Category: Non ARC

The Secret of the Rai Zamindars: An Aalo and Adhir Mystery by Tanmoy Bhattacharjee

Book Cover

Publisher:

Date of publication: November 21st, 2021

Genre: Mystery, Young Adult

Purchase Links: Amazon

Goodreads Synopsis:

Strange things are happening in the sleepy Bengal village of Dongajora. A thief being chased by the only village policeman vanishes into the thin air, an old woman paralyzed with drugs is found at the site of the theft, and the only object stolen is a bottle of turpentine, instead of the highly coveted statue rumoured to be the key to fabulous treasures. Puzzled, the constabulary enlists the help of the village doctor and his two gifted children.
Aalo and Adhir are anxiously awaiting news of their mother, an army major who has been missing in action for three months; and jump at the chance of a distraction. As they delve deeper into the mystery with their mentor Shayeen, all leads start pointing towards the local Zamindars – the Rai family. Hints of foul play in the death of the family head, of his wife being blackmailed, and of dangerous ancestral secrets begin to emerge… and so does the motive for a heinous crime.
A catastrophic storm about to hit the village will provide a perfect cover and wipe away all the evidence… Aalo and Adhir have only a few hours to get to the heart of the mystery and stop a murder…

First Line:

Constable Gokul Bishash strained his ears.

the secrets of the rai zamindars: an aalo and adhir mystery by tanmoy bhattacharjee

I have been in a mood to read mysteries lately. I have been almost craving for them, and most of the books I have been reading are either romances, women’s lit, or paranormal stuff. So, when I got the email from the author to review The Secret of Rai Zamindars, I jumped on it. I figured this way; I could get my mystery fix.

The Secret of the Rai Zamindars has a fast-moving and exciting plotline. The entire book takes place within a day of the opening events. Because of that, the book had to move fast. There was some lag towards the end of the book (when they were figuring everything out), but it didn’t affect how I liked the book.

The Secret of the Rai Zamindars had an exciting plotline. Aalo and Adhir are two children who live in a small village with their Doctor father. After a break-in at a local house, they are drawn into the mystery when they find a tablet that belongs to a wealthy local family. They also discover a mysterious older woman, who is paralyzed, in a seldom-used part of the house. But, with a category five cyclone bearing down on them, the children need to solve this mystery fast. Things amp up when everyone is at the childrens’ house, and a murder is committed. Who committed the murder and why? Who is the older woman, and why are people after her? What secrets is someone willing to kill to keep?

The children, Aalo and Adhir, were the stars of this book. Both were amazingly smart, and they both wanted to solve this mystery. I loved how they had their father’s support (and protection) and the other adults in the village. But, they seemed older than they were (Aalo was 11 and Adhir was 14). And some of the situations were sketchy (even if they had trusted adults around). But overall, I enjoyed watching these kids solve this complicated mystery.

The secondary characters were interesting and added extra depth to the storyline. The antics amused me that some of them got into. But some of them grated on my one last nerve. The teenager who finds herself in a love quadrangle (is that a word?) probably shouldn’t have been there. The author could have written the men she was interested in into the story differently. I didn’t care to read about her trying to decide who she loved (and wanted to be with). It drove me nuts.

The mystery angle of the book was well written, and it did keep my attention for the entire book. The author threw in several red herrings, and there was a twist in the plot that I didn’t see coming.

There are no trigger warnings in The Secret of Rai Zamindars.

The end of The Secret of Rai Zamindars was interesting. The kids did solve the mystery. But it was how it was deciphered that I liked. Put it this way, it was like Clue, and they had a limited amount of people to interview/investigate. Of course, there is a twist in the plotline that I didn’t see coming. It did take me by surprise because of what was revealed.

I would recommend The Secret of Zai Zamindars to anyone over 13. It is a clean book. There is no sex, no language, and mild violence.

Golem by P.D. Alleva

Publisher: Quill and Birch Publishing

Date of publication: October 5th, 2021

Genre: Horror, Paranormal

Purchase links: Amazon

Goodreads Synopsis:

Detective. Angel. Victim. Devil.

A haunting tale of suspense, loss, isolation, contempt, and fear.

On November 1, 1951, war hero John Ashton was promoted to detective. His first assignment: find the district attorney’s missing daughter. But his only lead is Alena Francon, a high society sculptor and socialite committed to Bellevue’s psychiatric facility.

