A wonderfully illustrated story about a small dog with a big heart and a man with an even bigger one. I loved it. The illustrations are colorful and detailed. I feel a child would love to reach out and touch them. A story that is sure to capture anyone’s heart and spread the Christmas spirit.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
An Angel tells the story of a good hearted street dog named, “Scrapper,” who longs to find a love and a home. An amazing turn of events makes his dream come true on Christmas Day!
Format 36 pages, Paperback
Published November 18, 2022 by Clara Publishing
ISBN 9781734290004 (ISBN10: 1734290005)
ABOUT MARIA J ANDRADE
Maria Andrade is a Latinx author of adult and children’s books. She was born in the middle of the earth in Ecuador South America and raised in NY. and California. She was a licensed psycotherapist for thirty years.. She traveled with the Four Winds Society where she studied and was initiated into Andean shamanism in 1990
As a psychotherapist she specialized in relationship and women’s issues and founded the Wise Women’s Circle a ritualistic and transpersonal study group where women support each other in healing and growth of mind, body, and spirit. It is still active today.
In a thrilling mystery of intrigue, the Elfin Keeper of the Keys, Alex, uncovers a sinister plot to steal the gold set aside for the Golden Harvest by a rival group of Elves, who will stop at nothing to get it.
Title: The Epsilon Account: The Golden Harvest Series Book 1 Author: Joni Parker Publisher: Independent Pages: 388 Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction Hybrid
Thousands
of years ago, Eledon was created for the Elves by their Mentors when
they were forced to leave Earth. At least, that’s how the legend goes.
In return, the Elves must pay them a tribute in gold, known as the
Golden Harvest, every four thousand years. The Elfin Council of Elders
appoints Lady Alexin (Alex) Dumwalt, the Keeper of the Keys, to manage
the next payment, due 244 years from now. That is, until the Mentors
show up unexpectedly and demand immediate payment of the Epsilon
Account. Since the Harvest has never been called that, Alex suspects
foul play and uncovers a sinister plot by the Star Elves, a rival clan
from the Constellations, who want to steal the gold. To make matters
worse, they’re willing to do anything to succeed to include murder. Can Alex stop them and save the Elfin gold before it’s too late?
It worked! The emergency contact system I had set up with the help of my Elf grandfather really worked. With this system, I could leave the magical Keys of Eledon with my grandfather, just in case something disastrous happened, like a flood or a quake. My grandfather had been the Keeper of the Keys before me, so he could fill in as needed, but if there was something he couldn’t handle, he’d sent Lord Hillen for me.
Lord Hillen had been in London recently to investigate the presence of Elf slaves in the mortal world and had posed as my Uncle James. If he needed to contact me, his lordship would use the portal and call me on a pay phone on the street corner outside of Hyde Park. We rehearsed it several times to make sure it worked. Unfortunately, when he called for real, I was the middle of a fashion show in Paris.
A few months ago, I signed a five-year contract to work as a fashion model for the Echelon Modeling Agency owned and operated by Andrew Miller. The next day, my exile to the mortal world ended, and I was allowed to return to Eledon. But since I had signed a contract, I felt obligated to finish it, so I asked for and received permission from the Elfin Council of Elders to do so. Five years meant nothing to the Elves.
My mobile phone rang when I returned backstage to change into my next outfit. I should have let it go to voicemail, but the caller ID said it was Mrs. MacDougall, the dog walker from Hyde Park in London. Why would she be calling me? Then I recalled how much Lord Hillen had liked the woman, so I answered it.
“Mrs. MacDougall? This is Alex. You’re on speaker.” I needed my hands free to touch up my makeup.
“Oh, Alex. How wonderful! I just wanted to let you know your Uncle James is here, and he asked me to call you.”
“What ‘s wrong?”
“Alex? Alex, are you there?” Uncle James/Lord Hillen shouted loud enough to be heard over the music. Everyone shushed me.
“Sorry.” I turned off the speaker and put the phone to my ear. “Yes, Uncle James. I’m here. You don’t have to shout. Is everything all right?” I was concerned about my grandparents. They weren’t old by Elf standards; they were considered middle-aged even though my grandfather was thirty-five hundred years old, and my grandmother was about fifteen hundred years old, give or take a thousand years.
“Lord Ashur must speak to you immediately,” he said. “It’s about the Epsilon Account.”
I paused. “What Epsilon Account?” I’d never heard of it although I knew it was the fifth letter in the ancient Greek alphabet. But the Elves had never used Greek letters for anything. Still, I was relieved to hear it wasn’t about my grandparents.
“We don’t know what it is,” he said.
“Okay, so why is this an emergency?”
“Because Lord Ashur said so.”
“Oh.” Lord Ashur was the Elfin leader of the Council of Elders, and I should drop whatever I was doing and rush home, but I couldn’t right now. “I can meet you in Hyde Park by eleven tonight.” I had memorized the Eurostar train schedule from Paris, so I knew what time it got to London. Once I got there, I would have to transfer to a local train for Hyde Park. “Can you wait with Mrs. MacDougall?”
“Oh… my pleasure,” he said, as he ended the call.
