gave her any. I am glad Shaun stuck by her even when she took off for a small town in Alaska in hopes of meeting a Prince Charming. I loved how Brayla finally stood up for herself after she realized she was loved by her friends and accepted by them when no one in her family cared about her.

FOUR STARS! It is always interesting to me to see a fellow gamer get his or her story told, but this gamer girl is almost detached from reality. Seeing her wake-up call (waking in bed with her best friend) is very entertaining.

I read this entire novel in one sitting. That is simple to do since Karen Wiesner has such a smooth writing style that is easy to read. As always, all the characters are likeable and have well developed backgrounds.

This author is always very thorough. I like that about her. Some of the characters in the Peaceful series come from the Friendship and Heirlooms series.

Therefore, you may see some familiar faces! If you want a book to make your reality to go away, for a few hours on the beach or wherever, this story is perfect for you. Karen Wiesner is making her mark in the Romance genre.

Once Upon a Cliche, A Peaceful Pilgrim Novel

Some couples should not have children! I was so angry with Brayla's folks. I wanted to do them harm. How could Brayla's mom lie on the sofa all day and ignore her baby's cries? It is AMAZING Brayla reached the age of thirty and hid in her deceased Dad's home to play video games all day! Her two best friends, Lena Young and Shaun Levi, tried get her out more. At a party, she slept with Shaun when they were drunk. I was impressed with Shaun, as it was clear he wanted to take their relationship further, but Brayla was clueless given that she’d never known about love. Even her parents and aunt never gave her any. I am glad Shaun stuck by her even when she took off for a small town in Alaska in hopes of meeting a Prince Charming. I loved how Brayla FINALLY stood up for herself after she realized that what her two best friends tried to tell her for almost thirty years that she WAS loved by her friends and that she was accepted when none of her family cared about her.

A Touching, Funny Story

This very engaging novel does a wonderful job of creating sympathy for a heroine with a heap of emotional problems, whom even her best friends consider unlikable at times. Painful, touching, and humorous moments alternate in a convincingly lifelike way. Genuine suspense about her search for a fulfilling relationship builds in a natural, believable sequence. I rooted for her journey of growth in self-awareness and could hardly put the book down. Although the reader trusts that these two awkward friends will eventually discover their true feelings for each other, there were times when that happy ending seemed almost impossible to imagine. The only change I might wish for is a scene or two where the heroine's friends make an effort to participate in her gaming hobby in order to fully appreciate why she enjoys it so much.

Books by Wiesner are always so easy to read. They are addictive.

Brayla Sullivan and Shaun Levi have been friends for as long as they can remember. But a New Year’s kiss ends with them in bed. When they wake the next morning, Shaun wants to continue the relationship. Yet Brayla is horrified and wants only to forget it. She has always dressed in baggy clothes or in coveralls. She has always been the ugly duckling. Now she gets a makeover, even though Shaun believes she was beautiful before the makeover.

Brayla is an avid gamer. Her mind is always tuned in to whatever video game she is currently playing. To cut back on gaming and change her life, Brayla signs up on a dating web site and meets Eric Baldur, from Adak, Alaska. After talking with him via Instant Messenger, Brayla feels the need to meet this Prince Charming and drops everything to fly to Alaska.

Shaun cannot believe Brayla asks him to help arrange her travel to meet another man. Can she not see that he is the man for her and not some unknown guy in Alaska? But worried for her safety, traveling for the first time alone, Shaun agrees. Perhaps she needs to do this before she can see him as something other than a life-long friend.

**** FOUR STARS! It is always interesting to me to see a fellow gamer get his or her story told, but this gamer girl is almost detached from reality. Seeing her wake-up call (waking in bed with her best friend) is very entertaining. I read this entire novel in one sitting. That is simple to do since Karen Wiesner has such a smooth writing style that is easy to read. As always, all the characters are likeable and have well developed backgrounds. This author is always very thorough. I like that about her. Some of the characters in the Peaceful series come from the Friendship and Heirlooms series. Therefore, you may see some familiar faces! If you want a book to make your reality to go away, for a few hours on the beach or wherever, this story is perfect for you. Karen Wiesner is making her mark in the Romance genre. ****

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

FOUR STARS! I have no doubt that many ladies in the real world have had their own version of an "Alexander" in their lives. However, I do not believe most of them were as mean as Riley's.

Watching Riley, Blaze, and their kin as they deal with all the problems that come their way kept my attention throughout the story. Just as watching Riley and Blaze spend some wonderful time together did. If you have not read any of the previous titles, I assure you that each story stands alone.

However, it is nice to see the previous main characters of stories have parts as secondary characters in others. It makes me feel as though I actually know these people. Karen Wiesner weaves all their lives together to create a warm and friendly town with some amazing locals in it. I can hardly wait to read more about Peaceful, Wisconsin.

FIVE STARS! This story is outstanding. The time flew by as I read, hardly coming up for air.

The town of Peaceful is not an existing one. If it were, I would be tempted to move there. It is a small modern-day community with old-fashioned values. (Both the Family and Friendship Heirlooms series’ are set there too.) This particular series, Peaceful Pilgrim, is in no certain order.

This means readers do not need to worry about which title to read first. Just pick up a title and enjoy. Characters by Karen Wiesner seem to come alive.

I came to care for several of them, especially Lena and Neve. I hated Rick instantly. Wiesner has given him a past that shows how deadly he can be.

I found myself actually worried for Lena and Neve – fictional characters. A part of me had becomes invested in their plight. I simply cannot say enough wonderful things about this story. Fantastic!

A Peaceful Pilgrim novel. FANTASTIC!

Forty year old Dante Robinson has never been in love or had a serious relationship. When he learns his nephew, Shea, and a friend has started an online dating service, Perfect Match, Dante insists they shut it down. Yet when Shea offers to hook him up with a “naughty librarian” Dante relents and accepts.

Lena Young works two jobs, is trying to get her Masters, and has been raising the daughter of her abusive older brother, Rich, for sixteen years. Rick is a long haul truck driver and cares nothing for Lena or Neve; however, he considers both of them to be his property. When Lena hears that Neve had signed her up on a dating site, Lena is humiliated and wants only for her profile to be deleted. But Dante has already responded to it. Lena had a huge crush on Dante sixteen years ago – back when he and Rick had been friends. (Rick had thrown Dante out of their lives when Dante stopped Rick from killing someone.) The temptation to meet Dante again is irresistible and Lena agrees to see him.

Since Lena’s profile had a phony name on it, Dante has no idea that it is Lena. She has changed quite a bit. When Lena learns that Dante only invited her over to his house to get laid, she is mortified and leaves. An equally humiliated Dante comes to the truck stop diner she works on the weekends to apologize, begs her to forgive him and to give him one more chance. She agrees.

Dante quickly sees that Lena and Neve’s lives had not gotten better in the last sixteen years. In fact, things have worsened. They know that when Rick hears Lena and Dante are dating, he will go into a murderous rage – literally. This time; however, Dante is not going quietly out of Lena’s life. The pair will fight not only for a chance at real happiness, but to protect Neve at all costs.

***** FIVE STARS! This story is outstanding. The time flew by as I read, hardly coming up for air. The town of Peaceful is not an existing one. If it were, I would be tempted to move there. It is a small modern-day community with old-fashioned values. (Both the Family and Friendship Heirlooms series’ are set there too.) This particular series, Peaceful Pilgrim, is in no certain order. This means readers do not need to worry about which title to read first. Just pick up a title and enjoy.

Characters by Karen Wiesner seem to come alive. I came to care for several of them, especially Lena and Neve. I hated Rick instantly. Wiesner has given him a past that shows how deadly he can be. I found myself actually worried for Lena and Neve – fictional characters. A part of me had becomes invested in their plight. I simply cannot say enough wonderful things about this story. Fantastic! *****

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

FOUR STARS! Author Karen Wiesner has added a wonderful new installment to the Peaceful Pilgrims series. Each character is well developed and has an interesting background story.

I could see and understand what each character (except for Rick) was going through and why they reacted the way they did. On a side note, I could not help but shake my head in amazement when Landon sent Tammie the "it's over" by text message. I thought only teenagers ever made this mistake.

In my mind, mature people end a relationship face-to-face. The one being "dumped" deserves that much at the very least. This is a clean romance.

No hot bedroom scenes. The author does not even write out curse words in the story. If one is spoken, symbols are inserted so readers know what was said.

I also love the fact that no one in the story is perfect. Mistakes are made. Regrets happen.

Several of the characters must work through the problems, sometimes helping others as they do so. This made the tale more realistic to me. Well done!

The 'secret baby' plot is one of my favorite romance tropes, and that situation is set up naturally and credibly in this novel. The hero and heroine are sympathetic yet humanly flawed characters with their hearts in the right place. The story admirably evolves to a believable but not blatantly inevitable warm, satisfying, hard-won conclusion. As a bonus, there's a very intelligent cat!

Last of a wonderful series.

Avery Worchester broke up with Stella eight months ago. He never expected to find her at his apartment door or for her to thrust a newborn infant into his arms. She informs him that the baby is his and to never contact her again. Avery does not have the best track record when it comes to raising kids. Yet, Avery finds himself falling under the baby girl’s spell almost immediately. In order to keep running Holt’s Auto Repair, Avery decides to hire a nanny.

Jayne Eyre Huntington is in her last semester of university. To help with her financial troubles, Jayne accepts Avery’s nanny position to care for little Mariana. The only foreseeable problem is that Avery is single. This means Jayne must keep her sister, Karrie, from finding out about him. It did not matter that Karrie has Oliver or a two-year-old child. Should Karrie learn about Jayne spending any time with an unwed male, she would be driven to sabotage everything for Jayne.

**** I am so happy that Avery finally has his tale told. He is the perfect choice to be the last story in this marvelous series. The author has a way of ensuring that the reader can see and understand the sides of both main characters.

This romance kept my attention from the first page until the last. Between the blooming romance, obstacles and drama, I never found myself growing bored. Most stories tend to slow down a bit in the middle, but not this one!

This is a clean romance, meaning that you will not find any inappropriate scenes. That makes this romance perfect for ALL ages!

Karen Wiesner writes some of the best warm, feel-good ending stories of our time! ****

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Another great book from Deena Marie Kaylee

I love Deena's work. Priceless was another great book that was realistic, funny, emotional, and romantic. Those looking for a read that focuses on what's really important in life can't go wrong with this book.

Priceless

This inspirational comedy romance revolves around twin sisters and the men that love them. The relationship between the sisters is realistic and delightfully funny. They have their moments when they aren't too crazy about each other, but the men who love them help the sisters to remember the value and importance of family, faith and love. This is a story about a priceless commodity-love.

The truth told gently I highly recommend this beautifully written book. The language is entrancing, not least because the author has captured well the music of Isaiah and Zephaniah in her words of prophecy in the story. It is an allegory of the hopes and dreams of many of us, but also about the fallen nature of humanity.

I don't think it is a spoiler to say that it ends with disaster but is saved in hope by the epilogue--a reality about the cycles of history and the rise and fall of civilizations in the large, and the life-cycles of Utopian communities in the small. The story spans many generations, but each one generation is depicted by a focussed story in itself.

There is a lovely variety of characters, each a unique individual deftly drawn with spare descriptions but telling interactions. This book sings with much truth told gently throughout.

Reviewed By: Neff

The author is a friend of mine. We read it for our book club and it does make you think about the personalities in the story. Some people may not 'GET IT" but I liked it.

Reviewed By: Pegm

An experiment in human nature It's an experiment. Can a family, or a group of people set up a society based on love and mutual respect, in which all are treated justly as equals? Can such a society carry on with its original vision for generation after generation? It's worth a try, anyway.

Claralice Wolf has written her heart out with this one. The human factor is authentic. Things don't happen automatically. Relationships take work from beginning to end. Adam and Zoe learn much, sometimes the hard way, but they make a solid beginning.

The vision, the prophecy of the Red Prophet, important events, subsequent prophesies and light from above, are all written in a special Book. Though the story lasts for seven generations, Claralice has skilfully woven all the lives into a common thread. We see each stage of the island's history through those lives, as the community grows from an extended family into a large town.

The Red Prophet's words echo throughout the narrative, as various ones recall them. They are a warning, sometimes unheeded by those who most need to listen, and sometimes an encouragement. The unicorns also speak, but only certain people have the ability to hear them.

As the story comes to a climax, we see who are the true successors of Adam Prynne, and who only think they are. How does the vision survive? Does it end in a tragedy? For some, perhaps, but for others, it's a new beginning.

Reviewed By: Robby Charters, author of Pepe

Prynne's Island is about all of us For families that have outgrown the Narnia books, Prynne's Island will give early teens and their parents some fruitful conversations. The deepest mysteries of human belief and character have long been represented in fables and legends ... and in the most profound tales that underlie all our religions.

Such is the foundation story of Prynne's Island, a tale that looks again at Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and the loss of the idyllic life of the Garden. This tale of a family through many generations appears fantastic and somewhat archaic on the surface, but is actually quite contemporary. It is inhabited by ordinary people, people that we might have known all our lives, people who make us ask how we ourselves are living out this ancient story of human character and destiny.

Reviewed By: Eric Wolf

An epic tale

Will Greenway got me started reading ebooks way too many years ago and I haven't stopped since. I have read all of them multiple times over the years and always find some new tidbit to appreciate and enjoy. It always takes me back to the days of my youth around a tabletop with my friends surrounded by dice giggling over frustrating the GM latest plots. I only wish I had lived near enough to sit in on one of his groups sessions... Buy it. You will enjoy reading it each year.

Meet Bannor, savant of Reality

Wren's adventures as she searches for another Savant, to safe him from.. (nah that would be a spoiler ;-) )

Awesome Series

This is one of my favorite series. The author does a great job of blending science and magic in a way that is captivating.

I have read all of Will's Ring Realms books (and some of his "snippets" as well. They are all great. It is a shame that his work hasn't (yet) made it to as wide a distribution as some other author’s sci-fi that isn't nearly as good. Let's all try to spread the word as best we can to encourage other readers to give his works a try.

Escape reading at its best

When you want a non stop action filled world with twist and turns, and damn good writing, read this book. Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen next I was wrong. Greenway breaks every rule of fantasy writing formula with great results.

awesome

have read all the books by will greenway and find them amazing. they are all awesome and it has awesome world building. can't wait until more books by this author comes out

Awesome Series

I love this series. I have re-read the books numerous times and can't wait for the latest book to come out. I love the mix of magic and technology, which I feel like most authors don't do well. The characters are also really compelling.

Spectacular sequel!

Great sequel, more gripping adventure, powerful foes to trash, and one angry, revengeful God on the prowl.

worthwhile read

love this authors series of books and have read them all. author also has a website that has back info on the ring realms universe. can't wait til more comes out:)

A smashing read!

The story continues, layer after layer is uncovered, each revelation earned with blood, a lot of it.

must read book

awesome series of books. have bought and read the entire series and worthwhile to read. this is a universe spanning series

Things get complicated... As the bad guys get more desperate, the fights get bigger and more apocalyptic, is there even a chance they will survive this onslaught? And how do you hide thrashings like this with all the politic enemies that are eager to represent outside help as unwanted meddling and worse?

Reviewed By: Kindle Customer

Another great read Bannor is really turning into a powerhouse. I love that he is still overshadowed by more powerful characters, but still manages to play a pivotal role. He always seems to pull out a new trick. Love the melding of tech and mythology.