Alena has a story for the new detective. A story so outlandish John Ashton refuses to heed the warning. Alena admits to incarnating Golem, a demonic force, into her statue. A devil so profound he’s infiltrated every part of New York’s infrastructure. Even worse, he uses children to serve as bodily hosts for his demonic army, unleashing a horde of devils into our world.

When Alena’s confidant, Annette Flemming, confirms the existence of Golem, John is sent on a collision course where fate and destiny spiral into peril, and the future of the human race hangs in the balance.

First Line:

Annette Flemming sat on a wooden stool with a large round salad bowl filled with candy – Charleston Chews and Tootsie Rolls – at her feet waiting for the next trick-or-treater.

golem by p.d. alleva

I am a massive fan of the horror genre. But lately, I haven’t been reading much horror. I haven’t found a book in the genre that interested me. That was until I read the blurb for Golem. I thought that this book would be a perfect way to break back into the genre. And guess what? It was!!! I couldn’t put it down.

Golem had an exciting plotline. Alena is a well-known high society sculptor and socialite in Bellevue. She had set fire to her family’s legendary hotel after suffering a mental collapse. John is a newly promoted detective who has been tasked with finding the missing daughter of the local DA. His investigation leads him to Alena, and she tells a story that seems impossible. But the more John investigates, the more Alena’s story seems the truth. Will John find the daughter? Will his investigation find out if Alena is telling the truth? And who or what is Golem, and what role does he play in Alena’s descent into madness?

Golem was a fast-paced book that kept its pacing up for the entire book. There was some lag towards the middle of the book, but that did not take away from how much I enjoyed the book.

I liked John but found him naive at the beginning of the book. I also felt terrible because he was given such a complex case. But, as the book went on, he lost his naiveness and progressed into a character willing to solve this case no matter what. And he did, but it was at such a cost that it did change him.

I liked Alena. She came across as such a simple character at the beginning of the book. I mean, she was at Bellevue for a reason. But her character grew during her chapters, and I loved it. She went from a somewhat shallow character to one with so much strength (inner and outer) that I was amazed by it.

Golem was such a fascinating character to read. Of course, he was pure evil, but I still hope that he wouldn’t end up that way when he was created. He had layers that I didn’t think a villain would have. He scared me to the point where I had to finish this book during the daytime, and I don’t scare easily.

The horror angle of Golem was wonderfully written. There is so much that I want to say here, but I can’t. I will say that I haven’t been this scared while reading a book in a very long time. I was sufficiently spooked during Alena’s retelling of how Golem came to be and his rise. A couple of scenes will never leave me, but the one that stands out to me the most is with the newborn baby. I knew during that point that I had to read this book during the day, and I had nightmares about it at night.

Golem is full of trigger warnings. I will warn you that you should go into this book knowing about them. The trigger warnings are child abuse, gore, and talk of pedophilia. There might be more, but I remember these major ones. I strongly suggest not reading this book if any triggers you.

The end of Golem was not what I expected. There was a massive twist in the plotline. It was so huge that I didn’t see it coming, and I wasn’t a fan of what the author had the main characters (well, mainly John) do. This book did not end with a happy ending. I was shocked by the very last chapters of the book. So shocked that I did wonder if the author was setting up for another book.

I would recommend Golem to anyone over the age of 21. There is sex, gore, violence, and mild language.

Diary of an Angry Young Man by Rishi Vohra

Book Cover

Publisher:

Date of publication: August 15th, 2021

Genre: Coming of Age, Fiction

Purchase Links: Amazon

Goodreads Synopsis:

Raghav is an ordinary seven-year-old growing up on the ‘good’ side of Colaba in Bombay. His is a safe, protected world and he is kept well away from the ‘other’, darker side of Colaba, which nevertheless, holds a deep fascination for him with its colorful, busy alleys bustling with activity, people, and mystery – the ‘real’ world as far he is concerned.

But life has other plans and Raghav’s entire world comes crashing down one day. In the space of a few crucial hours, his childish innocence is ripped away brutally, and he also loses the one person who may have made his world right again – his mother. That fateful day alters the course of his life and the ‘other’ side is the only place he can escape his now truly miserable home life and his bitter father who he resents more and more each day. He never tells even his closest friends about the horrific abuse he suffered the day his mother died, the day a fierce, burning anger took root in his very soul.

