Award-Winning Author Pens Cozy Mystery

Hot Chocolate
Genre: Cozy mystery novel
By Dawn Greenfield Ireland, award-winning author
Book launch/tour

 

I recently read a great book I just had to share with you. If you like Grandma Mazur in Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, you'll love Hot Chocolate. The characters are all quirky and funny, and, when you aren't laughing out loud, you'll be smiling! It’s a hilarious cozy mystery novel set in the very wealthy Houston suburb of River Oaks. Filled with quirky, eccentric characters involved in murder and chocolate, this book is like watching a Woody Allen movie - even the minor characters are quirky and wonderful.

Here’s the plot: The middle-aged Alcott sisters, heiresses to the Alcott chocolate fortune--Madge, Lila Mae and Dorothea--are fit to be tied. In the midst of busy lives, they must deal with their ninety-two year old father, Bernie, who has become quite the handful. His nurse Bambi, is another kind of handful, but when they decide they must move Bernie to an assisted living facility, the generous severance package they offer to Bambi is not enough to ward off a lawsuit brought by Bambi's husband, Jimmy Ray Chaline. Luckily, the Alcotts, very wealthy and well-known in Houston society, have a great lawyer. Chances are good that the suit will be dismissed as frivolous.

Hot Chocolate is a captivating tale with vivid and fun characters. I could almost visualize myself socializing with them, and I definitely enjoyed their interactions with one another. They felt like real sisters, albeit high-society ones. Dorothea is typically the "baby" of the family, and definitely likes being the center of attention. Lila Mae relies on astrology and believes that proper Feng Shui arrangements in a room can make all the difference. Madge, as the oldest, has some unusual habits. Even the peripheral characters, like the staff at each of their homes, as well as Lila Mae's astrologer, felt like important pieces of the production. I also enjoyed close-ups of the relationship between Chance (a detective with the police force) and Lila Mae, not a typical pairing.

 

Anyway, I know you will love this book, so grab a copy and you’ll also get about 60 bonuses including a preview of many other new and exciting novels along with terrific self-help tools. ENJOY! http://bit.ly/HtChoc

 

Submitted by Denise Cassino

"Make your book an Amazon #1 Bestseller"

Publicist & Book Marketing Specialist

303 838 3399

skype: denise.cassino

www.BestsellerServices.com

www.mybestsellerlaunch.com

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Ralph Zernoff Writes Self-Empowering Novel

Title: All-That-Is

Author: Raphael Zernoff
Genre: Inspirational/Self-Empowering Novel
ISBN 978-1-291-09787-0
KINDLE USA: http://www.amazon.com/ALL-THAT-IS-ebook/dp/B009M5OXBG
PAPERBACK: http://www.lulu.com/shop/raphael-zernoff/all-that-is/paperback/product-20443930.html

 

Synopsis 

The book presents a story of a young man Tnesdog (god-sent, spelling in reverse) who belongs to an ancient family, who treasures a secret knowledge about humanity.

The world is not what most of us have been taught about it, according to the storyline. In ancient times, there were many powerful and highly developed civilisations who emerged and disappeared leaving various pieces of information for posterity. The remote past of humanity explains where we come from, and what we are capable of.

Anaid (Diana in reverse) a descendent from the forgotten continent of Mu, and later Atlantis, identifies Tnesdog as the one who will embrace the knowledge of Ra and then hand it down to his fellow humans, who prefer to live in a new reality free of fear and limitation. While assimilating the information in the form of energy that expands one's consciousness, his life radically transforms from an average jaded life to an explosion of synchronicity surrounded by wealth and self-acceptance.

The approach to the crossing of the threshold of 2012 creates a perfect opportunity to share the knowledge of all-that-is with others. Tnesdog learns that it is the time of a splitting-prism. It means that now all human desires and preferences are being magnified. Hence, those embracing more joy in free expression, and other creative means, will experience even more of the same. Conversely, those who choose to stay in the lower energy will experience the passage of time in a magnified lower energy manner. Tensdog learns that everyone may choose in what fashion they prefer to cross the threshold year.