Reviewed By: John M Huzinec

John R. Morris’s King’s Steel is a brand new release in the epic high fantasy genre. Morris’s protagonist, Major Kallan Garrik, investigates a rash of soulstealers who threaten his home kingdom, while the mysterious but beautiful Vala and a cadre of loyal soldiers* join him in uncovering a long-held, deep-seated, magical grudge. While King’s Steel doesn’t break new ground, it zips along at a pace rivaling even the pulpiest airport novel, making its considerable length (approximately 154,000 words) more manageable than most books of that length.

A historical division within the fantasy genre is often between sword and sorcery (exactly what it sounds like), typified by series like The Chronicles of Prydain and Conan the Barbarian, and fantasies more contemplative of the social and cultural conditions in which the characters live. In King’s Steel, Morris balances both ends of the spectrum. The book opens with Kallan immediately in swashbuckling mode, which establishes him as a formidable fighter, but also demonstrates the teamwork that will be necessary to overcome the soulstealers (or “hexen”, depending on which character is speaking). Starting at Chapter 28, a semi-major character is a dressmaker. Morris describes the ladies’ dresses** in sufficient detail that if King’s Steel were ever optioned as a movie, limited series or stage production, the costume designer would have plenty to work with. Fans of the more Renaissance Faire style of fantasy will surely enjoy those descriptions, all the way from Chapter 9 onward. Then, of course, there are plenty more battles to be had.

Magic comes with rules. One of the dictates of the fantasy genre is that no matter how much disbelief is suspended, once the rules of the world are in place, the author must obey them. Morris does this almost perfectly. Innate powers (tau) and crystals can heal, but they drain the subject of energy. Kallan suffers grievous injuries that lay him up in hotel rooms (well, it’s fantasy, so a room above an inn) for days at a time. Although Kallan and Vala have a certain amount of plot armor, as one expects in this genre, they never appear invincible, even when they are enchanted. The one exception is the abrupt appearance of the portals, which are crucial to transporting Vala and her compatriots across South Reach*** and Urdan. The first instance of the word “portal” occurs in Chapter 19, and completely threw me for a (hyper)loop.

Morris simultaneously employs and subverts the quest theme. While Kallan’s story arc starts as a seemingly straightforward quest to find out what the hexen are plotting against South Reach, it quickly goes astray based on the shared goals of South Reach and Urdan. Characters like Vala, Relenki and Bartholomew generally support Kallan but insist on having a say in the overall goals of the quest. Magistrate Allistrando of Urdan, by contrast, is extremely wary of exposing Urdan to other kingdoms, acting in Chapter 39 as an isolationist who is initially opposed to outward engagement. He eventually realizes he will need to form an alliance to succeed over the hexen, completing his arc. Characters’ goals in King’s Steel are rarely opposed or orthogonal, instead usually consisting of North versus North-North-East. The primary exception is Andor, who is exposed as an ostracized pariah who manipulates subjects from a distance.

The only scenes I found wholly unrealistic**** were the ring scene leading up to Chapter 45 and the courtroom scene in Chapter 66. In the former, one of the characters requires an engagement ring, so his first idea is to detach the gemstone from his sword’s pommel. This is despite him belonging to a royal family, which presumably owns a number of family heirloom rings that would be perfectly suited to the young man’s upcoming engagement. Morris gives no reason as to why this character does not first inquire about the family’s collection. The courtroom scene is typical fantasy fare, complete with self-represented parties, sloppy court procedure, and general proclamations of characters’ intentions. My qualm here is not with Morris specifically, but rather with a time-honored tradition that needs to perish. No more fantasy trials.

Otherwise, though, Morris makes the world realer than many another fantasy author might have. Magistrate Allistrando’s brother Luggio, for example, reveals in Chapter 40 that he is the owner and proprietor of a restaurant. This is the ultimate illustration of how an at least somewhat democratic country would differ from a top-down autocratic kingdom; in democracies, merchants are prized for their successes, whereas in autocracies they are typically not. One of my favorite characters, meanwhile, is Yantz, who is a magical doctor. As mentioned above, characters’ injuries in King’s Steel are bloody, debilitating, and result in extended infirmary stays. Without Yantz, the whole troupe***** would probably be dead in the first third of the novel.

After unofficially retiring this blog, it is fitting that my lone review of 2022 so far is a Fall 2022 release full of adventure, romance and theme. King’s Steel is quick-reading fantasy fun that should please both the martial and social fans.

Ease of Reading: 10

Educational Content: 1

*There’s a Captain Greenway. The chief editor of the book, who also wrote a foreword, is named William Greenway. I imagine this is 100% pure coincidence with absolutely nothing more to it.

**At one point, there’s a form-fitting lavender wedding dress. Clearly the era of Disney Princesses is behind us, and we’re ready for our fantastical brides to wear more modern designs.

***I kept reading “South Beach” here, but alas, there was no Bam Adebayo sighting.

****Again, by the standards of the world. Healing crystals and soulstealers, I can accept as being pillars of a fantasy world.

*****There are some misspellings of this word as “troop”. Similarly, there are some instances of switching “hanged” and “hung”. While these editorial issues niggle slightly, they are a cup of water in Lake Superior compared to the red pen I would take to the average thriller novel.

Originally posted at http://matthewgordonbooks.blogspot.co...

amazingly well done book

Quality writing and smooth reading from start to finish. No errors all characters have a reason for being and are well rounded plot and world are solidly build. Rank it up with the top 5% of books I’ve read on kindle so far.

Pretty Darn tootin good

I have known the author since he was 7, no wait 7 years or so. Pretty Good book, but im confused by the double headed robot that eats the hero.

Fascinating near-future thriller Hugh Ryan's job might not be glamorous, but it is important. In the near future, Brussels has developed a highly sophisticated traffic network. Computers route cars around congestion. Huge parking elevators keep cars below ground and yet easily accessible. Efficient trains and a subway system move hundreds of thousands of people to their jobs. When roads fill, computers send cars to another route. When too many become congested, the same computers send the cars to the rapid transit centers. And Hugh, along with a small number of fellow workers, controls the entire system.

When things start to go bad, Hugh springs into action--and the system does its best to self-repair. But the system was never designed to deal with simultaneous toxic truck wrecks in every major intersection, power failure in the subway, the collapse of the train system, and malfunctions in the parking elevators that turn the entire city into a stationary parking lot. Hugh isn't surprised with the call comes in--a terrorist organization is holding the entire city, including heads of state from all of Nato, for ransom. Reading between the lines of the terrorist threat, Hugh realizes that someone in his own transport agency is somehow involved--and sets out to find who did it.

What follows is an action-packed adventure with plenty of plot twists and even a touch of romance. Author Gerard Readett makes his near-future traffic scenario feel real and interesting. Hugh, with his lost wife and anti-establishment tendencies, makes a sympathetic protagonist and Readett mixes in just enough scenes from those caught up in the disaster--and from the point of view of the criminals and terrorists who combine to take the city captive--to make the action seem real. I wish Readett had relied a bit less on coincidence in putting Hugh in just the right place to do so much against the terrorist threat, but that's a minor quibble with a really fascinating story.

Reviewed By: booksforabuck

Talk about a traffic jam! Being in a traffic jam takes on a new meaning in ROADWORKS. Set in the year 2022, this high tech thriller creates innovative architecture, a Traffic Management Centre (TMC), subterranean parking structures, and a whole lot of problems for Brussels, Belgium, in which the roadways have been set up like the spokes of a wagon wheel. Everything runs smoothly with the TMC keeping track of any minor emergency on the Metro, parking structures, or highway. TMC can easily re-route vehicles to other less congested travel patterns.

However, there are sixteen entry points to the center of the city, and when terrorists block them, the roadway is literally a parking lot. Very few people can get to work, but fortunately, our hero Hugh Ryan, a Transport Authority Controller, always arrives a little before 7:00 AM, so he is on the job when the problems begin. There are multiple villains with the access to shut down the city or blow up buildings, and they do both. Each is revealed, but not until the end do all of the pieces fall into place.

This is one of the most creative situations I have run across in a thriller, and all too familiar because of the traffic jams. I know just how irritated and anxious people are when stuck in traffic, and because I know, this book brought my own emotions into the story. From Prologue to ending, this is an excellent read.

Reviewed By: Victoria Tarrani

An Engaging International Thriller! The year is 2022 and the world's leaders meet for a summit in Brussels Belgium. This city's transportation system, a highly automated combination of auto, rail, and bus systems, is the envy of the world.

Hugh Ryan, a Transport Authority controller for the system, comes to work one day preparing to train a new employee when suddenly multiple systems begin to fail. Automated parking garages crush cars backing up traffic, the rail system shuts down stranding passengers, and when multiple tanker trucks explode on the major highways,

Interesting Read

Deliveries, flower arrangements, and all the misty romance of a florist's day fills the life of Marilyn `Merry' Land, although she seems to be missing out on the `romance' part.

She runs her Dad's shop in Melbourne, Australia. And `run' means she does everything--from flowers for weddings to changing tires. She might be a bit challenged at the changing tires part...but a flat tire might offer a bit of an opportunity, too. Early on, we are hopeful for a delightful romance right at the start, as a potential Mr. Right seems to emerge at once.

Of course, business problems and family decisions crop up immediately as well. Her aunt might be a help, but we need to worry about that cousin (sweet scamp that he is) and as for Mr. Right, we start viewing him as Mr. Know-it-all pretty quickly. Merry isn't one to suffer in silence, but as the complexity of the story grows, we really start to worry if things will ever go her way.

The best part of this is it keeps you guessing. At times, we readers aren't even sure how we want things to go. Poor Merry goes from hopeful to passionate to panic in the space of a chapter at times...and like us, doesn't quite know who to believe.

There's a lot of charm in this little story, although Ms. Webb features too many paragraphs telling about a person (or a complex situation) and not just letting the story happen. It slows the pace and, at times, removes the reader from the emotional attachment: too bad, because, as I said, there is a lot of charm here.

From kookaburras to thick forest, dense bushland to flooded streams, this story offers a wonderfully depicted background. This novella is for you, especially if you enjoy a sweet story in a well done Aussie setting.

Originally posted at LAS ROmance Reviews

Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

Deliveries, flower arrangements, and all the misty romance of a florist’s day fills the life of Marilyn ‘Merry’ Land, although she seems to be missing out on the ‘romance’ part.

She runs her Dad’s shop in Melbourne, Australia. And ‘run’ means she does everything–-from flowers for weddings to changing tires. She might be a bit challenged at the changing tires part…but a flat tire might offer a bit of an opportunity, too. Early on, we are hopeful for a delightful romance right at the start, as a potential Mr. Right seems to emerge at once.

Of course, business problems and family decisions crop up immediately as well. Her aunt might be a help, but we need to worry about that cousin (sweet scamp that he is) and as for Mr. Right, we start viewing him as Mr. Know-it-all pretty quickly. Merry isn’t one to suffer in silence, but as the complexity of the story grows, we really start to worry if things will ever go her way.

The best part of this is it keeps you guessing. At times, we readers aren’t even sure how we want things to go. Poor Merry goes from hopeful to passionate to panic in the space of a chapter at times…and like us, doesn’t quite know who to believe.

There’s a lot of charm in this little story, although Ms. Webb features too many paragraphs telling about a person (or a complex situation) and not just letting the story happen. It slows the pace and, at times, removes the reader from the emotional attachment: too bad, because, as I said, there is a lot of charm here.

From kookaburras to thick forest, dense bushland to flooded streams, this story offers a wonderfully depicted background. This novella is for you, especially if you enjoy a sweet story in a well done Aussie setting.

A superb trilogy that brings the world of Alexander the Great vividly to life

Set during the era of Alexander the Great, this trilogy follows Niko, a Macedonian captured by the Scythians. His journey through their world — and through encounters with other fierce, warring tribes — forms the heart of the story, all while he carries the constant knowledge that he must one day return to Alexander’s army.

The trilogy is highly original, thoroughly engaging, and showcases the same strengths found in many of Max’s historical fiction works: meticulous research, confident storytelling, and characters who feel grounded in their time. Each book deepens the sense of adventure and cultural richness, leaving the reader eager to follow Niko’s path to its end.

A captivating, well crafted series that leaves you wanting more.

I’m on my second re-read of this trilogy and enjoying it just as much!
Fantastic books about a culture often overlooked in ancient historical fiction.

I read this book from cover to cover in about 4 hrs. I was enthralled from beginning to the end. I loved the subject material, the setting, history, and much more about this book.

Max Overton has become one of my favorite writers overnight. In fact I've read the whole trilogy now. Fantastic! For anybody who's a history buff this is a must read.

CULTURAL CLASH WITHIN AN EMPIRE

One usually thinks of Alexander The Great was one empire controlled bt one army. Max through his story line reminds us their were pockets of clans which clung to their tribal beliefs and culture. A captured Greek learns to understand their culture and is befriended by a tribal chief. He teaches military stratagies to the tribe and becomes admired by some. The author through the plot portrays what can happen when cultures collide. The plot contains all the human emotions leading to the outcome. I can't wait to read book 2.

Excellent read

I love novels when the history is accurate and properly researched. It helps a lot when the author also knows how to write. Thoroughly enjoyed this book from the opening page to the cliff-hanger ending.

Good read!

Not quite finished this one and still the other 2 of the trilogy to go. Looking forward to these. I like Overton's style of writing and enjoy books in this genre.

A great read, easily read and enjoyed.

What a great way to set up a series of books. A well written and detailed story.

I can't wait to start the next book to see where the story takes me.

Scythian Trilogy Fantastic.

Max has once again, written a fantastic historic novel trilogy, bringing to life Alexandra's World. Not just of facts but the lives of those affected.

Wonderful Series

Great read!

Excellent series with strong story lines.

I read one after the other and look forward to future work from Mr. Overton!

A great read

Well written story about a period of history rarely viewed. Fun read even if you aren't interested in the history

Lion of Scythia

Thoroughly enjoyed this book found the story exciting and was not able to put the book down.l have got the follow up and also decided to get the third book in the series. Great read

Four Stars

Like this author and her stories about overcoming hurdles in life.

Great

I really wondered about Joe. I am glad to find out more about him. Also I am glad Ian got back with his son.

Engaging Romance

SECOND ACT FOR CARRIE ARMSTRONG is an engaging romance about intelligent characters you will root for. The author’s experience as a lawyer in the world of social services is evident, creating plausible and challenging situations for her characters, personally and professionally. The story’s sense of place in the New York metropolitan area is well-grounded and compelling. The heroine’s circumstance as a widowed mom with overwhelming responsibilities both at home and at work complicate the plot realistically, generating plenty of reader empathy. The big narrative question: “Will this handsome bachelor step up to this sizable challenge? Or won’t he?” I enjoyed finding out!

Hard working Mother find happiness

I choose it by the author really liked her book Suddenly Lily and Second Act was just as good or better.

This is a great book!

A great read fro beginning to end. I would love to see a sequel about this new family! How do they adapt to life in DC?

Can't Wait for Act Three

I enjoyed this triumphant story. The author clearly knows the legal system and child care bureaucracy. The only minor criticism I have (and it doesn't effect my 5 star rating) is that the portrayal of the college football recruiting process is not realistic.

A fascinating change of genre that I thoroughly enjoyed. The research was excellent, and I learned a great deal about geo-sequestration. The novel skillfully blends the science of carbon dioxide storage, climate change, and corporate greed into a compelling standalone story from an author whose series across other genres I have come to love.