I knew he liked her, so I was sure he’d be happy to spend more time with her. I rushed off to make my next entrance and slipped the phone in my pocket without thinking. As I strutted down the runway, my mobile went off again. It was making too much noise to ignore, so I took it out to turn it off. It was Mrs. MacDougall again, so I swiped it and answered it as if it was part of the show. Uncle James/Lord Hillen came on the line, saying he forgot to tell me my grandparents were fine.
“Thank you so much,” I said, as I hung up. But instead of putting it away, I continued talking as if I was in the middle of a business deal. “But you don’t understand. I want two million, not one.” I rolled my eyes at the audience. “No deal!” I touched the screen, shook my head, and waved my mobile in the air.
The audience laughed, and cameras flashed all over the place. So, I turned my back to the audience and took a selfie. The show’s narrator, Philippe, grimaced at me and waved me off the stage. I strolled by him and waved my mobile to thunderous applause.
It was never my intent to become a fashion model, but after I was exiled here, I needed to earn a living. Modeling didn’t require a special skill except to walk in high heels. At the time, I was staying with Vice Admiral Sir Malcolm Teller and his wife in London because I had no place else to live. Their daughter, Suzette, was a fashion designer and asked me to be her model because hers had quit unexpectedly. I did fine in my first show, but my heart wasn’t in it. I’d been trained as a soldier, so I applied to join the Royal Marines. When they rejected my application, I went back to work as a model.
After several more dress changes, I ended the show wearing a spectacular wedding dress. My boss, Étienne, had specialized in them at one time in his career, and this dress was exceptional. It was made of embossed white silk with kimono-type sleeves, with a definite Japanese flair, but with an off-the-shoulder look. The train was at least twenty feet long, and the veil was to die for. I’d get married in that dress except I didn’t want to get married. Maybe one day. After all, that’s what fantasies are made of.
When the show ended, Philippe, the narrator, stormed backstage and chewed me out for taking a phone on the runway and violating the model’s code of silence. It wasn’t the first time he did this. The man hated me from the moment we met. He spoke so rapidly in French I couldn’t understand what he said except for those few words that crossed over to English, like ‘idiot’ and ‘mobile phone.’ I didn’t know why the French language was a such problem for me. I was fluent in four other languages—English, Scinthian (ancient Greek), Dwarf (Droogan), and Elf. Maybe it was a self-defense mechanism, so I wouldn’t understand all the nasty things Philippe said to me.
His tirade lasted for ten minutes. By the time he was done, everyone else had left, and we were the only ones backstage. He stalked away and left me to find my way to the mandatory after-show party at our boss’s house.
About the Author
Joni Parker was born in Chicago, Illinois, but moved to Japan when she was 8 so her father could become a professional golfer. Once he achieved his dream, Joni and her family returned to the U.S. and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. After high school, Joni served her country for 22 years in the Navy and another 7 years in federal civil service. She retired in Tucson, Arizona, devoting her time to writing, reading, and watching the sunrise.
This collection of cat poems will tickle your whiskers and your funny bone. They’re the purr-fect way to brighten your day and celebrate the furry friends in your life.
Prepare to laugh out loud as you read about cat adventures with magnets, candles, strawberry milkshakes, and plush balls—but don’t let me ruin the surprise, you’ll have to read to find out!
Grace And The Golden Rule is a book that teaches children how to treat other people.
Title: Grace and the Golden Rule Author: Negrita Smart Publisher: C Black Expressions LLC Publication Date: February 4, 2023 Pages: 34 Genre: Children’s Book (Ages 3 – 11)
Grace
loves the Winter season. It is her favorite of all seasons because she
loves to play in the snow with her friends. Winter is also Grace’s
favorite season because she can wear her favorite purple scarf. Grace
wears it every day until she meets Ruth. After meeting Ruth as school,
Grace feels differently about playing in the snow and wearing her
favorite purple scarf. This is because Grace learns a valuable lesson
about how to treat other people.
Negrita Smart is a small-town girl from Dadeville, Alabama. She is a wife, sister, believer, and teacher at heart.
The
first of her family to graduate from college, Negrita holds a Masters
in Business Administration and the insurance designation of Chartered
Property & Casualty Underwriters and holds insurance licenses in
Property and Casualty and Life and Health. She credits and shares her
accomplishments with her supportive family.
Negrita
loves spending time with her family and has happily taken on the
official role of Event Planner bringing family members together through
fun and love.
In
her professional life, Negrita utilizes her talent for sharing
knowledge and information as a new-hire trainer creating user-friendly
webinars, courses, tests, and gauge learning within business areas such
as auto, property, and agriculture.
As
an author, Negrita is a member of the Society of Children’s Book
Writers and Illustrators always looking to connect, share and grow with
fellow writers.
An
active supporter of her local church ministry, Negrita is driven to
share life lessons with children through story-telling and relatable
characters.
I must confess, it was the tropical cover that made me pause and check out the book. Then, the blurb mentions that it is based ‘somewhat on bizarrely true events’, I had to read it.
I have not read any of the previous books in the series and I don’t feel like it impacted my enjoyment of Tropical Scandal, though I always recommend beginning at the beginning, if you can. It helps to keep from stumbling over references to earlier books.