What the reader can find in this book is a point of view that emerges from a diverse myriad of other points of view. This is the royal way to illumination. Namely, the understanding that everything is a part of one the same existence. Therefore, all points of view are valid and once you know it, you may choose what you prefer without invalidating other perspectives that are not compatible with your preference in any given moment. The author encourages the reader not to believe in, and blindly accept anything that he says, or you might learn from the protagonist. Readers are encouraged to observe what works for Tnesdog, and to then see what works for them. If it brings bliss, happiness, wealth and an exciting adventure, it may be a good idea to follow it, if this is what one prefers. At the same time if the recipients feel that they are not ready for change, and they prefer to continue their lives full of suffering, problems and self-devaluation, it would not be taken away from them, because it is an equal choice they have made. It is up to them how they want to lead their lives.

ALL-THAT-IS by Raphael Zernoff, a new inspirational novel available on paperback&ebook
KINDLE UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/ALL-THAT-IS-ebook/dp/B009M5OXBG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1349535075&sr=1-1

KINDLE USA: http://www.amazon.com/ALL-THAT-IS-ebook/dp/B009M5OXBG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349535199&sr=8-1&keywords=Zernoff
PAPERBACK: http://www.lulu.com/shop/raphael-zernoff/all-that-is/paperback/product-20433372.html;jsessionid=1D6762A194CA69C8B3118B90DAD1AB16

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget : Publisher: R.Z.

Book and Songs Reviewed with Five Stars

Title: Wondertown

Author: Mac Fallows
Authors website: www.wondertownproject.com
Genre: Fantasy
General: eBook with 12 embedded songs sung by characters
Format: eBook
Available on Amazon5.0 out of 5 stars for both book and music on Wondertownproject.com

 

Reviewed by Tom Nevin, AKA Greg Turkstra originally for Wondertown Project

 

Incredible Journey

I have to admit, from the beginning of the grandmother's story, I was pretty much in. The characters are deep, complicated and mysterious and the whole thing is made better by the awesome illustrations and the music. The songs really add something to the character development. It's pretty rare to read a good book that has a collection of world class songs inside it but that's what this is. The ending was especially cool the way it tied into the song. Overall, a big thumbs up. I'm really looking forward to the next installment. Anyone know where I can find some other stuff by Mac Fallows?

Short Bio of Author:

Reclusive writer and composer Mac Fallows first began pitching the idea of a musical book for teens and adults to music and book publishers in the late eighties. But without the technology to support his vision, he didn’t get far.

So instead, he set out to travel the world in search of new challenges . . . and stories. He went on to write and produce over 100 songs in a dozen languages in places including Dakar, Mumbai, Prague, and Santiago for singers including Youssou N’dour, Shankar Mahadevan, Pape and Cheikh, and Kavita Krishnamoorthy.

Along the way he lived with taxi drivers and their families, camped in farmers’ fields, butchered bulls, sold tea, raised chickens, translated travel contracts, worked as a session musician, a construction worker, a teacher, and toured the biggest festivals in Europe as a member of one of Africa’s most celebrated bands.​

​

Wondertown is the first true musical story he's published. It includes a full-length fantasy novel, 12 related songs and 17 illustrations.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Sonia Korn-Grimani Memoir Gets Goodreads Rave

Title: Sonia's Song

Author: Sonia Korn-Grimani

Memoir

Published by Clay Grouse Press

ISBN-10: 0984555838 ISBN-13: 978-0984555833

Chynna gave the book 4 stars

 

 

 

Reviewed by Cynna Laird on originally for Goodreands.com

Review:

"I have read many books about the Holocaust, and Sonia's Song has to be one of the most touching and inspirational of those.

Sonia told this story beautifully, very much what I imagine it must be like having her sit with you telling her history over tea. She gave such an open and honest account of what it was really like to be a Jewish child doing everything in her small power to live. All of the things we take for granted--the right to an education, to live without fear, to practice our religion with pride, to be proud of who we are and our heritage, even just to walk down the street--were all taken away from her.