You won't be able to put it away . . . Overton writes about things that matter, that are in themselves interesting, and he provides characters to match. I learned a lot about carbon dioxide and sequestrations, but I cared more about two of the characters. Overton is one of my favorite authors. pjburnTop Contributor:

Reviewed By: Historical Fiction Books

Sequestered food for thought Thought provoking and full of scientific facts this story leads the reader down the path of what corruption and greed create. After a rather slow start the story picks up nicely and even has a bit of family turmoil and romance thrown in the mix.

Reviewed By: Sara Jane Sesay

Five Stars It's chilling, but still, well worth reading.

Reviewed By: MagnificentPony

Be Aware Are the powers that be really considering storing carbon underground? This story delves into this possibility resulting in catastrophe, providing a feasible account of such an enterprise.

The fast paced race to prevent the inevitable outcome once leakage of carbon is detected made it difficult to put the book down, knowing that a disaster was imminent but not knowing the extent of it and who would come out unscathed, if anyone. This was a great read and a disturbing insight into a venture based on greed rather than a realistic solution to a very real problem

Reviewed By: Amazon Customer

I discovered this author while reading a collection of short stories. Mrs. Carter was was one of the featured authors and I became interested in her writing voice. I chose this book at random from her list of works and I'm really satisfied with how it turned out.

I liked her slow approach concerning the main characters realizing and accepting her werewolf status. It felt refreshing that it wasn't a stereotypical cult classic horror. Everything was approached calmly and as rationally as possible.

It did sadden me that no one in the book seemed to truly empathize with the estranged father; especially the main character who, most of all, should've understood her fathers suffering! She nearly suffered the same fate but was lucky to have trustworthy people helping her along her journey of self-discovery. Other than that, I was really pleased with this book and its conclusion.

Margaret L. Carter has written an intelligent and intriguing novel that reads very much like something out of real life, with the exception that we are given entree into the life of a woman who is a werewolf. Usually, werewolf novels tend to be overly male-centric and treat the werewolf as a mindless beast crazed with bloodlust. So, it was for me, very refreshing to read a novel about a WOMAN WEREWOLF. (The transformation sequences were well done. I could appreciate Jenny's anxiety when she woke up one morning naked not far from the remnants of an animal she had killed the previous night as a wolf. Frightened, she managed to make it home, barely escaping exposure. )

I was also fascinated with the way Jenny, through psychoanalysis, was able to tap into her "Wolf" side, overcome a number of challenges, and learn to fully embrace and accept being a werewolf.

Hopefully, in future, more intelligently written and imaginative werewolf novels will come into the market. Novels that feature men and women alike as werewolves, hailing from all walks of life. May some deft writer or group of writers do for the werewolf genre what Anne Rice has already done for vampires!

very well written, but...

A young woman with a traumatic past has to deal with yet more horror as her dreams turn out to be real. As a piece of literary prose, it is very well written, giving great character depth and a superb sense of the emotions that the heroine faces.

Having said that, the story itself is not particularly gripping, possibly because, being quite short, there isnt quite enough there to keep you fascinated until the small hours. Not much book for a lot of money, which is unfortunate, given how well it is written...

A fantastic werewolf suspense novel

In Annapolis, Maryland, to say that life has been harsh for legal research assistant Jennie Cameron would be a major understatement of the truth. Jennie's biological father simply vanished not long after she was born. She has no memories of the man except for the few tidbits her mother mentioned over the years. A red-eyed feral animal killed her two siblings in her home, leaving Jennie in shock, with nightmares, and an unsuccessful therapy.

However, Jennie's nightmare is just beginning to turn real as the neighbor's cat is mangled and left dead in the nearby snow followed closely by the death due to cardiac failure of her mother. Still grieving, a rapist attacks Jenny only to be ripped apart by some animal that leaves Jenny alone as if she is a ward. Only Jenny has the power to defeat the beast of evil that stalks her every movement, but she needs to go deep into her own past to release the feral power hiding inside her. The cost of freeing her dark side could be her grip on humanity.

THE SHADOW BEAST is a brilliant tale that combines classic werewolf horror with psychological suspense. The story line is fast-paced with no wasted subplots as the reader follows Jenny's descent into the early stages of depression. Jenny is a great character and her boyfriend Kurt provides more insight into her personality. Fans of horror tales will fully relish this grim, taut thriller that demonstrates the genre has a new star, Margaret L. Carter.

Harriet Klausner

supernatural and psychological terror merge

Like all good horror novels the core of Shadow of the Beast are the secrets which are ultimately revealed as the story progesses --- the book is a fantastic interveaving of Jungian themes, horror tale archetypes and likable characters. As a reader it amazed me to see who or "what" I was in sympathy with --- an excellant book for horror fans and a fans of the psychologically based novel

Great read

A worthy followup, as per usual, a lot of action, gripping scenes and interesting characters. The combination of fantasy and science fiction makes for an interesting world.
I do recommend you go to the writers website, and find out where to start, it is a convoluted multi series tie up.
I love this writers work!

Another great addition to the series

I am constantly amazed that this series doesn't top the charts. I don't know any other author able to so seamlessly merge magic and technology. I also love his fresh look at mythology. Like the rest of his books, this doesn't disappoint. The action is fast paced, the characters believable, and the dialogue great.

Romance Amid World War II Danger The heroine, Helen, works as a nurse to help support her family during difficult times, but she dreams of being a singer, and has a beautiful voice. One day during a surgery she has to take over for the doctor and saves a patient’s life. She turns out to be the mother of a well-to-do, well-connected dashing, handsome guy, Red, who falls for Helen. Soon Helen’s taken with him.

Just as her dreams are about to come true, the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, and shake her world. The plans she and Red made vanish into thin air as he’s called to a secret mission, and she’s asked to serve as a nurse in Algiers.

Ms. Andrews does a fantastic job putting the reader into the World War II era and the war itself as she weaves a tale of romance on the edge, spies and danger. I was thoroughly fascinated with this book as it gave me an inside look at a mission in World War II I knew little about. I highly recommend it for those who enjoy romance, history and suspense.

Reviewed By: GP

One Savvy Nurse I bonded with Helen from the start. She is everything I would like to be: Savvy, courageous, talented, likeable, and "give up" is not in her vocabulary. As an RN, without blinking, she fills in when the doctor isn't able.

Then World War II breaks out and Helen (as a nurse) finds herself shipped overseas and in the middle of the conflict. She will risk everything, including her life, to rescue Red, the man she loves. Ms. Andrews portrayed the love and devotion between Helen and Red very well. Their love grows as the story moves along, and you can't help rooting for them to be reunited.

Reviewed By: Laurie Bethel

A Wonderful World War II Romance This novel has so much going for it. I like the fact that Helen and Red get together and are compatible right at the start. Just when things seem moving along between Helen and Red, World War II breaks out. Helen and Red find themselves in danger in Algeria.

Mystery, intrigue and the uncovering of underhanded dealings kept me going through this novel. Much <sic> surprises occur, keeping me wondering if there will be reconciliation. I highly recommend this novel, another fine story by Regina Andrews, a talented author.

Reviewed By: Larry Hammersley

Letting God Heal A Painful Past
LIGHT OF THE HEART is a wonderful story of a young woman who struggles to get past the shadows of her childhood. Cascade is a woman who uses busyness to avoid dealing with her past. When she discovers her next project is in the town filled with painful memories, she almost runs the other way.

But when she meets Dan and start to fall for him, she must rethink her life, including issues with forgiveness. Ms. Andrews has a way of keeping the reader glued to the page. Her characters and their problems are real. She points to God as the only one who can renew the soul and offer a new start.

An Awesome Romance!

I enjoyed reading Regina Andrews' outstanding debut novel, Light of the Heart, in her Sterling Lakes Series about the talented stained glass artist Cascade Preston and project manager Dan McQuay. Andrews has created wonderful characters and a lively, interesting plot in Book One. Cascade's unhappy childhood gave her a strong reason for not wanting to return to Sterling Lakes to design and make stained glass windows for St. Luke's Church. Fortunately, her cousin and employee, Abby, turns a bid in for the job and forges Cascade's name. Abby realizes Cascade needs to face her past, even though it will be painful. Dan also has personal problems that must be resolved so he can move on to have a happier life.

The scenes are remarkable where Cascade visits the women in Tanglewood Women's Prison and gives them positive feedback on their stained glass assignments. It adds a depth to the character I appreciated. On one particular visit, the women in prison accuse Cascade of holding the church renovation up by refusing to do the stained glass job. As she leaves the prison, Cascade realizes she might be in her own personal prison.

I love Ms. Andrews' writing, and I'm sure Book Two in the Sterling Lakes Series will be another great story to enjoy.

Reviewed By: Diane Craver

An unexpected delight! I don't typically read this genre. Full disclosure, the author is a dear friend and I wanted to support her publication. Early into the book, I found myself not wanting to put it down.

The characters are easy to relate to and the story has a perfect balance of romance, mystery, and intrigue, not to mention descriptions of cities and towns in New England where I have spent much of my life. It was easy to imagine each scene and the kind-hearted characters that remind us of life's most important lessons. Download your own copy and get whisked away to Sterling Lakes, right now!

Reviewed By: Danni Boston

Love wins out. Light of the Heart by Regina Andrews is a wonderful story of two people, Cascade and Dan, who find each other. They both have issues from the past. This requires them to take a leap of faith but it is especially difficult for Cascade. She is a stained-glass artist and her career takes off. She meets Dan at her old home place, Sterling Lakes, where she is contracted to do the glass in St. Luke's church. Dan is a construction worker there. We come to love these two characters as we follow them at Sterling Lakes.

Can Cascade get past her unforgiving attitude toward those of Sterling Lakes for not helping her in the past? To me, the key answer was given by her friend, Tina. It made Cascade think and will make anyone think of their own life situations and reassess their feelings toward others whom they think have been neglectful.

Ms. Andrews has crafted a thought provoking story of sweet romance, faith, trust in each other, appreciation for others problems and trust in God. I highly recommend this first book of the Sterling Lakes Series.

Reviewed By: Larry Hammersley

Will Light up Your Heart Cascade Preston is a stained-glass artist who struggles to overcome an awful childhood and trust in men. She doesn't want anything to do with the town she grew up in when she's sought to complete the stained-glass project to remodel an old church in Sterling Lakes.

Cascade encounters the project manager, Dan McQuay, and though she's attracted and single, she turns down the job and makes up her mind to forget his blue eyes until the ladies at the prison where she volunteers make her think twice. They throw a guilt trip on her, and she ends up wanting to do the windows for the church when she visits the site and thinks they've gotten another artist.

The beauty of this book is in the method the author uses to convey God's light in the heart and entwine it with the light that filters through stained glass windows in a church.

Great book. Overcoming their fears and their past. Well done.

Uplifting, Heartwarming and Romantic!

"Light of The Heart" was such a powerful story! This heartwarming romance was clean and uplifting. You feel the struggles that the characters deal with in order to come to terms with their past through forgiveness. The author developed the characters so realistically that you felt like they were your friends. I see why the author earned the wonderful honor of getting the five-rating star rating from Readers' Favorite!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy in exchange of an honest review.

Regina Andrews has touched the topic of forgiveness and moving on in this book in a religious way (from Christianity point).

The character of Cascade was the kind that was finding it hard to forgive the people of that town where she grew up. The reason she could not forgive them was because they did not come out and help her mom when she was being the target of domestic abuse by her husband. I could relate to Cascade as well, in the sense of forgiving someone. It is indeed tough to forgive someone, who is not even sorry or feel that they should apologise in any way.

However, from the religious point, it shows that one can only be happy when they actually forgive and move on. Not everything has to be said and stated. Sometimes, sorry comes in the form of just not saying it at all. You just have to forgive so that you could move on.

Great read !

Light of the Heart is a great love story with plenty of humor

Light of the Heart is a great love story with plenty of humor. Cascade, the female character, is charming. As for Dan, he is a hoot and he’s such a fun and masculine character. One of my favorite quotes that he says is this: “I’m just the project manager. I come into town, do the job, and leave. No ties, no friendships, no tea parties and barbecues with the neighbors. In and out.” He snapped his fingers. “Just like that.” No tea parties and barbecues with the neighbors? After that statement, you can tell what kind of guy he is going to be. This story is very entertaining and I really liked Dan. –Review by Author Linda Weaver Clarke

A Story of romance and faith

Light of the Heart by Regina Andrews is a wonderful story of two people, Cascade and Dan, who find each other. They both have issues from the past. This requires them to take a leap of faith but it is especially difficult for Cascade. She is a stained-glass artist and her career takes off.

She meets Dan at her old home place, Sterling Lakes, where she is contracted to do the glass in St. Luke's church. Dan is a construction worker there. We come to love these two characters as we follow them at Sterling Lakes. Can Cascade get past her unforgiving attitude toward those of Sterling Lakes for not helping her in the past?

To me, the key answer was given by her friend, Tina. It made Cascade think and will make anyone think of their own life situations and reassess their feelings toward others whom they think have been neglectful.

Ms. Andrews has crafted a thought provoking story of sweet romance, faith, trust in each other, appreciation for others problems and trust in God. I highly recommend this first book of the Sterling Lakes Series.

I enjoyed reading Regina Andrews’ outstanding debut novel, Light of the Heart, in her Sterling Lakes Series about the talented stained glass artist Cascade Preston and project manager Dan McQuay. Andrews has created wonderful characters and a lively, interesting plot in Book One. Cascade’s unhappy childhood gave her a strong reason for not wanting to return to Sterling Lakes to design and make stained glass windows for St. Luke’s church. Fortunately, her cousin and employee, Abby, turns a bid in for the job and forges Cascade’s name. Abby realizes Cascade needs to face her past, even though it will be painful. Dan also has personal problems that must be resolved so he can move on to have a happier life.

The scenes are remarkable where Cascade visits the women in Tanglewood Women’s Prison and gives them positive feedback on their stained glass assignments. It adds a depth to the character I appreciated. On one particular visit, the women in prison accuse Cascade of holding the church renovation up by refusing to do the stained glass job. As she leaves the prison, Cascade realizes she might be in her own personal prison.

I love Ms. Andrews' writing, and I’m sure Book Two in the Sterling Lakes Series will be another great story to enjoy.

Sterling Lakes has a dark history.

Cascade Preston is a well known stained glass artist. Cascade believes her life is going just fine until her cousin/employee, Abby, breaks the number one rule: No jobs from Sterling Lakes. Cascade still harbors a lot of hate and resentment for the city that had turned blind eyes as her father physically abused her mother. So when a gentleman arrives claiming that she is holding up the renovation of a church in Sterling Lakes, Cascade tells him that he is mistaken since she never put in a bid for the project. This is when Abby confesses to forging Cascade's name. Feeling bad for the man, Cascade agrees to give him referrals to other artists, but she ends up going to St. Luke's Church to take a look at the construction site.

Brendan "Dan" McQuay is the project manager for the church's renovations. Every day the stained glass lady, Cascade, fails to show up at the site he loses money. And Dan needs that money to help pay for his mother's care. Confronting Cascade about her tardiness reveals why she has not been making any appearances. After Cascade comes to look over the site and speaks with Father Greene, she decides to take the commission. Dan is happy to be able to finally get back to work. But there is something about Cascade that tugs at his heart. Dan has never allowed himself to even think about becoming involved with anyone during at a project, but this lady just may be an exception to his rule.

**** FOUR STARS! Let me state up front that this story is an Inspirational Romance. Bluntly put, this means the two main characters are Christians and look to God for guidance. This romance has no danger or suspense, excluding a boat accident. It is purely a love story about two people who grew up with life handing them lemons. Both, especially Cascade, need to learn how to make lemonade, so to speak.

