I like all of her books. I have all of them so far.

I recently completed John Schembra's novel: Retribution. Generally, I am apt to lose interest in a book fairly quick, but not so with this one. I can unequivocally recommend it as a good read. Clues were subtly dropped, and at times were so ingenious the clue went unseen, cloaked only in shadows. The action scenes were fast, good and credible. The picture was painted with such a skillful hand I could 'see' the scenes unfold. Think I'll go shopping for another Schembra novel. Happy Reading,

Excellent livre de Max Overto, comme d habitude. J ai lu tous les romans de cet auteur consacrés a l Egypte ancienne et je n' ai jamais été desappointe. Quel dommage que ces livres ne soient pas traduits en français !

1this holiday story from Christine DeSmet is a perfect winter read. The Door County setting is a delightful remembrance of this lovely area. As soon as I began reading, I felt at home with familiar characters, They all sparkle, just like Ava's fudge. I am looking forward to the next book. This is one of my favorite series.

What a delightful treat to discover Christine DeSmet's Holly Jolly Fudge Folly! Ava Oosterling is the memorable narrator of this great blend of a whodunnit and a lovely holiday story. The novel is set in Fishers' Harbor, in Door County, Wisconsin, and DeSmet packs her fast-paced story with the tantalizing aroma of fudge, wonderful descriptions of a snowy Main Street, and cultural details such as Belgian skritek, or gnomes, and Scandinavian elves known as nissen. This is a great read and I look forward to exploring more of DeSmet's work.

The 6th in the Door County Fudge Shop cozy mystery series! Ava Oosterling is back with fudge, fudge, and more fudge! And snow! And the death of a tax assessor whose latest assessments may mean the death of Fisher's Harbor as we know it. And of course, Ava's grandfather is in the thick of it all. A holiday adventure, complete with snow, gnomes, and elves from Belgian (and other Scandinavian) folklore. When Ava finds the dead tax assessor a week before her best friend's wedding, and learns her grandfather is a prime suspect, she digs into the case, much to the chagrin of the local sheriff (again 🙂 ). Not only that, but someone (or something) has been leaving little gifts for her. Are the elves teasing her? Are there gnomes looking out for her? This is another great adventure in Wisconsin's "Cape Cod" that doesn't disappoint. And it includes Ava's latest fudge recipe!

Christine DeSmet's Holly Jolly Fudge is set in Wisconsin's vacation wonderland Door County during the "off-season"--Christmastime. This makes for a wonderful blend of cozy mystery and a holiday story. The characters are from DeSmet's regular in-season series and wonderfully relatable. The mystery is fun and not so easy to guess who dunnit. And the holiday backdrop makes all that more fun. I enjoyed this book a lot!

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.

Although I don't usually read cozy mysteries, I was looking for a change of pace as the holidays approached. Good move! The characters touched my heart from the get-go. I cheered for them, cried for them, worried about them. I'm sending a copy to a friend for Christmas.

Datiles deglet son gustosos y suficientemente tiernos

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.

I was an early ARC reader for Christine DeSmet’s newest book, "Holly Jolly Fudge Folly"—the sixth book in her Fudge Shop Cozy Mystery Series. Ava Oosterling is preparing her Blue Heron Inn for guests and stocking her shared-with-her-grandfather Oosterling’s Live Bait, Bobbers, Belgium Fudge, and Beer Shop for the upcoming Saint Nicholas Festival in Fishers’ Harbor, Door County, Wisconsin. The busy Christmas holidays are quickly approaching as Ava makes batches of holiday fudge for her shop and prepares to be the maid of honor for her best friend, Pauline—with her authentic Victorian wedding—as well as deepening her rekindled relationship with her ex-husband, Dillon, and their new engagement. But when the county’s tax assessor is found stabbed to death in his car, buried under a pile of fresh snow packed in from the plow driver—who happened to be her grandfather during an angry rage to get back at the real plow driver for smashing his mailbox—the festive holidays are tarnished with not only the sheriff’s investigation into the assessor's death but also Ava’s determination to find the killer and clear her grandfather of any wrong-doings despite the evidence stacked against him. DeSmet’s description of Door County is wonderful. She gives her readers a true sense of place in the story, with accurate historical details in the landscape, area harbor towns, and the settling families in the area of Scandinavian, Icelandic, and Belgian decent. Her cast of characters are deeply individual and believable. But what DeSmet does best is cast doubt on who committed the murder and why. Eight village people head up the list of possible suspects, including Ava’s grandfather, but when someone is considered the culprit, more motives are revealed, creating doubt with the previous suspects and implicating new ones. Readers will turn pages until almost the end before discovering “who done it.” Cozy mysteries are not a genre I normally read. However, I think DeSmet’s fans as well as new readers of the Fudge Shop Mystery Series will enjoy "Holly Jolly Fudge Folly." DeSmet even includes a recipe for Holly Jolly Folly Fudge at the back of the book for readers to make and enjoy. Overall, I thought it was an entertaining story—I found myself needing to read on to see who actually committed the murder. The novel would make a great holiday gift for those who love a good cozy mystery, especially one set in Door County, Wisconsin.