What I was most impressed with in this story is that Sonia didn't complain or lay blame. Yes, she expressed her anger but the story didn't stem from that. She showed us how people can go through the greatest devestation and turn to the gifts they have to help pull them through. It was beautiful to see that with all she went through, she grew into a beautiful, happy and successful woman. And I was especially drawn to how she turned to music for comfort, as I have always done.

Sonia's Song is a powerful story of survival, strength and perserverance. I loved every page. This story is as important a read for learning about the Jewish people during the Holocaust as The Diary of Anne Frank. Thank you, Sonia, for sharing your incredible story. "

 

More on the Reviewer:

 

CHYNNA LAIRD – is a freelance writer and award-winning author. Her passion is helping children and families living with Sensory Processing Disorder and other special needs. She’s authored a children’s book, two memoirs, a Young Adult novella, a YA paranormal/suspense novel and an adult Suspense/Thriller.

Website: www.chynna-laird-author.com

Main blog: www.the-gift-blog.com

Special needs blog: www.seethewhiteelephants.com

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Reviewer Calls Reality of the Virtual a Must-Read

Title: The Reality of The Virtual
Sub-title: Presage
ISBN: 978-9881675118
Format: E-book and paperback
Publisher: Pebbles Publications
Publication/: End December, 2012
Launch Distribution: Amazon, Ingram, Lulu
Category: Alternative History/Sci-fi Novel
Author:Betsy Cheung
Amazon : http://tinyurl.com/9gyv2rf   
Review:
‘The Reality of The virtual’ is an edge-of the-seat-saga, which takes place between the real and the virtual. Cheung’s debut novel is packed with thrilling ideas about near-future technology. It has a balance of the believable and unbelievable that makes the plot seem very real. What’s more, it touches upon existential issues of human existence in the virtual.

The year is 2018. Nothing is what it seems and mis-information rules the Media. People are livid and riots abound surrounding a controversial new class system. Hugh van Santen is the Editor in Chief of a major newspaper reporting on the social turmoil. While governments go bankrupt, the grass roots are geared up to do community work and replace social welfare. Meanwhile Hugh relies on scoops to keep his newspaper afloat and recruits rogue reporter Sophie Chantal for his most ambitious and outrageous scoop to date. Sophie’s first assignment is to write a feature on the bicentennial birthday of a persona non gratis whose past doings wrecked havoc and caused the Cold War. She solicits the help of Sam, a computer scientist, who creates accurate simulations of humans down to their thoughts. Even before publication, the story is leaked and Sophie’s
feature becomes breaking news with explosive effect on the world and an
implosive effect on the news paper itself. It also alerts the CIA, who is after Sam’s simulation technology at all cost. To distract them, Sam designs a game called ‘Presage’ in which gamers and intelligence agents begin their race to find Sam’s secret in the reality of the virtual.

A crucial idea of this exciting boo is the conflict between the world, i.e. the totality of things work and the individual. The notion that the collective interest and wellbeing is suppressive of the individual interest and wellbeing is the same notion of why evolution and 'survival of the fittest' is necessary, but causes suffering and sacrifice of the individual animals and why the ‘have-nots’ suffer in a capitalist system. This book depicts what happens when a few individuals combine aspects of capitalism, collectivism, social media and technology to a new system and try to make the shortcomings of the previous systems right. The
problem they encounter is an old one: Although this new system makes a lot of sense to people, It is the human consciousness and the fundamental way in which it is taught to work when we are ‘socialized’ which prevent people from seeing the bigger picture in their actual life and stops them from walking the talk. With
intelligence and crazy imagination, the same idea and theme are reflected and reinforced in the sub plots.

The book is rich with intriguing, deep, believable characters, who reflect the different ways individuals are wired to be in or out of tune with the world. Some are totally stuck in their own way of looking at things like Mick Fallon, the spy. Some understand this and manipulate this to their own advantage like Otto Chantal, the CEO, Hugh can Santen, the editor in chief and Jim Hershel, the media baron. Some manipulate it to the advantage of society like Hal, a new breed of union leader while at the opposite ends of the spectrum you have idealists willing to sacrifice themselves like Thomas Pierson, the chairman of the

Alpha Federation and Sam Sheppard, the main protagonist and creator of the game Presage and Mindroids. And then, you have people, who study this phenomenon and find it all mighty interesting for a social-anthropological reason like the character of Dominique Sagresse, the Elvis among philosophers.