Neither main character has turned away from their religion or faith. There is wise advice littered throughout the story and quite a bit of soul searching. Unlike many books on today's market, this one is not stuffed with "filler" pages where nothing interesting really happens. The author writes only what is necessary to move the plot along. (Though I am a bit surprised that Dan never even once considered pressing charges due to forgery or breach of contract.) The main characters have well developed backgrounds; however, I often wanted to know more about their siblings and a few of the secondary characters. Perhaps in the next episode of this series (to be titled Angels of the Heart) will shed some light on at least a couple of them.

The town of Sterling Lakes had a dark background one generation ago. It is up to the residents of this generation to heal from it and possibly make it a nicer place. If it is up to Regina Andrews - and I dearly hope it is - Sterling Lakes is about to become a much better place to live. ****

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Light of the Heart by Regina Andrews is a beautiful book inside and out, published by Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. March 1, 2011. It's Sterling Lakes Book One, and I look forward to the other novels in the series.

Cascade Preston is a stained-glass artist who struggles to overcome an awful childhood and trust in men. She doesn't want anything to do with the town she grew up in when she's sought to complete the stained-glass project to remodel an old church in Sterling Lakes. Cascade encounters the project manager, Dan McQuay, and though she's attracted and single, she turns down the job and makes up her mind to forget his blue eyes until the ladies at the prison where she volunteers make her think twice. They throw a guilt trip on her, and she ends up wanting to do the windows for the church when she visits the site and thinks they've gotten another artist.

The beauty of this book is in the method the author uses to convey God's light in the heart and entwine it with the light that filters through stained glass windows in a church. Dan McQuay makes it his business to not get involved until he's entwined in the rays of light Cascade throws his way and he opens his heart to God's light. When they both open their hearts to the stained-glass window project, God works in both.

At first Cascade has to face her fear of Dan's leaving like usual when he completes a job. Then, she's offered a big contract and must go to New York if she wants to follow her dreams. Will she marry Dan or follow her dreams and be the one who does the leaving? She feels like she's sold her soul when she flies to New York and signs that big contract. She must search her conflicted heart, and she's so confused she doesn't know what is the right thing to do. Can she face living in Sterling Lakes again, the town she grew up in and hates? Is it possible for God to change her heart about Sterling Lakes and the people who live there, if she lets the light filter in through those stained glass windows? Can she trust Dan not to leave her?

I bought this book and read it on my Nook and loved it. It's available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for only $4.79, or from the publisher at http://stores.desertbreezepublishing..... Click on the orange Desert Breeze Square to the right and go see what a beautiful book it is for yourself. Also, read more about the book and the author at the site.

If you want to read a beautiful book with a filtered-light story, this is the one. And you won't want to miss what happens when Cascade must face her fear of the water when the canoe tips over during a sudden storm.

Overcoming hurts of the past with faith and love creates the story, Light of the Heart.

Coming together at Sterling Lakes, Cascade Preston and Dan McQuay must face down their personal fears to finally allow love into their lives.

Cascade, a stained glass artist, has been duped into going back to the town that she blames for her mother's current medical condition. She grew up there seeing abuse and neglect first-hand, so now she must learn to trust and move forward, instead of dwelling in the past. She must find it in her heart to go on past the anger and the pain to give back to the community and let the love of God and a good man break down the walls that she has built all around her. Follow Cascade and Dan as they draw on each other's strengths and weaknesses to discover that love is all that matters in the end.

I really enjoyed the characters in this story. The author made this couple do and say things that I have seen myself say or do. Being able to relate that personally gives the book more ooomph, so to speak. And that makes it an even more enjoyable read. Also, with this being the first of a series, I look forward to seeing what happens next at Sterling Lakes.

This story is sweet and light and I would recommend it to anyone who just looking for something nice and easy to read to pass a quiet and relaxing afternoon.

This is another must-read from Regina Andrews! She creates characters with humanity and depth, a plot that is complex and believable, and takes the reader on a journey of discovery that is certain to resonate across generations and experiences. There is nothing formulaic or predictable in her writing...she writes from the heart, and I eagerly anticipate the next work from this extraordinary author!

Story of Love, Faith and good deeds.

Angels of the Heart is a great story of faith. The persistence of Maryanne is admirable. The story centers around saving a historic building, the Townsend Barn. It is about to be torn down and Maryanne embarks on seemingly insurmountable odds to save it from being replaced by a mall. Ms. Andrews does a fine job with dialogue, emotions and descriptions of scenes. Her characters come alive and the reader will root for Maryanne from first page to last page. Just when we think Maryanne has overcome one obstacle she encounters another one. This is a sweet romance which you will want desperately to succeed. Ms. Andrews knows what she is talking about as we see descriptions of big corporations, publicity, and getting things done. Your heart will be touched time and time again with the events in this story. You will have mixed emotions about her love interest, Travis, but you will come to admire him as well. The story involves a gaining of faith with the realization that God knows best. This is the second book of this series that I've read and I highly recommend this novel.

It has been far too long since journalist Maryanne Lynch has been to church. Since the death of her brother Mark, she has felt betrayed and abandoned by God. “She wasn’t sure about anything anymore…” The Townsend Barn holds special, unforgettable memories for her. It was a symbol of her childhood, her family, her identity.” Travis Collimore and Elwood Stewart are both vying for her attention and affection. “You’re the angel of my heart.” She seeks assistance in saving her beloved barn, the heart of her community. “…moving on did not mean forgetting the past.” As she fights the good fight, she learns to stand up for what she believes in and what is right for everyone.

This story contains several faith based discussions. I enjoyed this story of self-discovery, love, and selfless service. “Nothing on the surface was black or white; it was all varying shades of gray.”

shades of gray

It has been far too long since journalist Maryanne Lynch has been to church. Since the death of her brother Mark, she has felt betrayed and abandoned by God. “She wasn’t sure about anything anymore…” The Townsend Barn holds special, unforgettable memories for her. It was a symbol of her childhood, her family, her identity.” Travis Collimore and Elwood Stewart are both vying for her attention and affection. “You’re the angel of my heart.” She seeks assistance in saving her beloved barn, the heart of her community. “…moving on did not mean forgetting the past.” As she fights the good fight, she learns to stand up for what she believes in and what is right for everyone. This story contains several faith based discussions. I enjoyed this story of self-discovery, love, and selfless service. “Nothing on the surface was black or white; it was all varying shades of gray.”

A Heart-felt Story

Angels of the Heart is a love story with grit. Maryanne is a strong character and is trying to save a historical landmark, a barn with an angel weather vane. A strip mall is going up where the barn stands and this is called “progress.” She says that the barn represents the city’s past and who they are, so it can’t be torn down. In her own words, “We build up on where we came from, that’s who we are.” When she decides to fight for the town’s rights, her fiancé tells her that he sanctioned the strip mall and said: “I want a wife who’s an asset to me, not an embarrassment. I thought you understood that, Maryanne.” This is only chapter 2 and I was really steamed at this point. I couldn’t wait to see Maryanne throw her engagement ring in his face. I loved her strength and grit concerning other beliefs she had and she was not about to back down. A great story! –Review by Author Linda Weaver Clarke

ANGELS OF THE HEART

HI all- this book is probably my most favorite of all the Sterling Lakes series...The cover art is easily the best of any book I have seen in the past year or so. .Another important point is that all readers should get all the books in the series...so all readers will enjoy the continuity the books have to offer.REGARDS, BEN SMITH

A Great Christian Book!

Regina Andrews hooked me instantly into her Sterling Lakes Book Two: Angels of the Heart. From the first page, I felt like I was on the studio set of WMAS with Maryanne Lynch, a television journalist. Although Maryanne is engaged to Elwood, a wonderful man, she's eager to talk with an old high school friend, Travis Collimore, when he comes to the studio. As a developer, he tells Maryanne how the Townsend Barn will be destroyed when they do renovations of St. Luke's Church. Maryanne hasn't seen Travis for years, so she goes to Sterling Lakes Diner to continue their conversation and to catch up. She's happy to see him but isn't pleased that his consortium group have plans to destroy the old barn along with its rare angel weather vane.

She's surprised that while speaking with Travis in the diner she starts feeling warm. Why is Travis having this effect on her after all these years? Maryanne is a feisty and amazing woman. She decides to save the barn from being torn down, even though her fiancé, Elwood, disagrees with her. Her determination and compassion is what draws the town's people to her goal of saving something that is more than a barn to everyone. It seems to represent the spirit of the people. It's heartwarming how they come together as a unit to save what is important to their community. The barn is symbolic especially to Maryanne. She has happy memories of playing with her brother Mark in the barn before he died at age six. Losing the barn would be devastating to Maryanne because her childhood is tied with her precious times there.

Maryanne's caring for others doesn't stop at her TV studio. She reaches out to a pregnant teenager, Crystal, who needs her assistance. Travis is also a multidimensional character with his charity work being a priority in his life. He flies a helicopter for the Angel Flight Program and delivers transplant patients to the hospitals where the organs are available.

The way that Andrews weaved the story of Maryanne and Travis is touching, sweet, and even humorous at times. Reading how each character approaches their spiritual growth as Christians was uplifting to me. As I read this book, I felt like the author's words poured from her heart as a Christian. Regina Andrews has created an inspirational romance readers will root for, and I highly recommend this book.

Angels of the Heart is a well-written Christian romance that will appeal to anyone looking for a true, clean romance. It has some light mentions of God and His inspiration in our daily lives, but otherwise isn’t a preachy story at all. It portrays great imagery of people and especially of the place where the story takes place.

Maryanne Lynch is host at one of the TV stations in Sterling Lakes. Her love for people and the quaint town has made her the best in the market. After a particular segment she did about the renovation of the parish in the town, she not only finds a problem with it, but also finds out that all things in our past come back to haunt us.

The presence of the real estate developer, Travis Collimore, in town is a two edged knife. Once, Maryanne stood Travis up many years ago for their Senior Prom. Now, he has come back to destroy a landmark that is entrenched very deeply in the lives of the townspeople and in her own heart.

Yet, what can you do alone against a corporation that has the means and people to get what they want? It is at this time that Maryanne feels once again the touch of God in her heart. Years before her unanswered prayers for her now dead brother prompted her to not believe in Him anymore.

Now, with a re-found love for God, she hopes that she will save the historic landmark of Sterling Lakes, and also save her heart before they are both buried by the handsome Travis Collimore. As you close it’s last pages, this story will leave you content and rewarded. It will be well liked by young adults to adults alike for it’s clean, warming, and wholesome story.

I haven’t had the pleasure of reading the first book, Light of the Heart, in the Sterling Lakes series, but it was no problem to instead start reading first the Angels of the Heart book by Regina Andrews. I definitely plan on reading Light of the Heart soon because the blurb and excerpts about stain glass creator, Cascade Preston, sounds fascinating.

Regina Andrews hooked me instantly into her Sterling Lakes Book Two: Angels of the Heart. From the first page, I felt like I was on the set of the studio of WMAS with Maryanne Lynch, a television journalist. Although Maryanne is engaged to Elwood, a wonderful man, she’s eager to talk with an old high school friend, Travis Collimore, when he comes to the studio. As a developer, he tells Maryanne how the Townsend Barn will be destroyed when they do renovations of St. Luke’s Church. Maryanne hasn’t seen Travis for years, so she goes to Sterling Lakes Diner to continue their conversation and to catch up. She’s happy to see him but isn’t pleased that his consortium group have plans to destroy the old barn along with its rare angel weather vane.

She’s surprised that while speaking with Travis in the diner she starts feeling warm. Why is Travis having this effect on her after all these years? Maryanne is a feisty and amazing woman. She decides to save the barn from being torn down, even though her fiancé, Elwood, disagrees with her. Her determination and compassion is what draws the town’s people to her goal of saving something that is more than a barn to everyone. It seems to represent the spirit of the people. It’s heartwarming how they come together as a unit to save what is important to their community. The barn is symbolic especially to Maryanne. She has happy memories of playing with her brother Mark in the barn before he died at age six. Losing the barn would be devastating to Maryanne because her childhood is tied with her precious times there.

Maryanne’s caring for others doesn’t stop at her TV studio. She reaches out to a pregnant teenager, Crystal, who needs her assistance. Travis is also a multidimensional character with his charity work being a priority in his life. He flies a helicopter for the Angel Flight Program and delivers transplant patients to the hospitals where the organs are available.

The way that Andrews weaved the story of Maryanne and Travis is touching, sweet, and even humorous at times. Reading how each character approaches their spiritual growth as Christians was uplifting to me. As I read this book, I felt like the author’s words poured from her heart as a Christian. Regina Andrews has created an inspirational romance readers will root for and I highly recommend this book.

Love always wins
This is a sweet romance between Laura, a librarian, and Cliff, a baseball star. Right off, Ms. Andrews shows the attraction between Laura and Cliff. Unlike many romance stories, there is no time when Laura and Cliff are at odds with one another.

In the backdrop of Vacation Bible School, planned renovation of a church, solving of a water dispute between Sterling Lakes and Clarke's Falls, care of a boy who lives in a bad home environment and Laura's decision to start a modeling career, the love between Laura and Cliff survives. The author has excellent character development and vivid descriptions of places and people. I have read the first two books of this series and the characters of those stories are mentioned briefly in this third book. This ties the first two books nicely to this third book. novel.

This novel by Ms. Andrews is the fourth book of her Sterling Lakes series. I have read all four books in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed this one too. The character portrayals were excellent. It is about CC, the heroine and Perrin, the hero. Their clean romance develops throughout the novel. I liked the setting that CC bought the house that Perrin grew up in. I felt one of the high points was Perrin and CC going to the attic and discovering the loose board under which Perrin's deceased father stored his journal that recorded his happenings during his service time in Italy. I won't detail the contents of that journal but that segment of the story really touched my heart. I loved it and Ms. Andrews done an outstanding job with that.

Both CC and Perrin had unhappy times in their past and really cared for one another. Their mutual attraction sprang from that. They helped one another to move forward with their lives.

I recommend reading the whole series, but Glory of the Heart does a good job of being a standalone story.

Two Worlds Collide

When two worlds collide, will it create something great? In this delightful Christian Romance, we learn about two different couples with their individual trials. One couple is engaged to be married while the other just met for the first time, each coming from two completely different worlds. I enjoyed some romantic humor throughout this story, which makes for a lighthearted read.

GLORY OF THE HEART

JUST READ THE BOOK ..KINDLE VERSION..EXCELLENT...ALL READERS WILL ENJOY/..VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER STERLING LAKE SERIES BOOKS,VERY READABLE...NICE COVER ART FOR ALL READERS TO SEE...

Loved this

Loved this and just leave me wanting more historical fiction from Max

An interesting story with many tist and turns.

The story line kept one waiting to see what would happen next.

A very good read.

Looking forward to the next book.

Mystery and Intrigue

How can he keep doing this over and over again is a both a delight and a mystery. The nuances twists and turns in the second book in this series once again keeps me turning the page as fast as I can read. Great plot, great character development that illicits many emotions. A must read as are all of Max’s books.

Loved this

Loved this and just leave me wanting more historical fiction from Max

Paul

Excellent historical novel. Don’t miss it. One of the best series I’ve ever read. Read his other works also. Thanks.

Excellent Book

All Max Overton's books on Ancient Egypt are interesting, well written and so very hard to put down. I truly hope he writes more!