Now, 20 years later, all his peers and friends are settling down into jobs and the business of growing up. But Raghav is still trapped between his now suffocating relationship with his father, his own inability to find a job and make a life for himself, and the painful memories of his childhood ordeal that still haunt him. And this is when he meets Rani one day, an orphan beggar girl who knows life on the streets of Mumbai, but not in the way Raghav does. He wants to ‘save’ Rani from the beggar mafia and give her a chance at a better life. His strong need to stand up for something, to truly help someone is fueled by the recent Nirbhaya gang rape case in New Delhi, which evokes painful memories of his own past trauma.

Set in Bombay in 1992 and Mumbai in 2012, and inspired by true events, Diary of an Angry Young Man is a coming-of-age urban drama that explores the complex layers of humanity. And the city that engenders them.

First Line:

“Raghav!” Mama’s dulcet voice sounded through the house.

diary of an angry young man by Rishi Vohra

I have found myself reading many books set in Southern Asia or written by Southern Asian authors lately. I enjoy reading these books because I get a glimpse into another culture/another part of the world. So, when the author emailed me to review Diary of an Angry Young Man, it didn’t take me long to accept the invite. I was very excited to read this book, and it lived up to my expectations.

Diary of an Angry Young Man is a coming-of-age story. There are two halves of the book, one set in 1992 Bombay and the other set in 2012 Mumbai. When Raghav is introduced in 1992, he is seven years old and has a pretty good life. His Mama is his world, and when she has a medical emergency that results in her death, he is shattered. But, he is forever changed by a horrendous act of violence. That violence shapes Raghav’s life. Fast forward to 2012, and Raghav is unemployed and can’t get a job. He hangs out with his friends at a restaurant on the bad side of town, gets into fights, and generally is just lost. But everything changes when Raghav meets Rani, a seven-year-old girl employed by the beggar mafia—meeting her sets off a chain of events that will change Raghav and Rani’s life.

It took me one and a half days to read Diary of an Angry Young Man. It was a very fast-paced book. The author seamlessly went from one event to another without breaking that pace. I enjoyed that very much!! Also, the fast pace didn’t hinder the flow of the book. The flow was very smooth.

Raghav’s character felt a little two-dimensional during the 1992 part of the book. But, keep in mind, he was also seven years old. Kids that age don’t have a lot of depth to them. I was a little shocked by what happened to him, and my heart broke for him. No child should have gone through what he did.

I am happy to say that Raghav’s character did gain depth in the 2012 part of the book. The author fleshed out his character and introduced sides to him that I didn’t think he had. He was also a very angry young man, which the author highlighted several times during the book. I did cheer during one of those fight scenes. Let’s say that Raghav finally got to confront the person who hurt him when he was 7.

I felt awful for Rani. She lost her mother to TB and worked for the “beggar mafia.” She told Raghav when he was trying to get her off the streets that the head of the beggar mafia had plans for her. Raghav immediately knew that she would be sold to a brothel and live the rest of her life as a prostitute. I also understood why she left the house a day after Raghav left her there. The streets were the only home she knew.

The coming of age angle was interesting to read. I enjoyed watching Raghav find his purpose in life. It did surprise me how he figured out what he wanted to do with his life.

There was a slight action-angle that showed up whenever Raghav would fight. That I enjoyed because Raghav didn’t come out the winner every time. It was realistic, and I enjoyed that.

There are trigger warnings associated with this book. The main trigger warning involves child abuse (1992 and 2012). There is also talk about true life events in India in those times. In 1992, there was strife with religion that turned to riots. In 2012, there was a gang rape on a bus in New Dehli (I remember hearing about this). So, this is a warning if these trigger you.

The end of Diary of an Angry Young Man was interesting. There was a point where Raghav went to find the head of the beggar mafia that did feel a little Bollywoodish. Raghav says something similar after the police get to the scene, which I found a little amusing. I liked that everyone was on their way to getting a HEA or already got it. I ended the book with a smile.

I would recommend Diary of an Angry Young Man to anyone over the age of 21. There is violence, mild language, and child abuse.

Mystery in the Hill by Aaron Qualio

Book Cover

Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Co. Inc.

Date of publication: March 13th 2021

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Young Adult

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo |Google Play

Goodreads Synopsis:

A small Wisconsin town is shaken to its core when four high school boys stumble upon an unexpected discovery. As past and present secrets are exposed, more unsolved mysteries are revealed, leading to more danger than anyone could have ever imagined.