This book delves into the ethics and effects of a changed semi-virtual society in the near future. It gives us a fresh perspective upon the unrelenting human struggle in our continued attempts to wrench ourselves out of Sisyphus’ myth. Highlighting that our greatest enemy—the one, who causes the rock to tumble back to the bottom of the hill each and every time— is ourselves, this book revamps our hope that one day we may succeed. Don't miss this book if you like your mind and imagination challenged! This is truly a MUST READ!

~Author Jerry McGregor is an English teacher living in South-Asia who dapples in creative writing and loves books. His favorite writers are Fyodor Dostoevsky and Knut Hamsun, David Sedaris, Salman Rusdie.
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Contemporary Romance Reviewed by Chicklit Reviewer

Book: Pass the Hot Stuff

Author: Dana Page
Author’s site/buy links: 
www.facebook/passthehotstuff
www.danapage1.blogspot.com
www.createspace.com/3867996
Also available on Amazon.com and Kindle
ISBN: 1477625348
Genre: Contemporary Romance; Chick Lit
Rank: 5 stars~ Sassy read

Reviewed by Nikki Mason originally for  BestChickLit.com

Pass the Hot stuff is a fun, fast-paced romance novel that will show you the importance of letting yourself find the love you deserve. Surrounded by strong, inspirational women such as her artistic mother Katie, her fun-loving friend Trisha and her adored Grandmother, Sweetie, who all want the very best for her, Blythe is struggling to let herself be loved without compromising on happiness. But when two new attorneys appear at the boyfriend's office, Blythe's head, heart and soul are given a good shake.

Pass the Hot stuff is Dana Page's first novel but she has written it with such confidence and gusto, that it will leave you feeling warm and optimistic about love. Page has really captured the all-consuming sexual tension of a budding relationship and contrasts it perfectly with the stagnant claustrophobia of being stuck with the wrong man. The vibrancy of her New Orleans setting leaves you bright-eyed and ready for adventure.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

The Ferryman's Dream Highly Recommended

The Ferryman's Dream (Paperback)

By Dr. Stewart Bitkoff

· Paperback: 166 pages

· Publisher: Abandoned Ladder (April 6, 2012)

· Language: English

· ISBN-10: 0615613004

· ISBN-13: 978-0615613000

· Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches

· Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces

· List Price: $10.95

 

Review: By Emmanuel Karavousanos

Once in a while one reads a book that not only is a wonderful read, but has a magnet drawing a reader into it and fills the mind with at least a bit of wisdom and good sense. The Ferryman's Dream is such a book with one difference: it delivers a good deal more wisdom than one might expect. Often when reading a book one quickly (perhaps all too quickly) dismisses much of what one reads, hastening to get to "the good parts" or even just to finish. Here, the reader cannot but go back and read once again the fully packed package of ideas this work contains.

 

Aside from the story, which itself is joyful to read, ideas emerge right from the very beginning. The author, Dr. Bitkoff, can be recognized as one who has reached a state of consciousness that we call mystical. We see the wisdom begin to flow. Bitkoff quickly notifies us of a flaw almost all of us have. It is that the instructions given by spiritual teachers is often "denied or overlooked". Near the end of the book we are reminded that "while our journey through life is filled with trouble and tears, it is filled also with laughter and joy." Too many of us, too often, forget this and we become cynical, and sadly, not very pleasant to be with. Bitkoff knows well that greatest of all gifts, the gift of mystical insight. He recognizes that even "in the most highly attuned" this gift comes and goes depending upon "the requirements of the situation." If one chooses to become enlightened and to care to reach for that higher, wiser mind, this book will add greatly to reach that goal. Particularly distinctive was Bitkoff's use of brief, wise poetic endings to each of the chapters in the book which actually enlighten the reading mind. One brief example: "This moring as I slept,the sun caressed my lips...then I awoke to brighten the day." The Ferryman's Dream is a must read.