A Great Conclusion

How does he do it??? The characters are rich and real. The research obviously deep and correct. Together they are what makes Max's books so intriguing and engaging. This third book brings it all together with a twist of an ending. I won't say more in order not to spoil. If you are a reader of Max, you must get this trilogy. If you are not, but you are a fan of Egyptian stories, you too will be caught up in Max's ability to tell a story whether it be historical fiction or fiction or true. Be sure and check out his other offerings besides book about Egypt. In my mind he is a most talented and diverse author.

Great book to know the inside story

Fantastic book and had the privilege to meet the author too. Very enlightening book

A couple's fond memories

This book is a set of anecdotes of the older days of flying, when it still had a human face. It is illuminating to see the huge development of technology within the lifetimes of the writers, and also the change of culture. Now, it’s all business, and a vicious fight for profit. When Wendy and Dave were young, competing airlines helped each other out, and a request from Wendy to another airline got a passenger the special treatment her circumstances needed.

So, this is a look back to kinder, less hurried times, when an aeroplane was not a giant airborne bus, but an exciting adventure.

good book

great book, great condition

What an amazing take on this amazing dynasty

A fitting end to Ay’s career as a scheming villain

What it says above…. This volume was a little repetitive in places, i think we all know by now that Scarab was the last daughter of Nebmaatre Amenhotep III. But it was a satisfying read on the whole. A lot of subplots get resolved.

Amarnan Series #4

There are six books in this series, and I would recommend reading them in order so the outer story (archaeologists find Egyptian tomb in unexpected location; consequences ensue; which wraps up in Descendants (#6) and the inner story (the reigns of Kings Ahkenaten (#1), Smenkahre (#2), Tutankhamun (#3), Ay (#4) and Horemheb (#5) ) proceed chronologically and make sense. There are references in the books referring to people or events from previous books in the series, but not to the extent that requires one to read in order.

This book about Ay, the commoner who became pharaoh through devious means, makes it difficult to say one likes it because Ay is such a slimy creep. However, it very clearly explains what happened after the death of young King Tutankhamun. This is a novel, so the main character(s) of inner and outer stories are fictional. What I liked about the series was that it was very easy to read. All of the books have sections in which most of the characters are named, pronunciation given (so one can pronounce it correctly in the mind) and location names identified. Not a negative comment really, but the books should include a map which pinpoints the cities named in the narrative. It would help with the directions in Egypt. When travelling south, they travel from Lower Egypt to Upper Egypt against the Nile current; when traveling north, they travel from Upper Egypt to Lower Egypt with the Nile's current. The Nile flows north to the delta, so its source is in the south [rather than North as is true with Mississippi River, Danube, etc.] which makes that area Upper because the river begins there. Lower is where the Nile ends up and spreads out into the sea, so that was down to them. Even a small map with dots and city names and the route of the Nile would help.

Whew! I just finished reading all 6 in order and have had to return from Eighteenth Dynasty Egypt. I had the "I wish there were more books in this series" feeling as I progressed towards the endings of #5 and #6. If you are a history nut who loves ancient Egypt, this should be a very enjoyable adventure. Even if all you know of Egypt is the name of King Tut, you too would find the adventure exciting (and might learn some cool facts in the process).

The Series

I am reading through the whole of this series. It's well written and very descriptive of people and places. The threads running through fact and fiction are very clever. Can recommend thoroughly to anyone interested in Egyptian history.

Wow best book so far

The books in the series get better. This is the best so far. Can't wait to download number 5 but must go to bed first as its 6 in the morning

Golden Scarab bewitches us!

Scarab, previously known as a no-name child of King Nebmaetre of Egypt's Middle Kingdom, then named Beketaten, who in previous books of Overton's series came of age (Bk 1), fought against her usurping Uncle Ay on the side of her brother Shmenkhkare (Bk 2), continues the battle alongside her older brother Shmenkhkare against the cruel and ambitious Ay and her younger brother Tuthankamen (Bk 3), finally falls under the power of King Ay's adopted son Nakhtmin, then turns the tables on her worst enemies, clearing the way for Horemheb to come to power and her ex-lover Paramessu to become Horemheb's successor and eventually her son Set to sit on the throne of Egypt (Bk 4). In The Amarnan Kinds Book 5: Scarab - Horemheb, Overton combines his story with the Biblical story of the Hebrews' escape from Egypt, with former King Ahkenaten resurfacing as Yahmose (Moses) aided in the Hebrews/Khabirus' exodus from slavery in Egypt by Jesua, a warrior follower of Scarab. This tale has been 'read' to us from the beginning by a British female archaeologist Dani, who has found Scarab's tomb, apparently, in modern-day Syria, on the walls of which the aging Scarab had recorded her life story. It emerges at the end of Book 5 that Scarab is not buried in the tomb in Syria, as we had thought all along, but that her husband Khu had taken her body to her brother Shmenkhkare's hidden tomb in Egypt and secretly buried her there. So the stage is set for Book 6, where archaeologist Dani, apparently a descendant of Scarab's, is going to wield the golden scarab she found in the Syrian excavation, to assist her as she deals with unearthing her ancestor's body and story and fending off the efforts of a Saudi Arabian official who threatens the lives of the British archaeologists as well as the integrity of the history of Scarab. If this sounds a bit far-fetched, it is to the credit of the storyteller Max Overton that it all goes down smoothly, and delightfully, as Scarab's marvelous resilience and resourceful character grow slowly from the little girl playing with a dung beetle in Book 1 into the queen wielding the power of the gods of Egypt in Book 5. She restores Ma'at, the balance of justice and peace, to her country, just as any good fictional heroine should. We wait on Book 6 of The Amarnan Kings: Scarab - Descendant to see if Dani can do as well as her ancestor against the greed and ambition of present-day despots!

GREAT SERIES

Read all in this series!!! They are GREAT! I can hardly wait for book number six. I will probably re-read the whole series before I start on book six. Overton's attention to detail from the beginning of book one all the way through the series has been excellent. I purchased the first one, enjoyed it greatly and read one after the other until I finished with book five in the series. Each book in the series seems to keep the story flowing smoothly from the end of one book to the beginning of the next. This may be fiction, but it could be exactly how is was during that time period. To me, this feeling of realism shows that Overton did a great deal of research on the era, from the battles to the everyday lives of all the characters, both minor and major players. In addition, I feel he can take that research and write it in such a way that I can "live in his story". That is hard to do!

Ay

Once again, this is one of a series of five books. They are a good read for fans of Egyptian history and a combination of fiction and true facts. I enjoyed the books and the author does a nice job with the flow of the story from book to book. He does give information ahead of the stories that aids in keeping names and such straight. Scarab, a princess of the royal family, is the main character throughout the stories and she has quite a life surviving the characters around her. One of the threats is Ay, who is right hand man to the King Akhenaten, Ay has a lust for more power and his position puts him in place to achieve his goal and he will do whatever is necessary to achieve his purpose. I enjoyed the books very much and if you have an interest in this subject, I recommend the series.

A Great Series For A Great Price.

Fans of ancient Egyptian history just don't have many options when it comes to nonfiction or fiction. I'm now about to start book 5 in the Scarab series and I hate for it to end. Not only are these books interesting due to the subject matter, they are well written and researched, and the plot fills in the holes of this particular dynastic history in a convincing manner, especially in using Beketaten to tie all the Pharaohs from Akenaten to Horemheb together. I highly recommend this entire series.

Fun in Amarna.

As an Egyptologist, I did not expect the Scarab series to be factual and I was not wrong. The author has taken the known history of the Amarna Period and clothed it with fascinating tales of the well known characters. I could not find any factual errors except in minor detail. The stories take on a life of their own and the most unlikely scenarios develop (Tutankhamun fighting with Smenkhare to the deaths of both of them, but why not? We don't have evidence to the contrary! Ay takes his conventional role and becomes Pharaoh, marrying Ankesenamun). I could not put these books down (or, at least, my Kindle).

A delightful series by someone who has a deep knowledge of the 18th Dynasty and particularly of Amarna. My best read for a long time.

Jim Ashton.

Scarab-Ay - Billiant!!!

This is the fourth book in the series The Amarnan Kings by Max Overton. I eagerly awaited this book, as I absolutely loved the first three. For me, I was not disappointed at all and it was all I hoped it would be. I really really love this type of Ancient Egyptian novels and I will be very sorry indeed when this whole series comes to an end.

I would also like to say a very huge thank you to Max Overton himself, as being the impatient person that I am and wanting this book now, now, now, I couldn't contain myself and emailed Max on his author website email address and Max very kindly kept me informed of when this book would be available and even emailed me to say when it was up on Amazon for sale. So WOW impressed by this thoughtful personal service!!!

The book itself follows on almost seamlessly from the last, Ay is a devious, scheming old man, but his adopted son Nakhkmin becomes even more so. I was shocked by Paramessu and the way he keeps his son from Scarab. I am even getting really cross with old Bashir, keep pushing Dani.

I'll have to wait a bit now for the next book, but can guarantee as soon as it's on Amazon I will be among the first to buy it.

A nice way of saying goodbye to this series

Although not set in ancient Egypt a nice conclusion and series wrap

This book is the conclusion of the story of Princess Beketaten, A.K.A. Scarab and takes place 3,000 years after the reigns of the last pharaohs of the 18th dynasty in ancient Egypt. I have truly enjoyed this series and will miss looking forward to a next installment. Except for the prologue, this book takes place in present day and has a different feel to it - think Indiana Jones or "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Rather than historical fiction, it has an adventure theme and involves a race to find the hidden tomb of Smenkhkare and his sister Scarab. One group wants to plunder its' riches, and another wants to protect and preserve it from greedy people.

While previous prologues and epilogues take place in the present around the 1960's and the rest of the book in ancient Egypt, this book #6 is just the opposite. The prologue does take place in ancient Egypt and has Khu, son of Pa-it, taking the body of King Neferkheperu Scarab, his beloved wife, from the fields of Kadesh to Kemet. His mission is to bury her as befits her station as King of Kemet and sister, daughter, and mother of kings. After his mission is accomplished, he lives below the cliff face for 20 years protecting the tomb. After he dies, he continues protecting her beyond the grave. The epilogue is also from beyond the grave and has a twist for a surprise ending.

The rest of the book focuses on Dr. Danielle Hanser of a British archaeological expedition to the Orontes Valley in Syria where the team stumbled upon a series of chambers in a cave filled with hieroglyphs that tells the story of an Egyptian princess (books 1-5). Dani is the one who translates the story. How does Dani translate these passages when Egyptology is not her specialty? "It's almost impossible for someone to get true meaning from symbols without years of study - it is like she was born with an understanding of hieroglyphs"! Dr. Ahmed Bashir of the Syrian Dept. of National History becomes very interested when translations reveal there is an undiscovered royal tomb in Egypt containing the bodies of Smenkhkare and possibly that of Princess Beketaten. Bashir wants to find the tomb and plunder it by selling the priceless artifacts on the black market. He therefore takes away all the possessions of the archaeological team including the scarab stone and, with only the clothes on their backs, he puts them on a plane for England. His treachery also has him charging them with scientific improprieties so they can't reenter Syria.

Dani is suspended for six months from her job at Midland Univ. because of the allegations. She vows to travel to Egypt, find the tomb, protect it and protect the body of Scarab. Her #1 priority is to find the carved golden scarab, which hides itself as an ordinary sandstone rock to everyone but believers. Bashir took it from her in Syria. He had no clue what it was - he only knew it was valuable to her. It is a talisman imbued with the great power of the Nine Gods of Iunu; and since Dani seems to be a descendant of Scarab, she needs it to find the hidden tomb before Bashir does. Her visa request to enter Egypt is refused so she, Marc Andrews, and Daffyd Rhy-Williams from her team decide to go in illegally through Libya. Bashir also travels to Egypt and meets up with Colonel Sarraj, a ruthless military man, whom he enlists to help him find the tomb. Sarraj has his own agenda - he wants to form a coup, gain power, and become president of Egypt.

The race is on to find the tomb. First the team hires a driver named Muammar al-Hadi to drive their jeep from Benghazi to Al Jawf. In the meantime, a free-lance journalist in England, Nick Evans, hears about Dani's story and decides to go to Egypt to find her and her great story. All kinds of adventures occur in the desert including asking a Sheik for help, Bedouin warriors kidnapping the infidels for ransom, the infidels escaping, survival in the desert, Bashir and Sarraj hot on their trail, the Bedouins hot on the team's trail, Nick Evans going undercover to spy on Bashir, museum officials getting involved when they find a cliff shaft which could possibly be a tomb, impossibly finding a notch in a cliff where the sun shines through and green vegetation pointing to a tomb, Dani without her notes and translations against Bashir who has them all, and much more. Does she find her precious scarab, and who gets to the tomb first? Is Princess Beketaten entombed there?

If you like ancient Egyptian historical fiction, you will like this series. It is best to read it in order to preserve the flow of the whole. This was an epic journey and one well worth reading. Don't forget that twist at the end.

Gripping yarn

A great finale to a gripping series, although I was sure it would all turn out right in the end, had to keep reading to make sure.

Great Book

Loved it all. Author kept my attention for sur. I love Egypt and it's history and it did feed my "desire" in reading about it . I suppose, history does not really apply as I had never heard of Pharaos in Syria before. Now I will have to read up on this! Good reading though, I loved it and wish there would be more of this type. Very entertaining though!

Golden Scarab bewitches us. Scarab, previously known as a no-name child of King Nebmaetre of Egypt's Middle Kingdom, then named Beketaten, who in previous books of Overton's series came of age (Bk 1), fought against her usurping Uncle Ay on the side of her brother Shmenkhkare (Bk 2), continues the battle alongside her older brother Shmenkhkare against the cruel and ambitious Ay and her younger brother Tuthankamen (Bk 3), finally falls under the power of King Ay's adopted son Nakhtmin, then turns the tables on her worst enemies, clearing the way for Horemheb to come to power and her ex-lover Paramessu to become Horemheb's successor and eventually her son Set to sit on the throne of Egypt (Bk 4). In The Amarnan Kinds Book 5: Scarab - Horemheb, Overton combines his story with the Biblical story of the Hebrews' escape from Egypt, with former King Ahkenaten resurfacing as Yahmose (Moses) aided in the Hebrews/Khabirus' exodus from slavery in Egypt by Jesua, a warrior follower of Scarab.

This tale has been 'read' to us from the beginning by a British female archaeologist Dani, who has found Scarab's tomb, apparently, in modern-day Syria, on the walls of which the aging Scarab had recorded her life story. It emerges at the end of Book 5 that Scarab is not buried in the tomb in Syria, as we had thought all along, but that her husband Khu had taken her body to her brother Shmenkhkare's hidden tomb in Egypt and secretly buried her there. So the stage is set for Book 6, where archaeologist Dani, apparently a descendant of Scarab's, is going to wield the golden scarab she found in the Syrian excavation, to assist her as she deals with unearthing her ancestor's body and story and fending off the efforts of a Saudi Arabian official who threatens the lives of the British archaeologists as well as the integrity of the history of Scarab.

If this sounds a bit far-fetched, it is to the credit of the storyteller Max Overton that it all goes down smoothly, and delightfully, as Scarab's marvelous resilience and resourceful character grow slowly from the little girl playing with a dung beetle in Book 1 into the queen wielding the power of the gods of Egypt in Book 5. She restores Ma'at, the balance of justice and peace, to her country, just as any good fictional heroine should. We wait on Book 6 of The Amarnan Kings: Scarab - Descendant to see if Dani can do as well as her ancestor against the greed and ambition of present-day despots!

Average

This, last book in the series, is weaker comparing to others, but is still interesting. I love stile of writing---it is easy and just flow.

great ending to a great series

This whole set of books were great. I read one right after the other so I could find out what was going to happen next. You need to make sure you read them in order or your history is going to be messed up. If you enjoy ancient Egypt, read this set. I really think you will like the Scarab series.