First Line:

It was the last period of the school day on a Friday in mid-May at Ashbelle High School, and the seniors in Mr. Winters’s U.S. History class were pretty much checked out just like seniors all over the coutry were this close to graduation-“senioritis” they called it.

mystery in the hill by aaron qualio

When I read the blurb for Mystery in the Hill, I was interested. I knew that I wanted to read this mystery. I am glad that I read it, but I felt that it fell short of my expectations.

Mystery in the Hill is a fast-paced book. It starts fast and keeps the pace up throughout the book. There is a tiny bit of lag in the middle of the book, but it wasn’t enough to distract me from the book.

Mystery in the Hill has dual timelines going on. The book went between 1997 and 1944. There were also dual plotlines going on. While the 1997 plotline dealt with the mystery of why a door was buried in the hill above the high school, the 1944 plotline dealt with three men stealing something that could get them in a lot of trouble. I had no issues going between the different timelines or keeping track of what was going on in each one. The author made that very easy.

I did feel that there were a lot of extras added to the plotline. I understand why the author did that (he wanted to flesh out the plotline and the characters), but I felt that it took away from the book.

I didn’t feel that the characters were as fleshed out as they could be. There were times where they felt flat, and their interactions felt forced. I couldn’t form an attachment to any of them.

I did like the mystery angle of the book. While the author didn’t hide anything (except what happened to the police officer in 1944), I still enjoyed reading that angle. For me, it was more of when is everything going to happen than who did it.

The end of Mystery in the Hill was interesting. The author was able to wrap up the plotlines in a way that satisfied me as a reader.

Marian’s Man: A Tale of Sherwood Forest (HighTower Fairytales) by Jacque Stevens

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Publisher: sjacquebooks

Date of publication: September 23rd 2021

Genre: Fairy Tales, Young Adult, Fantasy

Series: HighTower Series

Winter Falls: A Tale of the Snow Queen—Book 1 (review here)

Cry Wolf: A Tale of Beauty and the Beast—Book 2

Lone Wolf: A Tale of Beauty and the Beast—Book 3

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: A Tale of Beauty and the Beast—Book 4

Between Dog and Wolf: A Tale of Beauty and the Beast—Book 5

Wolves at Bay: A Tale of Beauty and the Beast—Book 6

Depths—Book 7

Graves: A Tale of the Little Mermaid—Book 8

Storms—Book 9 (review here)

Robin’s Hood: A Tale of Sherwood Forest—Book 10 (review here)

Marian’s Man: A Tale of Sherwood Forest—Book 11

Lion’s Heart: A Tale of Sherwood Forest—Book 12

Letters by Cinderlight: A Tale of Cinderella—Book 13 (review here)

Wishes by Starlight: A Tale of Cinderella—Book 14

Purchase Links: Amazon

Goodreads Synopsis:

Who is the man who holds her heart?

After playing Robin Hood for months, Marian is starting to wonder how well she knows Robin of Locksley. Her husband could just be depressed, returning from a war that should have claimed his life. He could just be adjusting to their new life in the forest. Marian wants to be patient, but after surrendering Locksley to the sheriff and his men, the villages need Robin Hood more than ever.

When a fight for a king’s ransom costs much more than gold, everything boils to the surface. How can Marian continue to take the name or even stay married to a man she now despises?

And who will wear the hood in the end?

If you like inspirational heroines, unique love stories, and non-stop twists and turns, this action-packed fantasy retelling is for you.

First Line:

Ballads of Robin Hood have spread through the English countryside like wildfire, becoming greater and more fantastic with every pass.

marian’s man by jacque stevens

I enjoy reading fairy tale/myth retellings. Each fairy tale retelling that I have read has been different and exciting. Though, I haven’t read a retelling about Robin Hood and was immediately interested when Robin’s Hood came out. Then I read the blurb for Marian’s Man, and I couldn’t wait to read it!!

Marian’s Man takes place shortly after the events at the end of Robin’s Hood. Rob and Mare have been reunited. Mare is prepared to keep wearing the hood, but Rob doesn’t want her to, and he takes on the Robin Hood persona. While Mare isn’t happy, she understands. During one of her forays into the village, Mare discovers that the Queen will be riding through the village on her way to pay the ransom for King Richard. She also finds that the sheriff and his cronies have a plan to rob the Queen. What will happen? Will Robin Hood come to the rescue? Or will the ransom be taken? And can Rob and Mare reconnect, or will Rob’s demons take over?