The descriptive writing made it easy to visualize the intriguing characters. The storyline is in depth, convoluted, twisting and turning, keeping me reading, because there was no way this was going to be an easy mystery for me to solve. I don’t read a lot of legal thrillers, but David Myles Robinson led me through the investigation and court proceedings, step by step.
Greed runs rampant. Flawed characters abound. Some I cared for, others I think get their just desserts. All in all, I enjoyed my time in Hawaii and would love to visit again.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Tropical Scandal by David Myles Robinson.
3 Stars
BOOK BLURB
When Pancho McMartin, Honolulu’s top criminal defense attorney, takes on the case of Dayton Kalama, a young drug dealer accused of murdering his grandmother (tutu), Pancho is faced with a daunting amount of evidence pointing squarely at Dayton. But as Pancho, together with his private investigator, Drew Tulafono, gradually pull back the layers of deceit, they begin to uncover hints at what is beginning to look like the biggest scandal ever to hit Hawaii’s legal community. This book is pure fiction, but is inspired by true, scandalous events which shook Honolulu’s legal community to its core.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/482xd4X
Book Excerpt
I was surprised when my current lover, Padma Dasari, asked me to meet with Isaac Goldblum, a legendary Hawaii trial attorney who, now in his eighties, was an alcoholic still representing clients. I had made known my intolerance for those attorneys who fell prey to addiction
yet refused help—all while still accepting clients. They were walking malpractice cases who risked everything they’d worked for in their own lives—not to mention the lives of their
clients—by living and working as functional drunks or addicts.
Being a trial attorney was stressful. Being a criminal defense trial attorney was particularly stressful. Aside from the relatively rare innocent defendant, our customer base was composed of criminals who, generally speaking, were not the warmest and fuzziest people to deal with day in and day out.
Whether they were guilty or innocent, their lives were in our hands—a situation only the most jaded and burned-out counsel didn’t find stressful.
My surprise didn’t arise from the fact that Padma knew Goldblum. She was the former medical examiner for the city and county of Honolulu, and just as I had cross-examined her many times in her capacity as coroner, so had Goldblum. My surprise arose from the fact that Padma knew Goldblum had been one of my early heroes. He was most famous for having won an acquittal for two Hawaiian teenagers who had been charged with the murder of a prominent haole (Caucasian) businessman. The public outcry against the Hawaiian kids had been reminiscent of the uproar in the Deep South when young black men were charged with the rape of white women. It was scary. Goldblum was vilified for taking the case.
As he later said in an interview for the Honolulu Advertiser, he knew that anything short of proving who the real killer was would fall on deaf ears. His cross-examination of the
businessman’s administrative assistant, who’d been having an affair with the dead man’s wife and who ultimately confessed to the murder, was nothing short of brilliant.
I had shared my early hero worship of Goldblum with Padma, but I had also made it clear that I now harbored a healthy dose of contempt for the man, who seemed intent on destroying his own legacy. At the time, Padma had not tried to defend Goldblum.
We were enjoying a quiet Saturday afternoon at Padma’s Kahala Beach condo when she broached the subject of my meeting with Goldblum. “He lives here, in the next building,”
she said. “He’s invited us to stop by for a cocktail at about four.”
I stared out from her oceanfront lanai at the tranquil ocean.
The palm fronds on the coconut trees fronting the beach barely twitched. One lone puff of a cumulous cloud hovered in the bright blue sky.
“Why?” I asked. “Why would I want to go have a drink with a drunk who should have put himself on inactive status years ago?”
Padma stared back at me with her piercing dark eyes. I half expected her to admonish me for being too judgmental—a trait I seemed to have developed in recent years. “Isaac asked to
meet with you. We know each other from court, and he knows I live in this building, and he knows we’re in a relationship. I think he came to me rather than you because he knows—or at
least suspects—that you aren’t much of an admirer of his.”
Padma had been born in India and had done volunteer work as a doctor in Bangladesh, but she had lived and worked in the United States for most of her adult life. Nonetheless, she
still retained the remnants of an accent, which was melodic and soothing. No doubt she was a calming influence on many people grieving the loss of a loved one. She had been instrumental in
helping my mother in New Mexico get through the early stages of the loss of my father. Just the tone of her voice seemed to take the wind out of my judgmental sails.
“Okay, but do you know why he wants to meet?”
She gave a small shake of her head. “Something about a case. That’s all I know.” She paused for a beat. “Look, I know he’s a drunk and you hate the fact that he’s still going to court, but you have to admit: drunk or sober, the man knows the law and probably still has pretty good instincts. I doubt he would ask to meet with you if he didn’t think it was important.”
I resisted the temptation to make a snide remark and instead looked at my watch. It was three-thirty in the afternoon. “Why’d you wait until now to tell me about this?”
Padma’s beautiful brown face broke into a mischievous grin. “So you wouldn’t have time to obsess about it.”
I laughed. “Jesus, Padma. We’re not even married and you play me like a fiddle.”
“I love the fiddle,” was her only retort.