Entertaining reading!

The Amarnan Kings series is a very readable, off-beat, and entertaining group of books. It has about any genre you might look for - from archaeology, to mystery, to fantasy, and a new take on ancient Egyptian religion and life in ancient times. Each book is a fairly complete story in itself, with enough hints to make you want to get the next book.

The Amarnan Kings Books 1 to 6

I really enjoyed all these books. Books 2 to 5 were very good. Book 1 set out the characters and the broad view of the history and as a result was good, but not as riveting as the others. Book 6 concluded the story but was set in modern times and was therefore not as exciting to me. I can however recommend reading the whole series as they gave me a great deal of pleasure. Book 6 had lots of exclamation marks that were errors in processing by Amazon these were annoying.

Fantastic finale

Have just finished the last book in The Amarnan Kings saga , what a great end to one of the best series of books I have ever read. I have read book 1 to book 6 end to end and feel lost now the journey is over. Every book has kept me enthralled from start to finish and the way Max writes puts you right into the story with vivid descriptions of life in Egypt in those times , I have lived through all Scarabs experiences and feel Max writes with passion and a great knowledge of the times. Praise must be given to these books and I look forward to reading many more Max Overton books. I have read the Lion of Scythia trilogy with the same zest and will now move on to the Demon trilogy. Fantastic books and I urge everybody to read them.

This entire series was an amazing way of looking at the 18th Dynasty as opposed to what we know from the history books. Why couldn't Smenkhare and Tut have died at the same time, why couldn't Moses have been a previous king who disappeared for years but continued in is "odd" belief that there was only one God? So many times throughout the first five books, and caught myself smiling at the in-depth research and story telling of these "what ifs." I would absolutely recommend this series to anyone who loves ancient Egyptian culture or anyone who loves court intrigue and epic story telling!

The last book was a very different feel, but equally as good. A perfect way to wrap up the present-day story, and also a few good finishing touches on Scarab's story.

This entire series goes down on my favorites of all time list, and I wish more people knew about it!

The series ended back on a better note. This book read like a movie and though at times it felt like it was unbelievable, it was a fun read. I still liked the first three books the best.

18th dinasty desendants live again

This is an excellent book, its really the closure to the Scarab collection, It keeps you wanting to keep reading and its hard to put it down,there stories left unfinished in the scarab series, and people you want to deal with, this gives you that satisfaction. If you love History particularly dynasties this carries a lot of reality mix with exiting tales

Not up to the Quality of the First Five in the Series

I bought this book with great anticipation. I have read all the other books in the series and thought they were fantastic. My reviews were very high on all the first five in the series. The characters were very well developed and the descriptions that Overton wrote actually put you there as a deeply involved participant. You could actually become any of the characters they were so well written. The writing skills Overton displays actually makes you feel the heat of the desert sun, you were thirsty when the characters were and every emotion they felt you shared. Unfortunately, in this final book of the series he let me down. I didn't get the enjoyment and involvement factor in this book like I had in the others. It's almost as if he has lost interest in the series and wants to finish it quickly so that he can get on to another more interesting project. I don't find the depth and richness in this book that are VERY evident in his previous Amarnan Kings books. It is a shame for me because I was so looking forward to rejoining my "friends" and find out the rest of their story. Please don't get me wrong, the book is very readable and provides the story ending, but it is not up to Overton's normal high standards.

This book is a real page turner and worth the time for the read

I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. If you enjoy this genre of books this is the one to read today.

KMAN

Riveting: Today's Fiction, Tomorrow's Reality

This is a thinking man's book, a genuine page-turner. Not only is "The Gauntlet" a great action-driven thriller/mystery, it is also a cautionary tale of the role behavioral genetics will soon play (is already playing) in our lives. Michael Hobren's implications on legal as well as genetic issues -- such as the loss of the right to privacy -- is cutting edge and forward-looking. His style reminds me of the sort of allegory that the late Michael Crichton would have proudly put his stamp on.

Five Stars

One really talented writer!

amazing world

I wouldn't normally read this kind of fantasy book but was invited to read it so I thought I would go outside my comfort zone and give it a go. I'm glad I did. The depictions of place are great. It's an imaginary world, but to me it felt more real than real. I still retained strong images and feelings for the places and situations depicted in the story a week or so after finishing the book. I also loved the names of the people and places. They greatly added to the flavour of the story. Given the many stories and films being produced at the moment, I think it amazing to have a story with so many original and good sounding names. I would almost recommend reading this story for that reason alone. The story was fast moving which I like. I didn't so much like the fighting scenes but I didn't linger on those pages for long. The only thing I really didn't like was depiction of the female lover and maid ... which would have been written for the male audience. That said I'm sufficiently curious to be interested in reading the sequels which I understand will be coming soon.

God does laugh

Throughout this book Herb Marlow seems to be asking, "Where is God in your life?", a very prudent question for all of us to consider. Lots of chuckles while reading this; really enjoyable.

An amazing storyteller!

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Bill Harmony lived a simple godly life. All he ever wanted was for people to have faith, hope and peace. Mark Truelove had a small church that ministered to the poor and homeless. Then there was Doctor Littlehope, he has a large church, drives an expensive car and only wears the finest designer suits. He is all about himself and profits gained by his church. Even after many warnings, he refuses to listen. What will happen when the truth is found out?

This was a brilliantly written story about what happens when greed rules and God is not in your life anymore. It certainly makes you realize that the things of this world aren't worth it, especially if you lose your soul in the process. Herb Marlow is a magnificent storyteller, I felt I was in the room with the characters as things transpired. This was a quick short read that I fell in love with and so will you.

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. Bill Harmony lived a simple godly life. All he ever wanted was for people to have faith, hope and peace. Mark Truelove had a small church that ministered to the poor and homeless. Then there was Doctor Littlehope, he has a large church, drives an expensive car and only wears the finest designer suits. He is all about himself and profits gained by his church. Even after many warnings, he refuses to listen. What will happen when the truth is found out?

This was a brilliantly written story about what happens when greed rules and God is not in your life anymore. It certainly makes you realize that the things of this world aren't worth it, especially if you lose your soul in the process. Herb Marlow is a magnificent storyteller, I felt I was in the room with the characters as things transpired. This was a quick short read that I fell in love with and so will you.

I liked this book a lot. I read it in about 2 days, because I liked it so much. It was a really good book.

Great insight into the city of Venice, and really creative story. Loved it

A Heartwarming Story

This book is very well and simply written. The story opens with Boudicca as a thirteen-year-old goat girl, living among her tribe, (the Iceni) in 1st-century England. She knows there is a mystery surrounding her origins. But what is it?. There is something of the fairytale about this story and, reading it, I had a very strong impression that it would be loved by young readers, and am recommending it to young people accordingly. I have tagged it as Young Adult, YA fiction. See if you agree.

Boudicca as a young girl, growing up among her family, watched by occupying Roman soldiers, begins to nurture the desire to avenge her younger sister's ritual sacrifice to the wicker man.

This is a really gripping opening section, and the novel continues to be just as compelling as Boudicca evolves into a queen.

The author who, by giving Boudicca a family, admirers, a romance, marriage and a few skeletons in her cupboard,

has developed her into a really engaging and sympathetic character.

Recommended. The Painted Lady

4.5 stars

One must pay attention to a book's genre. I have read comments or reviews in which people complain about a book's content, when the book's description informed them of the book's theme very clearly. I am a Christian and this book has Biblical verses, testimony, faith and counseling throughout.

It is also a book of romantic connections despite class differences, much as in Pride and Prejudice. Lindsay Richardson is hired as an administrative assistance by Mr. Copley, who is an old friend of Lindsay's dearly beloved but recently deceased father. However, when she walks into "his" office she discovers that it is the son for whom she will be working, much to her AND his surprise.

Dean, not only didn't know that his father had hired a new Admin. Assistant but also resents that his "retired" father seems to still be actively running things Dean thought were under his command. One of the first things Lindsay is given to take care of is to locate a date for this evening Heart Fund Dinner as Dean's "girlfriend", Gwynneth, has bailed on him. And when Lindsay assigns this position to her sister, who comes down with a stomach virus, Lindsay is forced to be his date.

Dean has a sad history and can't forgive himself and believes that, not only has no one else forgiven him, but also that he is undeserving of that forgiveness. He was piloting the helicopter which crashed taking not only his brother's but another's life. That brother, Ronald, was the golden boy of the family.

Lindsay has many burdens and obligations and doesn't really want to be working as she thinks she should be devoting her time to taking care of her mother who is suffering from Alzheimer's. However she lost her old job when she took leave to take care of her mother temporarily. Lindsay is also very active with volunteerism in her church, from Penny Parties to Reading Buddies. When she attempts to recruit Dean, he refuses but like the son in the parable, who said he would not work in the vineyard when requested to do so by his father but later relents and does as requested, Dean begins to test the waters of giving from his heart and of his time to those who are in need. Lindsay feels drawn to Dean but also sees and is shown by word and deed from his family and his "girlfriend" how she doesn't fit into his circle. (Shades of Darcy and Elizabeth!)

This story is one in which both protagonists have misunderstandings and doubts about how GOD is leading them and what they should be doing to follow his will. Lindsay's sister, Meg, her aunt, the Visiting Nurse Assoc., Claire (a co-worker), and a newspaper photographer add to pressures while she is trying to sort out the path GOD would have her follow. Dean has the family business, his social position, his family, the girl his mother and sister want him to marry and the new girl at the office pulling on his time and attention. And despite the fact that he is a multi-tasker, he is having some difficulty getting a clear picture of his responsibilities, his relationships and his social priorities. Medical emergencies for family members add to the burdens for both.

There are some very heartwarming moments in this story, from Dean's relationship with Claire's baby granddaughter to a Santa substitute to Thanksgiving at which Dean's mother shows up unexpectedly. Of interest were the moments when Lindsay had to speak her mind but did so with guidance so as to "set someone straight". (I would be hard pressed and have to be biting my tongue given the situations.) And then there is that photographer who just won't quit...until he meets sister, Meg.

This was a quick read but provided some touching moments even to the point that my eyes became misty. Great little story for an afternoon's escape.

I enjoyed this story for its depth and genuine feel. Andrews’ writing style is easy to read and the plot moves along nicely. It was a type of story that I felt so invested in that I found myself always anxious to return to reading it.

The romance is warm and enchanting. Lindsay Richardson’s faith and upbeat attitude encourages her boss, Dean Copley to let go of his guilt about his brother’s death. She does this by getting wealthy Dean involved with people and children not having the same extravagant lifestyle. Lindsay’s faith enables Dean to develop into a happier individual.

Lindsay’s mother has Alzheimer’s and that isn’t easy on her two daughters. Lindsay and her sister Meg want their mother to have the best care possible. I felt the strong, sad emotions Lindsay experiences as she has to leave her mother daily to go to her new job at Copley Industries. When Dean visits their home and brings a musical snow globe with the nativity scene, Mrs. Richardson responds positively to the music. Lindsay likes how Dean is relaxed with her mother because most people aren’t comfortable around Alzheimer’s patients.

Lindsay is a well-developed character and full of compassion even when Dean’s snotty mother and sister aren’t nice to her. She demonstrates Christian forgiveness even though she’s hurt by their nasty comments, and they act like she isn’t high enough in society for Dean.

Five Stars

Wonderful book_......great reading for the entire family.....a must read!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a sweet Christian Romance and I totally enjoyed it

This is a sweet Christian Romance and I totally enjoyed it. Dean, a wealthy man who owns a corporation learns what Christian values really mean from his secretary Lindsey. The conversations between the two help to make this story come alive. I believe that a conversation between the two main characters brings a story to life and helps you to understand who they are. She is a devout Christian and Dean is learning what that is all about. I loved this sweet story.

This novel by Regina Andrews is a wonderful and heart-felt story about Lindsay Richardson and her struggle with caring for her mother who has Alzheimer's and Lindsay trying to hold a job too. Her and her sister, Meg, try to take care of their mother at home. Lindsay has taken a job at Copley Industries. She meets her boss, Dean, and the ball gets rolling in the romance department. Numerous incidents happen to bring them closer.

Dean's family background, personality clashes, supportive friends, and work responsibilities all figure into Lindsay's life. We get a look at Dean's character too as he develops and copes with the issues in his life.

There is a spiritual message here of having faith and relying on God to steer us in the right direction in our lives. Many of the happenings brought tears to my eyes.

Ms. Andrews' story telling powers came through with these emotional scenes.

I rate this story five stars and highly recommend it.

The authors meticulous research on Egyptian building evolution from wood to stone explained in an engaging story with many subplots of love and intrigue. Cant wait to keep reading!

I found the whole Pyramid Builder series thoroughly enjoyable. Having a real passion for Ancient Egypt and being a regular on National Geographic and Discovery whenever they cover Ancient Egypt, I found these books compliment and build on archeological evidence and theories superbly, I found these novels very hard to put down, flying through books 1-9 in a 7 week period, which is very fast for me. Each book follows a Pharaoh's reign, which is typical across most of Max’s novels on ancient Egypt.

The main theme throughout is the building of each Pharaoh's everlasting Mer or Pyramid as we know it, and the demands and challenges the architects and builders face. Blending historical figures with fictional characters, archaelogical theories and parallel storylines, stimulates the imagination and paints a beautiful pictures of what life may have been like during these times. The books truly bring to life the 3rd and 4th Dynasties and I cannot wait to read the final book ‘Shepsesk’, when it becomes available.

All 10 books are great reading!!

I have read all ten in this series, loved every book. Lost myself in the Egypt of the Pharaohs. If you love stories of ancient Egypt, you will love this whole series.

Survival

In the aftermath of the Civil War folks who were going to rebuild this country had to learn to get along and work together. This is a good telling of how such rebuilding might have taken place...even dealing with those from both sides who wanted to be troublemakers.

Honesty

Succeeding in life is built on trust. The Reconstruction Era found many unscrupulous characters taking unfair advantage of position and power, but fortunately, as Herb tells in this story, honesty and good character can and do carry folks to victory.

Enjoyable read. Consistent good writing, believable characters, interesting plot, and quick pace. Hard to believe this is a first book! You won't be disappointed.

2 Thumbs Way Way Up!

What an enjoyable book! I found it quite difficult to put it down and nearly agonizing when I could not find the time to pick it up again! It is well-written with an exciting plot and interesting, well-developed characters. It is vivid and easy to read because it pulls the reader into the lives of the individuals who are central to the thrilling plot. The story unfolds like a movie in the mind; actually, it could make a really entertaining movie someday! The author has a fantastic command of language and writes natural, believable dialogue. The characters and places seem so real- I wonder if the author has based any of these on personal experiences? If this is a first novel, I hope there will be more!

Great 1st Effort

The Shepherd Sleeps is a well thought-out novel, that will appeal to those readers who enjoy intellegent conversation between characters and more than a hint of intrigue. The premise is believable (especially if you're a fan of conspiracy theories!) and the hero is someone you care about and root for. Set in New Orleans, the author takes you into the heart of the action, with vivid descriptions of the city - both historical settings and the seedier side. There is a group of "do-gooders" who think they can make better decisions for us than our government can. We also meet a group of Cuban illegals, who play an important part in the novel. There are different stories being told in the first-time novel of Mr. Brown's, and they all come together in an exciting conclusion.