Marian’s Man is a fast-paced book that kept my attention the entire book. It is a short book (183 pages), and with the fast pace, it took me a couple of hours (broken up over the day) to read. There was no lag, and the author kept up the fast pace of the entire book.

Marian’s Man is told from both Rob and Mare’s POV. I loved that!! I liked being able to see Rob’s take on everything that was going on. It made the book much more interesting to read.

I felt terrible for Rob. He suffered while in the Middle East. I wasn’t surprised that he was having flashbacks, and I wasn’t surprised when he started to deal with his demons the way he did. I was a little surprised at how much he didn’t want to be Robin Hood. He hated the hood, which was a direct contrast to how Mare felt about it. I also liked seeing how honest he was with himself about how he felt about Mare. It was refreshing to see a man lay it all out.

I liked Mare in Marian’s Man. She was determined to stand by Rob, no matter what. While she was confused by how he acted (the flashbacks made him do awful things), she was there for him. She wasn’t happy about not being Robin Hood. She loved wearing the hood and outsmarting the sheriff. So, I wasn’t surprised by what she did towards the end of the book.

Mare and Rob’s romance was a slow burn throughout the book. I did get aggravated with them during certain scenes. They were madly in love with each other, and then they would act a fool because of jealousy. But other than that, I enjoyed their romance.

This is a clean book. There is no sex, and there is a handful of kissing scenes. The chemistry between Mare and Rob is palpable, and I can’t wait for them to finally get down and dirty.

There is a hint of a love triangle, which I didn’t like. I felt that it could have been left out of the book because it added nothing to it.

The end of Marian’s Man was excellent. While it didn’t take me by surprise, it shocked me a little. I cannot wait to read the next book and see what happens then!!

I would recommend Marian’s Man to anyone over the age of 16. There is no sex (some kissing scenes), but there is violence.

A Bridge Between Hearts by Casey Swan

Book Cover

Publisher:

Date of Publication: September 25th, 2021

Genre: Romance, Contemporary

Purchase Links: Amazon | Kobo

Goodreads Synopsis:

Polly Carmichael has a secret, one shared by her two aunts and all the women of her line, and it means that marriage is not an option for her. Adam Finlay left the vet practice he was working for when cost-cutting led to animals suffering. He would love to open a one-man practice of his own, but all his savings went to his ex-wife in her battle against cancer. He’s still getting over the divorce, and he doesn’t have anything to offer a woman at the moment anyway.

Adam’s sister has set him up in a rental house in the small seaside town of Kauri Bay, not far from the family farm, and he soon notices Polly, the manager of the Beach Front Cafe. Polly knows she can’t get interested in the handsome young vet, she really mustn’t, but her heart flutters every time he’s near her. The two young people find themselves in an impossible situation – or is it? Not when help comes from a completely unexpected source. A clean and wholesome romance, set in an inspirational community.

First Line:

Adam turned the kitten on its back, cradling it against the warmth of his stomach, and ran a practised eye over the little frame.

a bridge between hearts by casey swan

Two things stood out to me when I decided to review A Bridge Between Hearts. One was that this is a romance set almost entirely in New Zealand. I can count on one hand the romances (or other books) that I have read that were set in New Zealand. The other was (once I looked at the Goodreads page) that the author is a man. Yes, a man who writes romance novels. It was those two things that eventually swayed my decision to read and review this book.

A Bridge Between Hearts was a medium-paced book. There was a tiny bit of lag in the middle, but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book.

This book was a clean romance. There was zero sex or sexual situations. There were a few scenes where Adam stole kisses from Polly, but there was no heat. It was a welcome change of pace from some of the other books that I have read.

I wasn’t a fan of Polly. I understand why she was so reluctant to get involved with Adam. But to base it on the assumption (based on older relatives) and never to get tested? Come on!! She also was so rude to him that I started to wonder if there was something else wrong with her. But I do give her props. She was frank with Adam from the beginning.

I liked Adam, but I did wonder about him chasing Polly. He was a good guy, though. He paid for his ex-wife’s cancer treatments (even though it bankrupted him) and cared about the town. It took him forever, almost the entire book, to decide about staying in Kauri Bay. I figured what was going to happen before the author got around to it.