About the Author
David Myles Robinson has always had a passion for writing. During the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, while in college, Robinson worked as a free-lance writer for several magazines and was a staff writer for a weekly minority newspaper in Pasadena, California. Upon graduating from San Francisco State University, he attended the University of San Francisco School of Law. It was there that he met his wife, Marcia Waldorf. In 1975 the two moved to Honolulu, Hawaii and began practicing law. Robinson became a trial lawyer and Waldorf eventually became a Circuit Court judge.
Upon retiring in 2010, Robinson completed his first novel, Unplayable Lie. He has since published eight more novels.
Sarafina di Ramonicci sets sail for America as the promised bride in an arranged political marriage. Taken prisoner at sea, she clashes with her captor and demands freedom, only to discover he is planning her future husband’s demise, with her as a pawn in their deadly feud. The challenge of escape tests her loyalty to family, human decency, and love.
Captain Nye Tarquin is a dangerous man. Left to die on the streets of New Orleans, he swears retribution on the man responsible. When he makes Sarafina part of his plan, he isn’t prepared for the fiery vixen aboard his ship, nor his desire to claim her as his own. When passion overtakes honor, he’s torn between his heart and his need for justice.
A grin formed on his lips. “She belongs to me now,” he said, his voice was as cool as his expression. “And when Cornell comes for her, I’ll be waiting to return the favor… only I’ll succeed, where he did not.”
Sarafina’s fingers curled around her goblet. “What makes you think he’ll come for her?”
“He has several reasons to take the bait. Cornell will demand satisfaction for his humiliation.”
“His humiliation?” She sat up straighter. “What about hers? Do you understand what people will think when they find out she was held hostage here? If her intended is murdered and she’s left stranded, this will leave her utterly alone. What will become of her, then?”
“She’ll marry someone better than the likes of Cornell, I hope,” he replied dryly.
She slammed her goblet down and flew to her feet. “And who would want her?”
He remained seated. “I’m doing her a great service,” he said calmly, leaning on the arm of his chair. “You have no idea the kind of life she would’ve been subjected to.”
“So, you’re her savior now?”
The captain pushed off his chair, and straightened to his full height. She kept her glare locked with his, but keeping it steady was becoming as difficult as her breathing. “Maybe,” he said.
“That’s an absurd notion,” she replied.
“Is it?” he asked. He stepped towards her, and she stepped back in unison, until the back of her legs hit the chair.
ABOUT AVERY STERLING
Avery Sterling’s love for the romance genre began in her teen years when she picked up her first novel. She was captivated by the sweeping scale of emotions brought about by the words. The experience catapulted her towards learning the art of wielding a breathtaking adventure, with a love that felt authentic. Wanting to inspire people with her own thoughts and words, she finished her first novel at sixteen. It was a step towards understanding the essence of what she wished to create.
Most of her youth was spent traveling, searching out the romance and beauty in her everchanging world. From the waves that crashed against the rocky shores of Downeast, Maine, to the warm breezes of the Caribbean, she discovered that love was universal, apparent in its grandest and simplest of forms. Her goal is to write novels an audience can relate to, one that conveys the truth and nature of love… with all that steamy romance.
Being described as “10 years worth of therapy in one book,” Becoming Flawesome is a celebration of our whole selves, warts and all, and the glory that is to be found in living in our truth…
Title: Becoming Flawesome Author: Kristina Mand-Lakhiani Publisher: Hay House Publishing Pages: 280 Genre:Nonfiction
Perfection. We all dream of living by it, feeling it, being it…
And it is in the name of perfection that we demonise our flaws, make ourselves ‘less-than,’ and render ourselves vulnerable to the shame of not being good enough. We live in a society that subliminally encourages us to wear metaphorical masks, slay our inner sadness, and ignore our imperfections, or as Kristina refers to them, her ‘dragons.’ Even within the world of personal development and spirituality, toxic perfectionism lurks in the shadows.
In Kristina’s upcoming book Becoming Flawesome #BecomingFlawesome, she reflects on her own story, her battle against perfectionism, and what it took for her to return to what she now deems to be her most authentic self. Being described as “10 years worth of therapy in one book,” Becoming Flawsome is a celebration of our whole selves, warts and all, and the glory that is to be found in living in our truth. Every chapter is closed with reflection points and exercises to encourage the readers to dive deep into the essence of who they truly are, what their values are, and how to navigate an oftentimes overwhelming world. In this book, Kristina breaks the mould as she takes the reader on a journey through:
The dark, controversial side of ‘personal growth,’ and the insecurities that thrive on it
Self-care vs self-love, and why you need both
What authenticity actually is, beyond the buzz
The ‘Hermione Syndrome,’ and how to diagnose if you’re secretly suffering from it
How to create aligned lifestyle habits that stick
Why the more you judge others, the more you judge yourself
Societal masks, and how to remove them from your psyche
Imposter syndrome in the world of high-flyers
Emotional literacy: how to cope with strong, painful emotions healthily
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a good book has to start with a proper introduction.
And by “proper” I mean that it has to prime the reader for the journey, raise excitement and set expectations, explain the process, and make reading the book an experience both profitable and smooth. After all, we are about to spend some time together on this journey.