To order copies go to: http://www.amazon.com/The-Ferrymans-Dream-Stewart-Bitkoff/dp/0615613004/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333935885&sr=1-1

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Book Lover and Blogger Gives Mainstream Novel Kudos

--Title: Wander Home

--Author: Karen A. Wyle
--Author’s web site: http://www.KarenAWyle.net
--Genre or category: Fiction: Mainstream with mystery elements
--Reviewer: Jill Elizabeth
--Reviewer’s rating: Amazon five stars

Reviewed by Jill Elizabeth for her blog and for Amazon

Oh do I have a treat for you today! Today I am proud to bring you the latest from author Karen A. Wyle – and you’re going to LOVE IT.

I first met Karen almost a year ago, through Book Blogs. She was looking for reviewers for her sci-fi novel Twin-Bred (review available here), I responded with interest, and then after reading the book, responded with even more interest. Karen knows how to tell a great and original story, and I can say with absolute conviction that I will read any- and everything she writes from here on out…

Her latest, Wander Home, is not only a lovely tale about the after-life and after-world, but also a lovely vision of what I hope that life/world looks like. The book came to me at a particularly auspicious time – a wonderful, kind, generous man, one whose children I have babysat and who I’ve also had the privilege to toss back a beer or two with over the years, passed away recently (we miss you Marty S, and always will). Reading a book about untimely death and its aftermath was a little bittersweet, to say the least. But hopefully Karen Wyle knows something the rest of us don’t, because reading her imagining of what happens after we pass made things a little more poignant and left me a little more hopeful.

Let me explain.

To begin my explanation, I’m going to give you the synopsis of the book. First, because it’s easier and more concise than my retelling it, and second because I want to focus this review on my reactions and the writing, rather than on a recitation of the plot. From Karen:

Death is what you make it. . . .

Eleanor never wanted to leave the daughter she loved so much. The overpowering urge to wander — to search, without knowing what she sought — drove her away. She left little Cassidy in her family’s loving care. But Cassidy and the others died in an accident before Eleanor could find her way home.

Cassidy has her grandparents, and her Great-Grandma. And all of them have what may be eternity. Memories can be relived, or shared. The wonders of the world they left behind are only a thought away. The one-way tyranny of aging is no more — a white-haired and stooped great-grandmother one moment can be a laughing young playmate the next. But nothing can ease Cassidy’s longing for her mother; and Eleanor’s parents know better than to hope that Eleanor’s life has been a happy one.

Now, they are all reunited, with the chance to understand and heal. But the restlessness that shaped Eleanor’s life still haunts her in death. Somehow, she must solve the mystery of her life — or none of them will be at peace.

There’s a lot in that summary, so read it again. I’ll wait.

Okay, now that you’ve read it twice, think past what it says a little. This is the story of an after-life in which we are whatever age we want to be, surrounded by whatever people we want around us. It is a story about how death, even untimely death, doesn’t have to be the end of everything. It is a story about the consequences of the choices we make, and the difficulty even we can have in understanding – and living with – the reach of those consequences. Wyle’s isn’t the first vision of the afterlife that addresses these concepts (Richard Matheson’sWhat Dreams May Come springs to mind), but it is one of the loveliest.

Eleanor’s life is tragic and heart-breaking; not only for the things she lost, but for the things she spent so long trying to find. There is a nice twist hidden in the layers of family drama, redemption, and the quest for understanding, and it’s handled deftly and with a unique spin that keeps it from feeling in any respect derivative, even if it’s not a brand-new construct. (Sorry that is so obtuse, but I don’t want to give spoilers!) Wyle has a lovely way with language, weaving characters and setting together into a seamless tapestry of an after-life that I personally hope bears more than a passing resemblance to what’s really out there.

I started the book in the morning, on a sick day. I read through until it was finished, that evening. Even with my cold medicine-addled brain and eyes I could barely keep open, I couldn’t put it down. Don’t miss this one. It’s a beautiful story, well-written and smoothly paced with characters you can’t help but fall in love with (especially Cassidy and Great Grandma Amanda). Thanks for another great novel Karen – I can’t wait for the next one!