I do want to warn the plotline does wander a bit. I didn’t have a problem with that since this is supposed to be a series. But some people might not like it.

Also, I want to warn that Polly and Adam’s romance is Instalove. Adam is head over heels for Polly as soon as he sees her. It did take Polly a little longer, but it was still within Instalove range.

The end of A Bridge Between Hearts was cute. I liked how Polly had come around and was enjoying her engagement with Adam. I can’t wait to see if their wedding will be in book 2.

Intertwined: A Biker’s Tale by Andrew Hartman

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Publisher: Self Published

Date of publication: August 1st, 2021

Genre: Young Adult, Coming of Age, Suspense

Purchase Links: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

When a young man’s world is turned upside down, some things become clear and others blurred. Jacob Schitz’s plain life in Florida quickly erupts into a series of drastic events as he navigates young adulthood and a bleak future. When the biker gang, The Panteras, enters his life as a third obstacle, he will begin to truly understand himself and the violent world of underground crime as their paths become intertwined.

First Line:

Jacob walked into the room; it was dark. Pitch black, the staircase was hard to walk down.

intertwined: A biker’s tale by Andrew Hartman

I will let you all in on a secret: I love reading biker books, well, mainly romances, but still. I also like to read young adult. So, when I read the blurb for this book, I thought I had hit the jackpot. I was super excited to read it.

Intertwined starts slow, but after a couple of chapters, it morphs into a fast-paced book. There is a slight lag towards the middle of the book, but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of it.

Intertwined had an exciting plotline. Two college kids, out on a bucket list adventure, get mixed up with a biker gang. The biker gang quickly assumes that the kids are out to get them since they keep showing up in the same area. Will the kids be able to outsmart the biker gang? Or will they become their victims?

Like I mentioned above, I enjoy reading books about bikers. Something about that lifestyle intrigues me. The author did a great job of showing the inner workings of a biker gang. Willow came across as a paranoid leader willing to do whatever it takes to protect his gang. That aspect of the book enthralled me.

I wasn’t too sure how to feel about Jacob at first. He came across as too needy. But, as the book went on and I began to understand what he had gone through and what he was going through, I started to like him. He had an inner strength that shone throughout the book. I wish that he was a little more upfront with people about what was going on with him. It would have saved a lot of trouble further on in the book.

There is a lot of violence in Intertwined. I wasn’t surprised at the level of violence, but if you don’t like it, this might not be the book for you.

The end of Intertwined was bittersweet. I was surprised at what happened and what a certain someone did. Talk about a selfless act!! The author also left the book on a cliffhanger, so I will assume that there will be a book 2.

I would recommend Intertwined: A Biker’s Tale for anyone over the age of 21. There is violence, drug use, alcohol use, and language.

Transylvania’s History A to Z: 100 Word Stories by Patricia Furstenberg

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Publisher:

Date of publication: August 23rd, 2021

Genre: Nonfiction, Educational

Goodreads Synopsis:

In Transylvania’s History A to Z, a collection of 100-word stories sprinkled with breathtaking photographs, Patricia Furstenberg uses the confining rules of the 100-word story form to stirringly capture Transylvania, Romania’s historical and geographical region.

Transylvania’s unspoiled natural beauty, its tumultuous history, and the people who touched it are depicted in this book.
Written as snapshots, tall tales, and descriptive narratives, these 100-word stories are the espresso of creative writing.

A – Z, 100-Wors Stories are inspired by Transylvania’s history, from the Paleolithic Period to WW1
Each 100 Words Story is followed by a brief historical reference

The unique beauty of a 100-word story is in the way the words are strung together, each one a gem, and in the spaces left between the words, and between the sentences. So much can be told, with little words. It is a challenge for the writer, and a thrill for the reader, as each time the tale is read, a new detail springs to mind.

“As an armchair historian, I love researching lost tales, traveling, exploring hidden corners, and unearthing new facts, forgotten characters, or hidden clues. I love to give them a voice and to bring them into the light in my tales. Be it people, animals, or the land and its architecture, no detail is too small, no voice is too soft. What was once overlooked now brings history alive in my historical or contemporary fiction books and short stories, such as the 100-Word Stories based on the history of Transylvania.” (Patricia Furstenberg)

First Line:

In the meager light of a barren winter afternoon, a man slid between icy cliffs.

transylvania’s history a to z: 100 word stories by patricia furstenberg

I do not usually read anthologies or nonfiction books for review. I find them hard to review and feel like I am leaving something out. But, when the author approached me to read and review Transylvania’s History A to Z: 100 Word Stories, the book caught my interest and curiosity. I am glad that I decided to read and review this book.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was a relatively short book (just over 100 pages). There are beautiful pictures that accompany each story. I am fortunate to have a Kindle Oasis and could see the images (even though they were in black and white).