Therefore, I was not surprised when on the first meeting with my publisher I was asked if I would consider writing a proper introduction to my book. You see—the original manuscript started with a story of me pondering my future book while standing in the shower, warm water running down my back, and my finger absentmindedly drawing random patterns on the fogged-up glass.
I started this book during the long years of successive COVID confinements, and I was planning to self-publish it because I wanted the freedom to make decisions about the book—how to write, what to write, what stories to include, what kind of experience to offer to my reader. So, naturally, it wasn’t following any universally acknowledged truths or conventions.
Yet, by the time I had to present my book-baby to the world, I felt that I wanted to give it the best possible future, and I had to face the big decision between my heart and my brain: Will it be self-published (heart), or will I work with a traditional publisher (brain)? Going the traditional way meant facing more choices between my quirky and obstinate self-expression and conventional ways of doing things.
This book is about finding your way back to yourself, about understanding who you really are, accepting your dents and scratches, your quirky uniqueness and even your flaws. It is about thriving in being unapologetically you, most flawesomely.
This book has been through the hands of several editors ever since I put the last stop on its original manuscript. This journey has been both emotional and transformative for me. I had to face my biggest dragon by far—my obstinate need for pure self-expression—over and over again.
When do you follow convention, and when do you stick to your own principles and values?
There is no simple answer to this question, except: you have to learn to balance.
If you follow all the rules that your peers expect you to follow, you bet all there is on a slim chance of the grand prize, but you do it at the price of your own unique self-expression. At times, I felt like I had to “sell my soul to the devil” for a chance at success.
But if you obstinately stick to your own unique quirks and principles, you might end up being unheard and misunderstood so universally that there is no point in writing a book. For it is the readers who make a writer. Without the readers, a book is just a private diary.
Reader, will you judge me if I tell you that this book is a delicate balance between convention and my own uniqueness? Of course, I want you to succeed. But I cannot give you the proper introduction to my book because every book is a journey. This book has been my journey, and
now it is yours. I walked my path to my true self, to understanding what makes me truly me . . .
and what of that unique quirkiness is simply noise. You see, your flaws and your dragons are there for a reason—they make you who you are, but they also hold the key to your biggest value, to your mightiest strengths, if you choose to look your dragons in the eye.
Now I am hoping that you will take this journey with me to your unique destination—to finding the path back to you. I will be your companion on this journey, but it is yours to take.
So why wouldn’t I tell you what’s ahead? Imagine if Gandalf told Bilbo Baggins that on his journey, he would encounter trolls, go through a perilous enchanted forest, and face a dragon in a far-away mountain. Wouldn’t that be a bit of a spoiler?
I want you to take this journey back to you without any spoilers, with an open heart, and trust that the destination is going to be worth your effort. Because becoming flawesome is the best gift you can give to yourself.
So, if you are ready, let’s begin!
More…
About the Author
Kristina Mand-Lakhiani is an international speaker, entrepreneur, artist, philanthropist, and mother of 2 kids. As a co-founder of Mindvalley, a leading publisher in the personal growth industry, Kristina dedicated the last 20 years of her career from teachers like Michael Beckwith, Bob Proctor, Lisa Nichols, and many more.
She started her career in a government office in her native Estonia and, by her mid-20s, achieved a level of success mostly known to male politicians at the end of their careers. It was shortly after that Kristina and her then-husband Vishen founded Mindvalley. From a small meditation business operating out of the couple’s apartment in New York, the company quickly grew into a global educational organization offering top training for peak human performance to hundreds of thousands of students all around the world.
Kristina believes life is too important to be taken seriously and makes sure to bring fun into every one of her roles: as a teacher, mother, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world traveller. Kristina helps her students to virtually hack happiness by taking them through her unique framework – “Hacking happiness” – a unique framework of balancing your life, taking in every moment, and paying close attention to the small daily choices.
Kristina is also the author of three transformational quests – “7 Days To Happiness“, “Live By Your Own Rules.” and “The Art of Being Flawesome”. Kristina talks about personal transformation, authenticity, understanding and accepting oneself, and a path to happiness.
In July 2023, with the help of Hay House Publishing, Kristina releases her very first book – “Becoming Flawesome” #BecomingFlawesome. In her book, Kristina shares her own journey from being on top of a personal growth empire like Mindvalley to stepping aside, conscious uncoupling from her husband, and walking her path towards being more honest with herself.
One of Christine E Schulze’s reasons for writing The Amielian Legacy was to enthrall readers with a fantastical adventure, with characters that will grab the reader’s imagination, bringing them along on an epic quest. Larimar: Gem of the Sea is the first novella of the series, and once I began reading, I didn’t stop until I was finished.
We begin with a map of the Four Realms, and at the end of the book Christine E Schulze explains their history.
Captain Jorah is at the helm of the Gem of the Sea, sailing on another adventure. There is no place he would rather be, and as we learn his story, we find this adventure was a long time coming. It will take him to places he never could imaging, encountering many magical creatures. He is good and kind. At times, his crew thinks he’s out of his mind, but they are loyal to the core.