I couldn't put it down

I started reading this book and couldn't put it down. You never knew what was going to happen next. The characters were very interesting and believable. The authors description of locations made you feel like you were there in the thick of the action. It's an exciting and easy read that anyone could enjoy.
Can't wait to discover more of this authors work!

Reviewed By: =:0)

Mark one up for the good guys! This is a very fast moving, plot twisting, edge of the seat sort of read. Woodruff skillfully leads the reader through a chilling and ever-so-real crime story scripted in a contemporary setting of America's northern heartland.

The characterizations, the situations, the author's style, all casually center the reader amidst masterfully foreshadowed and dangerously developing circumstances. Though a rich palette of schemes and themes brilliantly develop, full and complete resolution of many interwoven and layered curiosities are settled.

This is a riveting novel of fear, courage, determination, triumph, thugs, creeps, cops, heros and yes love. Six of five stars is a more accurate rating.

Reviewed By: John P Riger

Could not put it down What a wonderful well written story. Fell in love with Lloyd. Thank you.

Reviewed By: Carter

This is a must read! Filled with wonderful characters and thrills and intrigue. I like how Mr. Woodruff can write a female character so well...capturing emotions and reactions so well. He makes you care what happens to Jill. And there is also plenty of humor to be had as well. I definitely recommend this book.

Reviewed By: Gurly

I couldn't put it down I started reading this book and couldn't put it down. You never knew what was going to happen next. The characters were very interesting and believable.

The author's description of locations made you feel like you were there in the thick of the action. It's an exciting and easy read that anyone could enjoy. Can't wait to discover more of this authors work! =:0)

Reviewed By: Hot Little DJ

Excellent book. Well written, and kept my interest, couldn't put it down. Hope to see another novel by this author.

Reviewed By: amp

Heart pounding What I liked the most was how it always kept me on the edge of my seat. I also liked the pace of it, it was never too fast or too slow for me. I think you could add a sequel to it.

Reviewed By: Natalie

Goblins, Fairies, and Changelings – Oh My! Eager young readers will eat up Rebecca and the Changeling by Margaret Pearce. An adventure story in which Dewdrop, the seventh daughter of the Fairy Queen, decries the edict that “princesses and subjects are prideful of their position in fairyland, and act accordingly.” This jaded rebel princess disagrees – and acts accordingly as she rescues a thieved human baby despite the perilous consequences. With an unforgettable entourage of Golly – the common thieving Goblin and Lord Be Thankful - her faithful guard and attendant, Dewdrop learns to blaze her own trail but not without punishment of the evil queen (who puts Lord Voldermort to shame!)

Spells, potions, and magic galore – Pearce pleases in the first installment of The Wingless Fairy Series. I question whether Rebecca and the Changeling is appropriately leveled for emergent readers. The vocabulary and character names might prove a bit confusing save the most determined fantasy fanatics, but early to middle readers will sing its spells! Well-written with delightful humor sprinkled throughout like glistening fairy dust, Rebecca and the Changeling enchants.

Reviewed By: Kimberly Dana for Readers Favorite

Goblins, Fairies, and Changelings - Oh My!

Eager young readers will eat up Rebecca and the Changeling by Margaret Pearce. An adventure story in which Dewdrop, the seventh daughter of the Fairy Queen, decries the edict that "princesses and subjects are prideful of their position in fairyland, and act accordingly." This jaded rebel princess disagrees - and acts accordingly as she rescues a thieved human baby despite the perilous consequences. With an unforgettable entourage of Golly - the common thieving Goblin and Lord Be Thankful - her faithful guard and attendant, Dewdrop learns to blaze her own trail but not without punishment of the evil queen (who puts Lord Voldermort to shame!)

Spells, potions, and magic galore - Pearce pleases in the first installment of The Wingless Fairy Series. I question whether Rebecca and the Changeling is appropriately leveled for emergent readers. The vocabulary and character names might prove a bit confusing save the most determined fantasy fanatics, but early to middle readers will sing its spells! Well-written with delightful humor sprinkled throughout like glistening fairy dust, Rebecca and the Changeling enchants.

Reviewed By: Kimberly Dana for Readers Favorite

An Australian time travel book for teens. Since I am going through my 'second teens'. I rather enjoyed this quick read. On to book II.

Once in awhile I read some very simple stuff made for middle school and above. As an ex-teacher it just became a habit so that I could have good material to recommend to them. This was a nice short series of books that I think kids would enjoy!

Trambu rules!

I thoroughly enjoyed this childrens' book although I am an adult. This was a quick read. I must confess I had a difficult time putting it down once I started reading it. ALL kids will like this (boys AND girls). The writing is clever and has a few unexpected twists. Interestingly also, are the play on scrambled words which totally made sense once it is read! I highly recommend this book for children from grades K thru 8.

When is the sequel coming out?

A paranormal horror thriller with real bite
Having enjoyed many of Max’s historical fiction novels, I decided it was time to explore a genre of his I knew far less about — and I’m quickly becoming just as hooked on his paranormal horrors. Tulpa introduces us to a group of naïve teenagers experimenting with the Tibetan practice of manifesting physical beings through intense concentration. What begins as harmless fun soon spirals into something far more sinister when their creations — a menacing Alien Big Cat and a strange, philtrum less man — develop independent thought and begin terrorising their small community.

The first third of the book focuses on setting the scene, immersing us in the teenagers’ immaturity and their early attempts to create a Tulpa. But once the groundwork is laid, the story takes a much darker, more gripping turn. What started as a game becomes a deadly situation, and the only people capable of stopping these entities are the very ones who brought them into existence.

Paranormal At It's Best

If paranormal horror and suspense is a genre you like, you must read this. A Tulpa is from a Tibetan belief which really exists. Thus, even though this is fiction, it makes this story even more frightening. Fast paced and filled with interesting and diverse characters, it will have you turning pages as fast as you can to see what is next. Kudos to Max for yet another fabulously written book with a fascinating subject.

“

A fun, whimsical ride

I enjoyed this little story very much. Written in the style of a fable or the like, the narration had an amusing and sometimes touching flavour. A great way to put a smile on your face on the way to work. Five stars for the fun idea.

Kindle Customer ”

Reviewed for Cats Luv Coffee Book Reviews -3.5/5 Paws Up!

With that blurb, you can only imagine how Uncle Billy's Chicken Hut and Salvation Emporium reads. Uncle Billy, all 6'6", 300 lbs of him, removes "roadblocks, impediments, unfulfilled dreams and blockages" to make transitions from the living to the dead to the afterlife problem-free. Various souls end up in this cross between a diner and Hermoine's bag of holding to deal with those pesky little questions that finding yourself dead might bring on.

While Billy is the agency for good, the er...other side is represented by a large, cranky talking tom cat with red fur. Though as it turns out, neither of them are actually making decisions on who goes where. That is left up to the powers that be, which quickly sorts them out in the form of simple arrows — up or down, presented either in a book, or a cake, whichever is closer.

I did find some of the humor a little on the immature side, such as the infestation of the Punstafulz from the "lower realms". These little creatures are invisible until they fart making sounds such as "Oon" and "Poot" and explode thanks to special candles. It just took the offbeat humor to actual fart joke level. Other than that, I enjoyed this quick, fun read. The world building and personality of Uncle Billy were larger than life so to speak. I enjoyed the various characters that worked their way through the Emporium. Full of tongue in cheek humor, Uncle Billy's Chicken Hut and Salvation Emporium is everything you would expect of a wacky, off the wall story called Uncle Billy's Chicken Hut and Salvation Emporium.

Quick Read

<b> I received this for a honest review thanks to Mr. Roberts.</b>

OH no.. Your dead, but why are you in the desert? How did you get there? and what is that building over there? Looks very much out of place and your remembering why you died. But you can not pass over due to needing to drive that vehicle you have always wanted - well Uncle Billy is your man!

What a short, lovely read! I read this while my tiny was napping and between chores. The different characters, the turns and twist in the book was wonderful. How the humor and antics kept coming kept me pulling at the next page. Granted I was reading on my Kindle but if there was pages I sure was flipping them!! I got to halfway through the book before I knew it and was astonished that it was so short.

Although there were some confusing parts like how did one of the poor souls suddenly move as things went from entertaining to a quicken speed as if Roberts is trying to rush through to get to the end of the book. Possibly not the case! The cat somewhat confused me but I enjoyed the banter between the cat and Billy. How they had different ways of finding out if the dearly departed will go up to heaven or down to forever misery. It was wonderful seeing how it differs each time! Then the "pests" that may infest the emporium was a random moment when I thought something was about to happen. Things seemed to still happen and I enjoyed the ride although I felt confused at times with a few tidbits.

This is

because there seemed to be no separation of chapters, and they just kept on rolling. I think there could of been a couple breaks between the different people that got what they needed to pass on as with the asterisks that was throughout the book.. However, it was just a beautiful read even without the pauses. The descriptions of the surroundings made me feel like I was there watching this all unfold. I feel the chapters is not different but a moment to process between the happenings of the different people trying to pass over. There also was weird punctuation but maybe my format of the book was off. However, this did not take away from the reading at all - which is why I am only lightly touching on it.

I very much recommend this to people who like paranormal and science fiction!

If you're dead and have nowhere to go, Uncle Billy's your man!

You’re dead…or so they tell you. Okay, what now? Isn’t there supposed to be a brilliant white light or something…a big iron gate and a guy with a beard holding out a hand in greeting…or even a burning pitchfork in the hands of a demon? Something should be happening! Why don’t you know you’re dead?

Clearly, you need Uncle Billy’s services. It seems you have unsettled business in this world that needs to be finished; Uncle Billy is your man. Billy can unravel any spiritual steel-traps still holding your legs in this world, salve the wounds as you move on to the next, and do it all while you enjoy a margarita and some fried chicken on the house.

Uncle Billy’s Chicken Hut & Salvation Emporium is, in a sense, all things to all people. A truly unique place, in a truly unique location, with truly unique people (Uncle Billy, 6’6”, 300#, red beard, bolo tie and baseball cap is just one of them!) where truly unique things happen. You could say Uncle Billy’s Chicken Hut & Salvation Emporium is truly bigger than life…since it's much bigger inside than out…and since what happens inside can have ramifications throughout the universe. But whatever else you could say about Uncle Billy’s Chicken Hut & Salvation Emporium, I will say it is hands-down one of the laugh-out-loud funniest books I’ve read in a long time. It is a truly tongue-in-cheek statement about the general spiritual consciousness of today’s average man.

Kudos to Jeffrey Roberts for a funny and refreshing book with a deeper theme.

This book was provided free by the author in hopes of receiving an honest review. The above review represents my honest opinion of the book.

so brilliantly portrayed, and a very moving story

So well researched, so brilliantly portrayed, and a very moving story. We need to keep on learning these lessons from history 'least we forget'!

Max Overton has an excellent writing style which kept us captivated and we both thoroughly enjoyed the book. (Hazel Nash and Fred Kahl)

Will stay with you long after you have read the book

I am weeping for the lost land of Königsberg. Thoroughly enjoyed this book which gave a true insight into the suffering of the Germans during and after the war and an unbiased account of the treatment of the single mother and her children by the British, American and Soviet authorities. I would have liked to have seen photographs of the family, but I bought the Kindle version - I'm not sure whether photographs were included in the paperback version.

The only factor I wish was made clear was that for most refugees, Britain and America, to their shame, forcibly repatriated them to the east only for them to face harsh treatment or sent to gulags in Siberia. The book made it seem very easy for anyone who wished to stay in the west, but this was not true.

A very good book

A very good book. I found it insightful and hard to put down. I'm glad to have found it.

Brilliant!!!

This book is a personal account of a German family's journey through 2nd world war. I couldn't put it down. I met 'Kirk' and got talking to him both before and after reading the book. I am totally in awe of his Mother, the main character in their story. You have to read it!! Totally Fascinating, Totally true!!

I also came from Koenigsberg

I myself have come from Koenigsberg and the Book is a true History of the horrible crimes committed by the Russians to the East Prussian People.

This book brought back many painful memories. It is well told

Five Stars

A saga!

Outstanding

I wasn't sure about this subject, but since it was written by Max I ordered the book. From the first page I was pulled into the lives of those sorely affected by war. I felt their pain, loss, but also felt the strength and courage it takes to survive.

Great Read!

"We Came From Konigsberg" is the compelling story of a young German woman's escape from Prussia with her 5 small children.

Set in WWII, the book is obviously well researched yet the story is as gripping as any good novel. The author presents us with beautiful detail while providing insight as to how ordinary Germans may have viewed the proceeding war in Europe. It is sensitive and compassionate but at times also necessarily brutal. It is unfathomable to me how these people had the guts to go where they went; do what they did; and most of all, how they survived it.

My only criticism would be that I lost some sleep while reading this book as I just could not put it down.

A masterpiece

This is such a beautiful book.

The first thing to grab my attention was the beautiful, crystal clear writing. Not a word is wasted, sentences are easy to read so that the reader can focus in on the content, and the powerful emotions elicited in a subtle, understated way. This is writing from a position of empathy and compassion, and will get the reader to feel the same.

This content is well worth focusing on: a very real, very realistic tale of survival: one fine woman with intelligence and determination, walking with her five young children through the repeating hell of the advancing Red Army and the retreating Germans.

The narrative is mostly in the third person, but there are passages in which Elisabet speaks to us herself, and I found these to be the most illuminating about the culture she came from. People nowadays can't understand how the great mass of ordinary, decent German people could have supported Hitler. Her passages, written with sensitivity and insight, provide a window into their thinking, and this is very relevant for our times, because the same processes can take place any time, in any society.

You must read this book, and it's a keeper. You will want to read it again.

A Courageous Mother from Koenigsberg

Max Overton has again taken me on an adventure, this time in a more recent historical time than his Scarab series (which I loved), one that is filled with drama, but in the middle of the drama is a tale of a very courageous woman. Mr Overton's meticulous research into the events of WWII, and his descriptions of day to day life, puts you right there with Mutti and her five children as they flee from Koenigsberg to the West, in the midst of a freezing winter, no food, no shelter, only what can be found on the journey, and then the brutal atrocities unavoidable in war torn Europe . This story is based on real people, real events and comes from a different perspective than most stories set in WWII. The story is both heart wrenching and heart warming, and an impossible book to put down, until the emotional end. Loved it, recommend it, a must read. Thankyou again Mr Overton for taking me on a journey into the past.

Excellent Cozy Mystery Marielle Jones is in the hospital recovering from a bad car accident AND a failed romance when she is offered a job as a driver for a grandmother and her two grandchildren. The offer comes from Howard, a smooth super-salesman who won't take no for an answer, and raises a number of questions:

Why would he want to hire a stranger who just totaled her car as a driver? Why couldn't the grandmother drive? Marielle had just arrived in Redding, California; how did he know so much about her? Who was Arthur, and how did he die? Most puzzling: who were the young children - the niece and nephew - how did they fit into the scenario, and where were their parents?

Including a tour of the scenic and historic Oregon countryside, a colorful and well-drawn cast of characters, a gripping mystery, some mangled bodies, well-placed clues, danger, romance and intrigue, this Cozy mystery is not to be missed!

Reviewed By: Rita W

A great, cozy read! This is a fun, interesting story that unfolds with each page and kept me guessing until the end. I didn't want to put it down.

The likeable characters visit campgrounds across Oregon. As an Oregon native, it made me feel like I was there again, reliving many good times. I felt like I was going along with Marielle and her unusual camping partners, and going through their adventures right along with them. I strongly recommend this book and have told everyone I know that they will love it as much as I did!