I also learned quite a bit about Transylvania’s history. Now, I am going to admit that I know next to nothing about Transylvania. My knowledge is vampires, Dracula, Vlad the Impaler, and the Carpathian Mountains. So it was very refreshing to learn something new about this country.

I didn’t have a favorite short story because I liked them all equally. I know it sounds like a cop-out, but I honestly did enjoy everything put into the book.

I would recommend Transylvania’s History A to Z: 100 Word Stories to anyone over the age of 13. There is no language, but there are mentions of violent events.

Lies in Bone by Natalie Symons

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Publisher: Boyle & Dalton

Date of publication: September 6th 2021

Genre: Coming of Age, Suspense

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Told by a tart-tongued young woman with a love of Bruce Springsteen, Lies in Bone is at once a mystery and coming-of-age tale fueled by dark secrets involving love, murder, and the truths worth lying for.

On Halloween 1963, eleven-year-old Chuck Coolidge and his brother Danny are lost in a toxic smog covering the steel town of Slippery Elm, Pennsylvania. When the smog lifts, half the town is sick and twenty people are dead. And Danny is missing.

Now, over twenty years later, Chuck’s teenage daughter Frank plots escape from this “busted and disgusted” town. When a murdered child is found in the river, investigators link the crime to the disappearance of Danny in ’63, and Frank’s life is turned upside down. In the face of her worst fears, she must uncover her family’s dark past if she wants to keep her sister Boots from the hands of The State. Led to discover the unimaginable truth about Danny’s disappearance, Lies in Bone culminates in a shocking eleventh-hour reveal and an emotionally charged finale.

First Line:

The fog snuck in over the wooded road, but Chuck didn’t care.

lies in bones by natalie symons

Lies in Bone is the story of Frank, her father Chuck, and Boots, her younger sister. Frank hasn’t had it easy growing up. Her mother left and never returned. Chuck compensated by becoming a drunk and indulging in get-rich-quick schemes. One day, Chuck decides to move everyone to his hometown to move in with his mother. Once there, Frank discovers that her father has a past, and it isn’t good. He is suspected of being involved in his younger brother’s disappearance 20 years earlier and the murder of another boy that same night. Frank brushes off the rumors as just that until another child is murdered and her father is arrested. Determined to prove her father’s innocence, Frank investigates. What she finds out will shatter her world. What does Frank find out? Is her father innocent?

I loved Frank. She was blunt, not afraid to tell people how she felt, and she was like a bulldog when she got an idea in her head. She also was very hurt over her mother’s abandonment. I connected to her on so many levels and was rooting for her the entire book. She wasn’t an easy character to like, but she acknowledged that.

The mystery angle of Lies in Bone was very well written. The author kept me guessing about what happened to Danny, the other little boy, and Bernie. She threw out red herrings left and right. I usually can figure out what happened pretty early in the book. But in this case, I was left guessing until the very end.

There are several significant twists in Lies in Bone. The first one did take me by surprise. There was no way that I would have even thought THAT happened. The second one, which was revealed relatively close to the end, was also just as shocking. I felt terrible for Frank when she found that out. And the third twist, well, that came out of the left field. It was revealed at the end of the book, and it turned everything on end.

I was not a huge fan of many of the secondary characters in Lies in Bone. The main subject of my dislike was Ruth, Frank’s grandmother. I couldn’t stand her. The way that she talked to Chuck was awful, and I didn’t blame Chuck for what he did.

The end of Lies in Bone was bittersweet. The author did a great job wrapping up the storylines and making a somewhat happy ending for Frank. But then the twist happened and poor Frank. She forever has to carry the burden of her family on her shoulders, and man, what she learned was catastrophic.

I would recommend Lies in Bone for anyone over the age of 21. There is violence and sex but no sex.