Larimar seeks his help. Only a mortal can pull the sword, the Serpent’s Bane, from the stone and save the City of Larimar. Reminded me of a Charmed episode, and, of course, King Arthur.
If you love action and adventure, fantasy and characters that run the spectrum, from human to supernatural, quests to solve the riddles of myths and legends, then Larimar: Gem of the Sea by Christine E Schulze may be for you.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Larimar: Gem of the Sea by Christine E Schulze.
4 Stars
BOOK BLURB
A fearless captain and a mysterious girl who walks on water. An underwater city and a destined deadly curse. What could possibly go wrong?
Captain Jorah is renowned for being one of the youngest explorers to ever sail Zephyrian waters. He’s also notorious for landing his crew in situations they hadn’t counted on, involving man-eating mermaids and other dangerous misadventures.
When Jorah decides to search for the legendary underwater City of Larimar, he doesn’t account for the quest that follows. After being rescued from shipwreck by a mysterious young woman who walks on water and carries a singing seashell around her neck, he soon finds himself reunited with an old friend once thought lost to him. Before he knows it, he’s caught up in a race against time to save her yet again, this time from a looming prophecy about a deadly serpent destined to consume her entire race.
Can Jorah help her save her people before the dark prophecy completes itself?
The Amielian Legends is a collection of stand-alone young adult books, all set in the same fantastic universe, that can be read in any order. Read Larimar: Gem of the Sea today to discover new worlds filled with adventure, diverse characters, and whimsical magic.
Amazon:https://amzn.to/3WGhwew
Audible: https://amzn.to/3qisbQz
BOOK EXCERPT
Captain Jorah stood proudly aboard the Gem, smiling as his ship departed from the shores of Muriel. He closed his eyes and lifted his face to the sun, relishing its warmth on his fair skin, paler than usual from being cooped up too much this past winter. With a deep inhale, he savored the salty air and released a contented sigh. How good it felt to be one with his beloved ocean once more.
As they picked up speed, the wind tousled his shoulder-length hair about his face. He pulled the unruly locks back, tying them with a bit of twine, and a fond, bittersweet memory played before him. His mother, washing his hair as a young lad, admiring how its golden-brown hues were the same as his father’s. When he grew older, she would run her hands through his hair and say it was golden-brown like the sands of the distant lands he longed so much to discover. Much as he relished this life of adventure, he oft times wished he could trade it for one more simple, precious night with Mama, sitting on the shoreline, talking, and dreaming of a better life. At least he had fulfilled the greater part of her dream by building that life for himself, and so he would go on doing, with each new quest he undertook.
Jorah watched his kingdom of Muriel as it shrank on the horizon. The castle stretched high on the cliffs, its gold-gilded turrets glistening in the rising sun’s prismatic glow. The flags atop the turrets bore Muriel’s royal standard of two aqua-colored seals swimming in a perfect circle on a dark blue backdrop. As the flags waved at the matching banners that flew from the Gem’s masts, Jorah could almost imagine the castle bid him a fond farewell.
Then again, truth be told, he had seen little inside the castle’s walls in the past few years. He hardly recalled the feel of his fine satin sheets or the taste of fine wine. He preferred to be on the go, always seeking his next quest. At nineteen, he had already explored as many of Zephyr’s Islands as could be reached, discovering many unique creatures and plant life, including what had since become the most popular breeds of Thebazilian foxes. He was also one of few who’d dared to travel to the mysterious Western Realm, learning much from the diverse cultures he encountered there.
Jorah had abandoned a life of luxury to pursue his life-long curiosity. He did not seek gold or silver. Nor did he seek to conquer or establish new lands. No, the most favored treasure he sought was that of ancient civilizations, myths, and legends.
Thus, as Jorah bid Caracol, his first mate, to follow him into his cabin, Caracol inwardly groaned. What harebrained mission had the captain concocted this time? Were they searching for trolls, elves, or perhaps narwhals? Caracol hoped it was narwhals. He had always fancied seeing the great “unicorns who ruled the seas.”
Of course, Caracol, like the rest of the crew, looked up to Jorah. He was a good captain and an intelligent man. But Caracol also wasn’t the only member of the crew to question their captain’s sanity from time to time.
When the crew had first come together, they had thought Jorah crazy for believing in the ridiculous legends he was always digging up. Now, they thought him crazy because the legends nearly always proved true, and yet he still insisted on pursuing such “exhilarating journeys,” as he cheerfully called their oft-near-death experiences. The most exhilarating thing the crew usually found about such quests was the trip home, especially after their last mission, where they had nearly been devoured by man-eating mermaids.
Blessed Amiel, Caracol breathed the silent prayer with a shiver, as he recalled the mermaids’ slimy hands clawing at him. Please let it be anything but mermaids.
Despite his nagging worries, Caracol remained silent as he followed his captain into his cabin. After all, Jorah had kept them alive thus far. Surely, he would keep them safe on whatever new mission he had in store.
As Jorah unrolled one of the huge maps and spread it wide on the table, Caracol watched the familiar, eager glint leap into his captain’s bright green eyes.
“This,” Jorah said, pointing to a location on the map, “this is our new destination.”
