authentic reviews and insightful interviews for inquisitive readers
Danielle A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I’ve written so far in Fall 2023. Depending on how many more I do, I may add on to the end, or make a part 1/part 2 deal, we’ll see. Beware of spoilers! Title: The Witchfinder’s Serpent Author: Rande Goodwin Series: The Witches of Windsor #1 Thank you to Rande Goodwin, Greenleaf Audiobooks, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to a free eaudio ARC in exchange for an honest review. This …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Deadly Vegas Escapade by Anna J. Stewart is a great suspenseful whodunit tinged with romance. What makes the story interesting is how Stewart shows the good side and the bad side to those serving. The hero is of course a military man, but as with some in the military there are those who sell their souls for money. The plot begins with a car chase where Army Intelligence officer Riordan Malloy is forced off …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Lost and Found by Suzanne Woods Fisher has a story that looks at change and how someone faces that change. There are hints of romance, dashes of humor, and some drama. Most of the characters in the story explore difficult choices. There is conflict between the Liberal Beachy Amish order, and the more conservative Amish order plus the conflict between those who want to protect the bird sanctuary of Wonder Lake and those who …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper A Cowboy’s Fourth of July by Melinda Curtis is the second in the series. What makes the plot interesting is how the dynamics between the characters have changed over the years. The hero and heroine were high school friends with her having the upper hand but as they grew to adulthood the roles reversed. Allison Burns has many responsibilities. She gave up her dream of becoming a singer after becoming pregnant. Now a single …
Interview by Elise Cooper Liv’s never wanted any part of the spotlight, but the success of Just Jay has thrust her into it whether she likes it or not. Campaigning Triple Stripe’s “big horse” for Horse of the Year means every decision she makes as a trainer is scrutinized — on the backstretch, the internet, and by the Kentucky group interested in syndicating Jay as a stallion. Now her unconventional views on training racehorses are under fire, when all she …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Havoc by Ronie Kendig allows readers to get a three for one: a great plot, great characters, and a heroic dog named Havoc. This book is very appropriate since the 9/11 remembrance just passed. The story opens when former Special Forces operator Sergeant Crew Gatlin had his career ended after his leg was blown up from an IED. Returning to the States he was separated from his working dog Havoc K027. Putting his life …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Allison Ashley’s two books, Would You Rather and The Roommate Pact, show how friends can be supportive and love each other in different ways. These books show that as love grows so does the intimacy as well as finding a soul mate. Would You Rather has the heroine, Mia, given an opportunity to pursue her education and find her dream job. The problem is that she needs her job because she needs health insurance. …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Each of Foster’s Indiana Summers books—The Honeymoon Cottage, The Little Flower Shop, and The Love Shack (out June 2024)—has two romances in it. The lead characters, and the secondary characters. There’s also a close friendship and a deepening of other relationships, such as Yardley (The Honeymoon Cottage) with Betty, who is the town matriarch; Emily (The Little Flower Shop) with her aunt and uncle. Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for the …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Patricia Johns’s books, A Single Dad in Amish Country and Their Amish Secret are both endearing stories. Readers will go through the emotions with the characters from pain and sadness to hopefulness and love. As with all her books people are drawn to each character and their feelings. The plot of A Single Dad in Amish Country has an emphasis on single parenting. Hazel Dobbs and Joe Carter both raised daughters without a spouse. …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Paris Assignment by Rhys Bowen is a story of love and war, bitterness and brutality, bravery, and forgiveness. The setting moves from England to France to Australia. The heroine Madeline Grant is sent to study overseas at the Sorbonne in Paris. There she meets charismatic French journalist Giles Martin. After the Christmas holiday, she defies her stepmother and returns to Paris to live with Giles. After finding out she is pregnant Giles eventually …