Reviewed By: Penny Hendrickson

Need more like this We have visited the Northwest many times. I am familiar with all the locations the author writes about. I loved this story. It has charming humor, clever mystery and well developed and interesting characters. I hope hope she write more like this. Great fun and kept me very interested.

Reviewed By: bama

Fast-Paced Mystery a Good Read This is a fast-paced, well-written cozy mystery that takes place in the Pacific Northwest. The author has done meticulous research on the sites mentioned in the book, has developed likeable, sympathetic characters, and has woven a page-turner story. I recommend this book.

Reviewed By: Heidi M. Thomas, Author of Cowgirl Dreams

Need more like this

We have visited the Northwest many times.

I am familiar with all the locations the author writes about. I loved this story. It has charming humor, clever mystery and well developed and interesting characters. I hope hope she write more like this. Great fun and kept me very interested.

This scared me. The stories are all entwined, mentioning various characters and events throughout the volume. The horror is well written, where the things that go bump in the night are there and disguised as family, friends and stories you grew up on.

The town’s fear feels very real and translates into sensory details. I couldn’t put this down, and I know I’m going to have a hard time getting it out of my head. Highly, highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good scare.

A thrilling collection of tales to read on a dark stormy night. The stories flow into one another so that it seems as though they’re just one story instead of an anthology. This is definitely a book that I will reread! This loosely based set of stories brings to mind just how creepy the original tales were!

What makes this volume fascinating is that each story has one--or several--very unexpected twists that makes it entirely unique! If you like to see fairytales in a darker context, a horror twist, something very different to the ones you heard in your childhood, this is definitely the book for you. Wiesner’s skill in character development, unique character voices and realistic dialogue, and exposition that paints a vivid picture of the book’s world make Woodcutter’s Grim an awesome read!

The first three books of the series and The Final Chapter are contained in this collection that scared me silly, and, trust me, I don't scare easily. The Final Chapter concludes an awesome series that I didn't want to stop reading. Highly recommended!

Few authors keep fairytales classic yet scarier like Karen Wiesner has achieved with this collection; the audience will feel they are entering the woods of Woodcutter’s Grim and sense they may not get out. The key that makes this quartet superb is the feeling everything starts of normal like a second chance at love (Papa and Dancing to the Grave), a concerned lover (Blood of Amethyst) or a hero rescuing his damsel in distress (The Amethyst Tower, The Final Chapter). Then Ms. Wiesner deftly changes the venue in each into frightening fantasy novellas. This is an excellent anthology in which the readers will want more stops in Woodcutter’s Grim, sort of like a Hotel California adult fairy tale location.

There's a town somewhere in America where evil lurks. Escaping through a portal in time, the darkness torments the town of Woodcutter's Grim by performing acts of mischief and harm by warping those fairy tales most of us grew up reading and enjoying. But, though the townspeople feel this evil in their being, the Protectorate works tirelessly to keep the evil behind the scenes.

It is up to them to protect the people from the evil as well as figure out what mischief is being conducted. Getting right to the point: This is a must read! Being one of those people who've grown up on fairy tales such as Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin and the likes, I found it so very intriguing how the author not only reminds the readers of past tales, but incorporates the same look, feel and even more emotion for a modern-day audience with a very modern approach to each.

This is not a story for kids! There is love, romance and steamy scenes that play so well into these stories. I loved the characters and how each played into the overall story, how each story played into the overall book.

Karen Wiesner has taken me for a ride into her world and I have to admit, I was saddened to leave Woodcutter's Grim when I finished the book. Karen made my blood boil, my nerves fray and even more importantly, my heart ached for her characters. I would suggest all read this as soon as possible.

By all means, sit in your favorite chair on a nice night and let Karen take you for a ride! This is one of those books I would love to have in hardcover, sitting on my bookshelf to pull out at any time to sit and enjoy.

Woodcutter's Grim Series, Volume I (Books 1-3 and The Final Chapter) (Woodcutter's Grim Paran

In Papa, Book 1, Ms. Wiesner's retelling of Hansel and Gretel with a twist will make you hunger for more of these reinvented fairy tales. My heart went out to Rand and Amy. After a loveless marriage he couldn't seem to escape, Rand finally divorces his wife, who is the mother of his children. With Amy, he's at last found someone to love who loves him back. When his ex-wife and their young son and daughter are killed, Rand and Amy try to heal, but it seems past sins and a wicked curse won't let them.

In Book 2, Blood of Amethyst, the horror continues with a loose retelling of the story Rumplestiltskin. Amethyst and her father's farm is too close to the woods where the evil in Woodcutter's Grim is said to lurk. But her relationship with Gabe, the sheriff in town and the Guardian of the Protectorate that is the only defense against the evil, reaches an ultimatum with her pregnancy and imminent birth of their first child. The horrifying choice she makes and the consequences of that decision set the tone for everything that follows this story in the series.

"In Dancing to the Grave, Book 3, the author continued to freak me out with a chilling, twisty-turny rendition of The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Amethyst's best friend Diane is the heroine in this story. After an extremely rough few years apart, Diane and her husband Kurt, a member of the Protectorate, are trying to put their marriage and lives back together. But, after what happened in the previous story, the evil that lives in Woodcutter's Grim is out for revenge. Even as I was rooting for this couple to come out victorious, a happily-ever-after seemed like the least likely scenario.

"The Amethyst Tower, the very last book in the Woodcutter's Grim Series, finishes out this collection, which contained an explanation from the author on the suggested reading order of the books in the series. Luckily, Wiesner

*does* recommend reading The Amethyst Tower directly after reading Books 1-3--even before going on to Books 4-10. All those books were written in a way that assumes the reader has already read The Amethyst Tower, which is kind of a time-travel fantasy story loosely based on Rapunzel.

"The Amethyst Tower is a complicated, thrilling tale of good versus evil, hope and patience, and epic triumph only earned by never giving up, no matter how impossible the odds.

"The Final Chapter concludes an awesome series that I didn't want to stop reading. Highly recommended!!!!

Wiesner pens a novel that will stay with long after you have turned the last page. Wiesner has penned a tale filled with love, romance, coming of age, the shattering of dreams, and then picking up and moving on. The dreams we have as teenagers require us to assess them and change them as we grow and mature.

Wendy and Paul are so well developed that we feel their disappointments and their triumphs. We understand their motivations and they become our friends. Wiesner has penned a tale that will capture your attention and ensnare your heart as you cheer for Wendy and Paul and cry for them as well.

RELUCTANT HEARTS will not disappoint the reader as we engross ourselves in their wonderful story. Highly recommended but be sure to have tissues nearby.

I read this entire book in one sitting. The author's talent for telling a story is beyond compare. I was enthralled with all the characters from the very beginning.

The investment that that the reader has in Wendy and Paul will bring on a wide range of emotions; I cried, laughed and cursed at them throughout the book. Wiesner is a stupendous author with writing skills that should not to be missed.

This is a story about real people who love and lose, who find their faith only to lose it, then rediscover it again. Wiesner's creativity to compose true to life characters is amazing. She develops in-depth characters that spin in the reader's mind for a long time after the story is finished.

Wiesner instills a lovely story of distress, victory and camaraderie that leaves a lump in your throat and keeps you glued until the incredible expedition is concluded. The story is inviting, powerful and completely captures.

Wiesner has crafted a novel full of pathos and joy. She has blended pain and triumph and friendship in a way that grabs you by the throat and never lets go. All of her characters are heroes, flawed and sometimes barely functioning.

This tale is a sprawling 150,000-word document that will rivet your attention and engage your emotions. The action flows, twists and undulates and you are drawn in, swept up in the lives of these interesting people. RELUCTANT HEARTS is a 'getter' as well as a keeper! If Wiesner maintains the quality of writing she employed with this book, we have a treat to look forward to.

RELUCTANT HEARTS is a full-sized work of fiction that makes good use of interior monologues and remembrances to give depth to the inner conflicts of the characters. The author holds nothing back in depicting a sometimes grim reality. I strongly recommend it. Paul and Wendy live a powerful love story that can't help but move the coolest reader.

Disappointment, disillusionment and surprising hope give RELUCTANT HEARTS a universal appeal. Wiesner wisely captures the nuances and struggles of young people with self-worth and love, maintaining tenderness and grittiness in equal measure. Her powerful storytelling gift builds sympathy even as characters self-destruct and creates hope in the midst of despair. A fantastic beginning to what promises to be an outstanding series, RELUCTANT HEARTS comes very highly recommended.

I read this series completely out of order--a testament to how each book stands on its own. In the process, I somehow saved the best for last. My emotions were all over the place while I read this book.

Even as young as she is, Wendy tries to take care of everyone around her. I couldn’t wait until she could live her own life, free of all the restrictions she had on her, dealing with everyone else’s problems. Her teenage crush on the much older Paul Randall turned into certainty that he was the only man for her, but Paul had never felt worthy of someone so pure and angelic, never mind how much younger she was than him.

But when age is no longer an obstacle… Well, if only the road to love ran smooth all the time. I laughed and cried throughout this outstanding story, rooting for Wendy and Paul to get their happily ever after.

RELUCTANT HEARTS is worth the time invested...and then some. There’s something powerful in the storytelling that's compelling. That’s the true strength of Wiesner’s writing.

With her guidance, we truly get to know who these characters are; there are no secrets, no hidden facets. The author introduces us and takes us right into the lives, hearts and minds of the people in her book and I, for one, cannot look away. This is the first book that I’ve read by this author and I’m extremely fortunate enough to have the other books in this series to read.

RELUCTANT HEARTS is a stunning introduction to the series and to the author's skillful recitation about the lives of those she introduces us to. Bravo!

Wiesner has totally swept me into her Wounded Warriors Series. The characters are well established--flaws and all. I can't wait for the next book.

This book captivated me, hook, line and sinker. The storyline is compelling and I sensed a true connection between the author and her characters. I eagerly look forward to the next story.

Wiesner has once again proven her masterful talent of creating realistic and compelling characters dealing with complex issues and emotions. She knows her characters and their stories inside and out. Their stories of survival and even victory were enough to keep me pushing through this book, dying to know what would happen next.

I was totally captivated by these people. Everything the author shared about these characters’ lives was a vital part of who they were, where they were in their life and relationship, and what they needed to do to heal and move forward. I always enjoy Wiesner’s work and I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Alternately heartwarming and heartbreaking, RELUCTANT HEARTS is an evocative contemporary romance. You will be moved to sympathy. The depth and range of emotion Wiesner develops is amazing.

This tale is heartbreaking. Be prepared for laughter, love, heartache, and tears. Wiesner ties the strings together neatly weaving in multiple threads pushing the tale forward, closing the chapter of Wendy and Paul and opening another.

Karen Wiesner has totally swept me into her Wounded Warriors Series. The characters of future novels are well established--flaws and all--in the first book. I can't wait for the next book.

Wendy and Paul suit each other well. This book targets those who do not want danger in their stories, just pure romance! Wonderful light reading!

This was a wonderfully enjoyable and deeply moving story of the complexity of love. I did not want to stop reading. Wiesner is an expert storyteller keeping you engaged to find out what happens!

I am sure the other books in the will be wonderfully full emotional reads as well. If you are prepared for heartache and joy, this is a book you will enjoy!

RELUCTANT HEARTS is a heart-rending account of a woman in love trying to teach her Wounded Warrior that love does exist and that he is worthy of her love. Paul must realize that sex is not all the females of the species have to offer and that Wendy is the one to teach him how to love and believe in himself. Wendy makes him whole. She sees through his wounds and his pain and together they complete each other.

RELUCTANT HEARTS will take you on a journey of two young adults reaching out for something they never believed possible for each other: love. RELUCTANT HEARTS will bring you a blast from the past as you relive some references of the eighties. Karen Wiesner has written a tale of two people with needs of different kinds that will blend together to make a perfect couple.

Take the journey with Paul and Wendy as they search to find the missing pieces inside themselves. This reviewer enjoyed the story line. It was a well-written story, easy to follow.

I didn't find myself reading things over to catch the point. Karen created two believable characters in Wendy and Paul. This reviewer believes Karen showed how easily people can lose their faith and beliefs, and how love can pull you back. I believe Karen Wiesner will have a long and prosperous career.

After finishing WAITING FOR AN ECLIPSE (Book 2), I was anxious to read Paul and Wendy's story. The magic they find in each other's arms is equally impressive. Karen Wiesner does a great job at building her characters and making them seem genuine to the reader.

On the surface, RELUCTANT HEARTS is a common good-rich-girl, bad-poor-boy romance. It goes a little deeper than that: the facets of Paul's total lack of self-esteem and Wendy's belief in him, the fact that he wants to be worthy of her, all create a very romantic story. The emotions are kept at a pretty high boil the whole time as their obsession becomes eclipsed by a tragedy neither of them can deal with easily.

The meaning of sex and its real attachment to love is one of the main themes and is handled well. This is a fairly strong romance with some very magical moments, the first in a series of romances featuring characters introduced in this book.

Fans of romance with a gritty, Romeo and Juliet type of story will enjoy the first part of this book. The sexual tension will steam your glasses. The plot and the way the protagonists relate to each other takes a 180-degree turn in the middle of the book.

Don't be surprised when the tone of the story changes, but the characters stay true to themselves and to each other. RELUCTANT HEARTS is the first in a series about the circle of friends introduced in this story. If a series with interweaving characters is what you enjoy, keep on the lookout for Karen's next offering.

I'm definitely a sucker for a hero who's a cat lover, and the more I got to know this hero, the more I liked him. The growth and development of the characters, the disappointments, the sorrows, and trials they have to overcome, made it an intriguing story.

With RELUCTANT HEARTS, Karen Wiesner, the new voice of women's fiction, proves yet again that she's a top-notch storyteller. No one explores the complexities of relationships and the yearnings of woman's heart better than she does.

With her enthralling romance RELUCTANT HEARTS, Wiesner has set a new standard in the genre. Wendy's pain is so real, her love so deep, her soul so tender, that I found new strength and trust alongside her. What a powerful drama!

RELUCTANT HEARTS is an atypical love story because of the attitude of the male lead character. Readers will have to wait a while to know whether Paul admits to Wendy he loves her, as Karen Wiesner concentrates on relationships that place Wendy in the center as the hub. The story starts slow in order for the audience to appreciate the cast, but those readers who are as patient as Wendy will happily find a tremendous drama that provides the saga over the years of a strong female and the Wounded Warrior she loves.

This is the first of Karen's books I've read and I really enjoyed it. I like her style of writing and easy read.

4.5 You Need to Read Review at YGR
This was a wonderfully enjoyable and deeply moving story of the complexity of young love.
.... Ms. Wiesner is an expert storyteller keeping you engaged to find out what happens! I am sure that the other books in the series, about the various friends, will be wonderfully full emotional reads as well. If you are prepared for heartache and joy, this is a book you will enjoy!

Book 1

Wendy Thomas knew how to take care of herself, as well as everyone else. At the tender age of seven, her parents took her to the airport so she could find her own way to a Broadway show and back. Her parents never worried about her, even if she disappeared for days. They believed Wendy could do no wrong. Wendy grew up to be pretty, caring, with high grades, and about to go to college.

Paul Randall was the ultimate bad boy. Even the gangs steered clear of him. Wendy and Paul found themselves deeply attracted to each other. Against his will, Paul fell in love with her. However, he knew he had to let her go or she would give up all her dreams for him. Problem was that Wendy did not want to be let go. Paul would have to hurt her, badly, for her own good.

**** Wendy is a bit hard to believe, but she and Paul suit each other well. This book targets those who do not want danger in their stories, just pure romance! Wonderful light reading! ****

Reviewed By: Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.