Caracol peered over Jorah’s shoulder and instantly felt a headache coming on. His captain didn’t even point to a landmark. Rather, he pointed to some random part of the Zephyrian Ocean. Those usually ended up being the worst kinds of adventures. The mermaids’ seaweed stench rushed back to him, making his stomach roil.
Swallowing hard, he said, “That’s in the middle of the Zephyrian Ocean, Captain.”
“Yes, Caracol, and do you know what’s in the middle of the Zephyrian Ocean?”
Caracol didn’t have any idea, but he had the reluctant feeling that he would momentarily find out.
“I don’t know, Captain.”
“The ancient City of Larimar, also known as the ‘Gem of the Sea!’” Jorah tensed, as though he might burst from his rush of excitement. “It’s the legendary city of the Larimar people, named after one of their ancient queens, ‘Larine,’ and ‘mara,’ their word for ‘sea.’ The Larimar people are elves, skilled in magic that allows them to control the very ocean waves…”
Elves, Caracol reflected, as the captain rambled on. Elves aren’t so bad. The last elves they had encountered had given them weapons, jewels, and other gifts. The King of Arabis had been quite impressed with all they had brought to trade, after that expedition. Caracol began to feel a bit more at ease.
“…with amazing buildings constructed from the larimar stone. It’s the most magnificent city ever built on the ocean floor.”
Oh, dear, Caracol thought. Ocean floor. Of course, there hadto be a downfall somewhere. His thoughts darted back to mermaids, and a knot twisted in the pit of his stomach.
“On the ocean floor, Captain? How will we know where to stop sailing and dive below? How will we know when we’ve found this city?”
The determined, decisive gleam Caracol had witnessed far too often in Jorah’s eyes flashed in them now as he said, “Oh, we’ll know, Caracol. Believe me. If the legends are true, and I’ve never yet pursued a legend that wasn’t based in some truth, we’ll know.”
ABOUT CHRISTINE E SCHULZE
Christine E. Schulze has been living in castles, exploring magical worlds, and creating fantastical adventures and romances since she was too young to even write of such stories. Her collection of young adult and children’s fantasy books, The Amielian Legacy, is comprised of series and stand-alone books that can all be read separately, but also weave together to create a single, amazing fantasy.
One of her main aspirations for The Amielian Legacy is to create fantasy stories with characters that connect with readers from many different backgrounds. Her current focus is to include racially diverse characters and those with disabilities. The latter is inspired by Schulze working with adults with autism and other developmental disabilities at Trinity Services in Southern Illinois.
Schulze draws much of her inspiration from favorite authors like Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Diana Wynne Jones, favorite games like The Legend of Zelda, and especially from the people in her life. Some of her exciting ventures include the publication of her award-winning Bloodmaiden, as well as The Gailean Quartet with Words Matter Publishing. Her books for younger readers include In the Land of Giants and The Amazing Captain K.
Christine currently lives in a cozy Hobbit hole, but you can visit her on her website: http://christineschulze.com.
Well, I have come to my final book in The McKay Series by W L Brooks. I loved each of the five books, including this one, Crossing A Fine Line. My favorite is still the first book in the series, Let The Dead Lie, when the women were children.
Fletcher has always been my favorite. I guess I am like everyone else. I want to be the one to rush to her aid and save her, yet there is no need for that. She is quite capable of killing anyone with her bare hands, if she so chooses. She says she goes through the pain so her family won’t have to. She may be the most complicated, yet also the most heroic character I have met in some time. I have loved being with her since she was a young girl, learning to love and trust. That seems to be a work in progress when it comes to Noah, the sheriff.
“…don’t know what I would do if someone didn’t’ want me dead.”
That has been my experience with her too. She has someone, besides her family, who will put his life on the line for her and I have been waiting a long time for her to find her man.
They have butted heads from the very beginning, and, as I get all the details, I can see why.
I have many highlights in my ereader, but seeing this is the fifth book in the series, I want to try and be careful about sharing too much. I will say, this has been a fabulous series and I have loved every minute I have spent with the characters, even the peripheral ones. They will all hold a special place in my mind.
The secret kept in Crossing A Fine Line by W L Brooks is a whopper for Fletcher. I can feel her rage and pain when she finds out what it is and completely understand it. She has come a long way, because she is standing firm, facing her issues, not running away any more…or, at least, she doesn’t run far.
Crossing A Fine Line by W L Brooks is filled with action, some steamy sex scenes (which is long overdue for Fletcher, in my book) and danger, secrets exposed for the final time. I laughed with her, at times felt like crying with her, raging with her, and am so happy that she has her happy ever after.
When she is being dressed by her sisters for a night out on the town, I couldn’t’ help but laugh and think, how sweet. She is a grown woman, but I still see her as a child, so naive …’mascara was the tool of Satan’ and when Casey gave her the garter I laughed out loud.
I will miss the McKay family, but look forward to reading more of W L Brooks work.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Crossing A Fine Line by W L Brooks.