I read this book to learn something about 18th dynasty Egypt prior to an Egyptian tour. Enjoyable story peppered with historical details about Egypt that time period. Fun intro to the era. Looking forward to volume 2 in the series

The descriptive language of this book is such a treat it hooks you from the very first line. Language aside, the plot is gripping and character-driven. A saga you can grow with.

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.

Great story can’t wait to read the rest of the series

I have now read this whole series of the Pyramid builders. If you’re interested in ancient Egyptian history and culture you would enjoy this book. There is a lot of intrigue and plotting, give this book a try I think you will like it.

Max Overton is an acclaimed historical fiction writer on ancient Egypt. He authored 23 books on this subject including this one and I read all of them. His first 20 books cover New Kingdom, then Second Intermediate Period and then he started this 10 book series on Old Kingdom and this book is the third one. His deep research on the subject always makes his book most readable. In this book though there is not much of pyramid building but I find it interesting to learn about the ancient Egyptian way of living, their medical and social practices, usual human vices and virtues. This is part of a series, if you don’t read the first two you will not enjoy or appreciate this one. I look forward eagerly to his next books of this series.

Great read cannot wait for next book

well i was surprised to see this type of foray for this author. when i saw that it took place in oregon i had to read it. as a resident of oregon i can say that even though the story unfolds in a fictional town and newspaper the landmarks and other cultural type of details are true to the state. In my minds eye i could follow geographic storyline allowing me to imagine the fictional town as it might be. The science of climate change is scary and this book prompted me to research a bit on carbon capture. Not only an entertaining novel but thought provoking.

A beautifully written novel. Mr. Greenway knows how to engage the reader. There is never a dull moment in the action, enough curiosity to keep one reading into the night far longer than is good for them. The worlds he builds are highly immersive and believable, and his characters well drawn. The action just keeps on coming.

Greenspell offers five fantasy stories, including the tales of a sorceress and a dragon, a vampire and her mortal friend, a team of very special horses, and the appearance of the Sun God. Each has its charms and some element of surprise. I think fantasy readers of all stripes will find a little something from this collection.

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.

Schembra introduces the lead character San Francisco Homicide Inspector Vince Torelli in this series of easy to read, but tough to put down, mystery novels. If you know the SF Bay Area or not, this is a great introduction to a captivating series of uniquely well written novels that never disappoint. I love Schembra’s work and am looking forward to reading the next book following the cases of Inspector Torelli.

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.

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

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.

Just the right amount of suspense and mystery to be fun but not too scary for young readers. My little Harry Potter fan enjoyed it.

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.

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.

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.