The Judas Robe by Larry Rodness

Book Cover

Publisher: Moonshine Cover

Date of publication: October 21st 2020

Genre: Historical Thriller, Metaphysical Fantasy, Paranormal Suspense

Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Abebooks

Goodreads Synopsis:

During the height of the Spanish Inquisition, a ruthless inquisitor by the name of Bishop Roberto Promane tortures a fellow priest, Father Sanchez, for information about the whereabouts of a relic known as The Judas Robe. The robe holds the key to some highly sensitive secrets about Jesus that Pope Sixtus does not want to be revealed. Promane succeeds in uncovering the robe only to lose it to Sanchez’s rescuers, the knights of The Order Of Christ.

Present Day
Joel Gardiner, a pre-med student, is attacked one night by thugs after leaving a campus pub. A young woman named Sophia rescues him and reveals that Joel’s mother, Natalie, is descended from the Order Of Christ, the faction that has kept the robe hidden for centuries. These thugs are part of a conspiracy group led by Bishop Newman who seeks the robe in order to uncover a secret held for centuries.

While trying to evade the conspirators Joel and his girlfriend, Lisa, begin to research the matter. The ‘Judas Robe’ that Bishop Newman currently seeks is the key to the revelation, that of discovered, will shake the foundations of Christianity.

First Line:

“Bishop, scripture teaches that God is beyond the physical reach of this world,” Father Sanchez said.

the judas robe by larry rodness

When I was first approached to read and review The Judas Robe, I almost turned it down. I didn’t think that I would enjoy reading the book because of the blurb. But something made me pause and rethink my decision. I ultimately decided that I would read The Judas Robe. Why? I am fascinated by books like this. I have read (and loved) Dan Brown’s books and figured this one would be very similar. It wasn’t. But, instead, I got an exciting thriller that kept me on my toes while reading.

The Judas Robe had an exciting plotline. Starting in Spain, during the Inquisition, the first few chapters lay out what the Judas Robe is and what happened to the four people who were in contact with it. It goes to the present day, where Joel goes to school for pre-med and works at a research facility. He is jumped one night while going to a party and is saved by a young woman. In the days afterward, Joel finds out about the robe. He also discovers that his religious fanatic mother is descended from an order sworn to hide it. That puts him and his mother in the crosshairs of a group led by Bishop Newman, a close friend and confidant to Joel’s mother. A series of events sets Joel, his mother, his girlfriend, a priest, and the young woman who saved Joel on a quest to find out where the robe is hidden and retrieve it. But Bishop Newman and his fanatics are right there with him. What is so important about this robe? Why does Bishop Newman want it? Will Joel find it, and what will he do about it?

The Judas Robe does start somewhat slowly. But I did appreciate that. The author chose to build up the background of Bishop Newman, Father Sanchez, Sophia, and Belle (as well as The Judas Robe) instead of throwing us right into the story. Once the author switches to Joel and the present day, the book picks up its pacing.

There was some lag in the storyline towards the middle of the book. I felt that the time that Joel and his friends spent in the underground lab was stretched out. It didn’t affect the book, but I thought that it was too long. Plus, I wasn’t a fan of how it ended. It was almost too easy for the Bishop to get in and get at them.

The characters were well written and fleshed out. But they didn’t all sit right with me. I wasn’t a fan of Lisa, Natalie, and, of all people, Joel. But my personal feelings didn’t affect how I viewed the book.

The storyline with the Judas Robe and the race to find it fascinated me. But I felt that it kept getting interrupted by Joel and Natalie’s very strained relationship. Once the robe was found, though, the storyline did take an interesting turn. But I felt that again, it was overshadowed by all the drama going on with the group.

There are several scenes of orgies and violence by Bishop Newman’s followers. I would have loved to know what substance they were taking to get that way. It was brought up towards the end, but that was it. No other mention of it.

There is sex in The Judas Robe. I turned the page (well swiped because I was reading it on my Kindle) and was hit with an orgy scene (see above). None of it was graphic, but I was surprised that it was even in the book.

There were a couple of twists in the plot that I didn’t see coming. The major one was revealed at the end and made me go, “What the heck?!?” when I read it. The other one was hinted at until Father Sanchez came right out and said it to Natalie and Joel.

The end of The Judas Robe was interesting. I liked how the author resolved everything and how he revealed the twist that I mentioned above. I also liked that he left me wondering if there was going to be another book.

I would recommend The Judas Robe to anyone over the age of 21. There is sex, violence, and language.