----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Multi Award-Winning Author's New Mystery Reviewed

Title: For Keeps: A Sam Moore Mystery

Author: Aaron Paul Lazar
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
eBook: $4.99
ASIN: B008OXZLR2
Author’s website: lazarbooks.com
Author’s blog: aaronlazar.blogspot.com
Amazon buy link

I turned the last page of For Keeps by Aaron Paul Lazar and sat with my mouth open repeating the word “wow” over and over again. I was mentally exhausted from the waves of emotion that I had just ridden for the past two days. I had traversed from intrigue to shock to anger to grief and back again. I actually had to take a few days after finishing the book before I started this review because my heart and mind were racing so fast that I’m sure the review would have just been a bunch of random babbling. I had to let myself settle down before putting my thoughts to paper. Now that’s a reaction to a book if I’ve ever heard one!

Sam Moore thought his life would be quiet after retiring from his practice as a family doctor in East Goodland, New York and planned to fill his time with gardening and spending quality time with his family, but after finding himself caught up in two mysteries over the past year, it has been anything but quiet. Now, a body has been found at the Twin Sisters Inn, and the coroner wants Sam on the scene right away. Why him? Lou knows that he’s retired, but for some reason she has asked specifically for him. Arriving at the inn, Sam’s past comes back to haunt him when he finds out that the murder victim is a flame from long ago. Ginger Kennedy was her name, and she lit up his world one Spring Break in Miami during his senior year of medical school. Ginger Kennedy was just a fling though before he met his future wife, and he has been a happily married family man for many years now, so why would Ginger have showed up in town and circled Sam’s number in the phone book? That’s what the police are beginning to wonder too. What follows is a whirlwind mystery where once again Sam’s brother, Billy, reaches out to him from the beyond to guide Sam to the identity of the killer. All Sam has to do is take hold of the green marble in his pocket when it grows hot and Billy whisks him into the past or another location in the present to provide Sam with the clues he needs to solve the mysterious deaths that begin to pile up. But will Sam be too late this time? Will Billy’s clues be able to save Sam from the ultimate heartbreak?

I met and fell in love with Sam Moore and his family in book one of this series, Healey’s Cave, and now two books later I am more deeply attached to this family than ever. Sam is honestly the most warm and caring character that I have ever encountered in a book, and I am always drawn to him like a bee to honey, and the relationships that he has with his wife, Rachel, and his children and grandchildren, touch me to my very core. I feel like if I could somehow jump into the story and walk into Sam’s home, he would welcome me with open arms. I know what you are thinking – he’s just a made up character from a book – but Lazar is such an incredibly talented writer that Sam has become as real to me as the people I encounter in my everyday life. I feel like I know him personally. I can feel his warmth and love, and through Lazar’s almost photographic descriptive skills, I feel like I have walked through the rooms of his home and visited his favourite haunts in East Goodland. This is because Lazar makes Sam very observant of the world and people around him, and we get to see everything very clearly from his point of view. Lazar describes everything in such detail and so convincingly that even if you had no interest in gardening, for instance, you would probably want to try it by the end of the book because you can actually feel the joy and satisfaction that Sam gets from working outdoors. I also love the fact that in each successive book in the series, Lazar provides us with more and more details of Sam’s past from different angles (this time being the women in his past) which help us to understand how his character has been shaped throughout his life.

 

What I will remember most about this book was how it affected my emotions. When an author can bring me to tears more than once in the course of a story, he has achieved the ultimate goal in my mind, to make the reader connect to the characters on all levels, so that it becomes almost personal. Never has the climax of a book taken me so by surprise and made me so upset with an author, but then with the true talent of a gifted writer Lazar redeemed himself by taking an idea the average mind would not want to accept, that if written by anyone else would probably just come across as silly, and breathed magic into it in a way that made me believe unconditionally. I was truly mesmerized by this book, and I can honestly say that I have never been so blown away by the ending of a novel. I actually felt a painful wrench when I turned the last page of the book as if I was being physically torn away from the Moore family.