CPR for Dead or Lifeless Fiction: A Writer's Guide to Deep and Multifaceted Development and Progression of Characters, Plot, and Relationships will soon be a writer's handbook that all of us will want on our shelves. If you like writing craft books that make you feel like the author is in the room with you and teaching you how to make your stories and characters better, then this book is perfect. While reading it, I felt as if Karen was in my living room, giving me advice with her helpful and easy to remember acronyms to keep me from boring my readers into falling asleep instead of turning the pages. Here's a great example: A L I V E, and those letters stand for: Animated (evidence of a spark of life in your characters), Living (not just existing, but living a life full of external and internal conflicts), Interacting (dynamic and believable relationships), Vitality and Voice (3-dimensional character attributes), and finally Engaged (characters with objectives and purpose in the story with defined goals and motivations). So think of some of your favorite characters in the books you read. Are they ALIVE? Now think of your main character--does he or she fit those five characteristics? This is what Karen's book will do for you. Give you helpful tips, like how to diagnose if your characters are ALIVE, and then help you write better characters and plots. The book is divided into seven chapters, plus an intro and conclusion, and then something very valuable--an appendix full of worksheets. I know this is every writer's dream--at least it is mine. Karen includes worksheets for both plot and character development help. Then there are also worksheets on relationship development between your characters. If you are writing a romance, you'll especially want to check out the "Links in the Chain of Romance Relationship Development Chart." If you don't have those links, then your romance readers will not be happy with you! (One picture with this review shows an example of the Appendix worksheets.) Back to the seven chapters--I think one of the most helpful chapters for any writer at any level is at the beginning of the book, chapter one, where Karen helps you with "ten ways to spot dead or lifeless characters, plots, and relationships." And by dead characters--she's not talking about the dead body on page one of a murder mystery. She means your character is just there, existing on the page. With chapter one, you receive 10 points to look for in your manuscript to diagnose what may be wrong with it. Then she goes on to chapter two, where she introduces you to three-dimensional writing and scenes. Karen has a previous book where she talked about those concepts more (Cohesive Story Building). But in CPR, she reviews these strategies for writers, as she gets ready to really dig into your characters (chapter 3), plot (chapter 4), and relationships (chapter 5). I like this book so much because of the relationships' sections. A lot of writing craft books about plot and characters don't spend as much time on examining the relationships in the book. But think about it--when you watch a movie or get hooked on a book series, aren't you very interested in the characters and their relationships? I'll just answer for you--Yes! Han Solo and Princess Leia, Ron and Hermione, and Katniss and Peeta...insert any of your favorites in here, and you'll see what I mean. You want the relationships in your plots to stick in readers' minds like these previous ones did for me. This writer's craft book helps you diagnose what's wrong with your manuscript, and then fix it with tips and advice from Karen. If you're a fiction writer looking to improve your craft as one of your 2021 goals, then CPR for Dead or Lifeless Fiction is for you!

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

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.

Karen was my sister in law, and I just was so thrilled seeing in words the stories she used to tell. She is so sadly missed. Looking forward to reading the Trilogy now 🙂

In some Places it was a hard read stick with it it is worth it

So far its a great book, however the Kindle unlimited version has a number of missing pages and makes it hard to follow. Although I would give it a 5 star should all the pages be present as the writing is thoughtful, the lack of the full story makes me give it 3.

What more can I say. I purchased and have read every Ring Realms novel Mr Greenway has published. I've re-read every book at least a half dozen times and check often hoping he has released a new book in his realms.

This author writes the way I like to read, although I have to admit I've never read anything supernatural before. She doesn't go into lots of description but let's you use your own imagination to decide what things look like surrounding the characters. I hate reading books where they have to describe everything and she doesn't do that. Definitely good for those who like the supernatural!

Book was better than I thought it would be. I liked the world and the cast of characters. I really liked all the man things. And I hope the writer comes up with more stories, set in the world he crafted. I’d get it. It had a classic dungeon crawl feel to it. If that makes sense?