4 Stars
BOOK BLURB
Fletcher J. McKay has been shot, driven insane, and tortured by a madman, so what’s one more psycho coming after her? But this foe’s disturbing attempts to extinguish Fletch’s light leave her shaken. Running out of options, she must consort with the enemy.
Fletcher is undoubtedly Sheriff Noah Reed’s nemesis. Their discord began with an irrevocable outcome of an unforeseeable trauma, but duty demands he keeps her safe. The closer he gets, the more his loathing turns to lust.
Devastated by loss, Fletcher agrees to go into Noah’s protective custody. Passion takes them across the boundaries of their animosity, but is their tentative bond enough? Or is the line between love and hate, as with life and death, fixed.
Pre-order eBook on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3WQvhHV
Noah walked barefoot to his office and poured himself a scotch. He closed his eyes as the liquid traced a molten path to his stomach. Shaking it off, he sat at his desk and flicked on the TV for background noise. On top of his stack of mail was a letter with his name on it, one that hadn’t been there before.
Opening the drawer to his left, he pulled out a pair of latex gloves. Using every precaution, he unsealed the envelope and dumped out the contents.
He picked it up with his thumb and forefinger and unfolded the paper.
Reed around the rosy
Someone’s too damn nosy
Ashes to embers
Make sure he remembers
Ashes take flight
Someone dies tonight
What the hell? Someone had been in his house. He squeezed his eyes shut. She’d broken in before. Hadn’t she?
Damn it; this had gone too far. He got a plastic baggy from the kitchen, put the note inside, slipped on his loafers, and grabbed his keys. So much for getting any sleep tonight.
ABOUT W L BROOKS
W.L. Brooks was born with an active imagination. When characters come into her mind, she has to give them a life- a chance to tell their stories. With a coffee cup in her hand and a cat by her side, she spends her days letting the ideas flow onto paper. A voracious reader, she draws her inspiration from mystery, romance, suspense and a dash of the paranormal.
A native of Virginia Beach, she is currently living in Western North Carolina. Pick up her latest novel, Unearthing the Past – available now!
Not only did someone out there know her secret, but they’d dug it out of its grave, chopped it in pieces, and left it at her door.
They had stuck a note in his mouth warning her that her secrets would be revealed. Seems the whole town and everyone in it has a secret, especially the McKays. I have been loving the series and spending time with the family, so I anticipate trouble.
Casey, Alexandra and Fletcher were at the same orphanage and the McKays had adopted them at the same time. Charlie came along five years later and they immediately bonded. I love that they would hold meetings in the attic, deciding who they would let into their lives and what their actions would be when a problem arose. Even as adults, they hold their meetings, but now, they are learning to let others in. Casey is the oldest, Charlie the nicest, Alexandra the bitchiest and Fletcher the meanest. I have a weakness for Fletcher. I feel she is the most fragile, yet she can take down a man three times her size.
Mack is stealing the show. She is the two year old daughter of Charlie and cute as a button. I have become sappy and love when an author can bring a character to life with her writing and the dialogue is spot on, giving me plenty of smiles.
Charlie is usually too busy taking care of everyone else, to worry about her own life. Or, is it just deflection, so she doesn’t have to deal with her own issues….especially when she meets Craig. Mack falls in love with him and wants him for her daddy. Charlie is torn, her past making it hard to trust. The first man she gave her heart to broke it. Would she be able to open herself to him? How hard will he have to work to reach her?
“Like a missing ingredient?” A little dash of pepper was all you needed.
Mack gave Craig the nickname Pepper, because he smelled like it. Children and animals are a good judge of character, and Mack likes Craig, wants him for her daddy. Now, if she can just bring her mom around…
W L Brooks has brought just the right amount of danger, suspense, spice, and romance to the story. She makes it impossible to quit reading until the last page is read, which I did in one sitting. Her writing is easy to read, with the pacing flowing smoothly. I smiled, got a little ticked off at times, held my breath at times, and settled for an almost happy ever after. I guess we will have to see what happens in the next McKay adventure, Book IV, The Truth Behind The Mask.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Unearthing The Past Us by W L Brooks.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Charlie McKay couldn’t be happier with her life. Taking care of her daughter and everyone else around her is a labor of love. But the truth she’s buried lurks beneath the surface and letting the oh-so-tempting Craig Sutton into her world is the last thing she needs. Purchasing the small-town bar is only one of the reasons Craig Sutton moved to Blue Creek. Despite having his own agenda, Craig is unable to resist getting involved with the McKays. And the closer he gets to Charlie, the more entangled he wants to become. But secrets in this town run deep, and someone is dead set on exposing Charlie’s. She isn’t the only one with something to hide, and deception threatens their happily ever after. The danger increases, and Charlie must come to grips with the past that haunts her or lose everything.
W.L. Brooks was born with an active imagination. When characters come into her mind, she has to give them a life- a chance to tell their stories. With a coffee cup in her hand and a cat by her side, she spends her days letting the ideas flow onto paper. A voracious reader, she draws her inspiration from mystery, romance, suspense and a dash of the paranormal.
A native of Virginia Beach, she is currently living in Western North Carolina. Check out the latest book in her McKay Series, The Truth Behind the Mask, and stay tuned to see what’s next!