I will admit up front that I have not read much Christian fiction. I read the Left Behind series when it was new, but it does not have much re-readability. I tried a science-fiction book years ago, written from a Christian point of view, but it was really not well done. I would imagine that It is hard enough to write a compelling story of fiction that is in itself good enough to enjoy, but to add in Christian elements sometimes just makes the story awkward or preachy. Historical fiction from a Christian point of view may be doable, but it often is simply a romance novel with Biblical moral themes, and likely a read-once type of book. Speculative fiction, creating other worlds of fantasy or science, could be done with Christian beliefs intertwined, but how does one reconcile that with the real world in which the events in the Bible took place? And yet, with all of those arguments stacked against it, author Rick Sutcliffe has managed to create an epic spread out over ten books that involves alternative worlds, science fiction, and historical fiction, all with a decidedly Christian world view. He has created an alternative earth that has technology two centuries beyond our own, which has experienced the effects of a world-devastating biological and nuclear war. Because of this devastation, this world has decided to follow a “Covenant of the Living”, in which mechanized conflict has been outlawed for all reasons, even for wars between nations. Fighting is done only with weapons that can be wielded directly against an opponent (sword, knife, or stick), and those who would use projectile weapons of any kind are shunned and imprisoned. If you will fight, you must deal with your opponent face-to-face. If that’s not unusual enough, in this version of Earth, known as Hibernia, Ireland rules what are in this world the British Isles, and in fact has the international control and influence that exceeds that of the United States in our world. Just like our world, there are those who do not respect or believe in the authority of the Bible or the Church, and work to push forth their own agenda, to try to gain power, wealth and influence in the world. Sutcliffe’s story crosses at times over into some of the other Earths that exist in what is called the Timestream. Our own Earth is one of them, and that Earth is kept ignorant of the Timestream, lest we move over to some of the less-populated versions of Earth and overrun them. One Earth, Water World, consists only of islands and is mostly ocean; another, Desert, still is mostly waste from a more devastating nuclear war than what affected Hibernia. Winding through the volumes are the efforts of those who want to restore the kingship in Hibernia to the moral and just, fighting against those who just want power for themselves. In the first six books of the series, The Peace, The Friends, The Exile, The General, The Nexus, and The Builder, Sutcliffe introduces his characters and tells their stories over more than one time period, intertwining them from chapter to chapter. He starts with the forced exile of Ireland’s King James in 1941, switches to the aftermath of a civil war in Ireland 30 years later, and moves on to some people from Ireland on our Earth in 1941. He continues to weave these stories from different time periods over the subsequent books, gradually revealing more about how they all fit together, and in later books relating the history that brings the reader up to the restoration of the kingship in 2001. The final book of the series, The Throne, became actually four books - Culmanic Parts, Rae’s Blood, Tara’s Mother, and The Paladin. These fill in the rest of the story of the formation of the Ireland on Hibernia that eventually rules the world, and brings it up to the culmination of the revived kingship. I mentioned earlier that the Christian fiction that I have read in the past was not worth a re-read. Sutcliffe’s series has completely turned that around for me. In my opinion, these books are worth several reads, and they contain characters who are compelling, believable, and realistic, and ones that I as a reader really care about. Furthermore, Sutcliffe’s writing not only deals with these characters and how they react to the changes of history and the moral issues each has to face, but also addresses the origin of the world, God’s actions in it, and how those things affect me in this, the real world. Some of the conflicts described reflect some of the anger, hatred, and attitudes towards other ethnic groups that are exploding in 2020 in this real world. Sutcliffe’s Christian believers demonstrate behavior and attitude towards these peoples that are worthy of emulating in this non-fiction world in which we live. Some events in The Nexus describe those who use rioting to move forward their own agenda, another parallel with current events. I would highly recommend each of these books as individually fascinating and compelling stories, and the series as a whole is as fleshed out as the compendium of Tolkien’s stories of Middle Earth. If you as a reader enjoy science fiction, historical fiction, and alternate histories, these books are for you!

Good story of life in Ancient Egypt but left me hanging with no continuation of the story at the end. What happen to Scarab?

I have never read a book cover to cover in one sitting! This book is so well written, well researched and such a page turner! I litterally couldn't put it down. Ladybec

Ay manipulates Smenkhare’s apparent assassination and Tutankhaten’s coronation as Pharaoh. Everyone’s surprised to learn that Smenkhare was only wounded and after a lengthy recovery, decides to raise an army and take back his kingdoms.

This was a fabulous read. It is a complete story, but I hope it is a series. In any case, I hope there are more coming from this author.

It was a really good book.

I bought this book from the author at a book signing event. It sat in a stack by my bed for a few years until I picked it up last week. I couldn't put it down. The story is so strong, the characters so believable that I felt like I was there. This is a terrific read. I've read The Sin Eater and now can't wait to read more Vince Torelli adventures!

An excellent installment in the tales of Scarab and her royal relatives. There are great revelations about the struggles surrounding the two kingdoms and their rulers.

This was definately a young adult fantasy story I loved. There was very little drama that did not add to the plot and story line. I was deeply engrossed in the story from page one to the end. I want to read the rest of the story to find out what happens to the girls in the future of this world. Hopefully some day I’ll have that chance

I have read this story a few times. It's one of my go to books when I want to read a heartwarming ending. Diesa is a very stubborn, head strong dryad. She is sold to an elve, Scanlon. He also acquires Kittellan. The story follows their journey home, their coming to understand each other. Fast paced , intriguing with twists throughout. Warning. The story has a couple rape scenes and violence. 18 and older It is well written and developed. There is an HEA for all of the characters. I would recommend this book.