 

What is the secret to Lazar’s success? Besides his amazingly addictive storylines, the one thing that always leaps out at me is his secret combination of a close knit and loving family centred on Sam’s warm-hearted character set against a good old-fashioned murder mystery which provides the perfect contrast between good and evil.

When an author writes so many different series and churns out the individual books with lightning speed, I often wonder if they are going to start getting repetitive or boring, but not so with Aaron Paul Lazar. He always seems to have a bottomless well of ideas from which to draw his stories, and each one is fresh and new. Lazar, as a writer, has perfected the ultimate recipe which appeals to all readers’ palates, whether mystery lovers or not. I can honestly say that he has quickly risen to the top tier of my favourite authors list, and I now anxiously await each new novel that he writes.

 

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More About the Author

Aaron Paul Lazar writes to soothe his soul. An award-winning, bestselling Kindle author of three addictive mystery series, Aaron enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in upstate New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his website at http://www.lazarbooks.com and watch for his upcoming Twilight Times Books releases. His other books are:

LEGARDE MYSTERIES

DOUBLE FORTÉ (2012, author’s preferred edition)

UPSTAGED (coming 2012 author’s preferred edition, eBook and print)

TREMOLO: CRY OF THE LOON (2007, AUDIO BOOK 2011)

MAZURKA (2009, AUDIO BOOK 2012)

FIRESONG (2011, AUDIO BOOK 2012)

DON’T LET THE WIND CATCH YOU (coming 2012)

MOORE MYSTERIES

HEALEY'S CAVE (2010, AUDIO BOOK 2011)

TERROR COMES KNOCKING (2012, AUDIO BOOK 2012)

FOR KEEPS (JULY 2012, AUDIO BOOK coming 2012)

TALL PINES MYSTERIES

FOR THE BIRDS (2011, AUDIO BOOK, coming 2012)

ESSENTIALLY YOURS (2012)

SANCTUARY (coming, 2013)

LAZAR'S BOOK ON WRITING:

WRITE LIKE THE WIND, volumes 1, 2, 3 (AUG 2012)

AWARDS: WINNER 2011 EPIC Book Awards, BEST Paranormal * FINALIST 2011 FOREWORD BOOK AWARDS * WINNER 2011 Eric Hoffer BEST Book, COMMERCIAL FICTION * 2X FINALIST Global eBook Awards 2011 * Preditors & Editors Readers Choice Award – 2nd place 2011* Winner of Carolyn Howard-Johnson’s 9th Annual Noble (Not Nobel!) Prize for Literature 2011 * Finalist Allbooks Editor’s Choice Awards 2011 * Preditors&Editors Top 10 Finalist * Yolanda Renée's Top Ten Books 2008 * MYSHELF Top Ten Reads 2008 * Writer’s Digest Top 101 Website Award 2009-2012

 WEBSITES/BLOGS:

http://www.lazarbooks.com
www.murderby4.blogspot.com
www.aaronlazar.blogspot.com

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Maggie Lyons Publishes New Children's Fiction

Title: Vin and the Dorky Duet

Author: Maggie Lyons
Author Website http://www.maggielyons.yolasite.com

Genre of Book: Children’s Contemporary Chapter Book Adventure
Publisher: Halo Publishing Int. & MuseItUp Publishing (Canadian e-book publisher)
ISBN: 978-1-61244-091-0 (paperback)
ISBN: 978-1-77127-073-1 (eBook)

Reviewed by: The World of Ink Network

About the Book:

A twelve-year-old boy named Vin, goes on a mission—reluctantly. He doesn’t share the optimism of the knights of old who embarked on impossible missions without a doubt they’d succeed. When magnetic compost heaps, man-eating bubble baths and other disasters erupt, Vin comes close to packing in the whole ridiculous business. He calls it Operation BS, his code name for a mission to introduce his sister to a boy she has a crush on. He doesn’t want to play matchmaker, but Meg’s promise to reward him with a David Beckham autographed soccer jersey is a decisive incentive.

The story is about the disasters that pile up when a seventh-grader’s brilliant plan to meet his sister’s challenge takes more than one wrong turn. Life tosses challenges at all of us. It would be incredibly boring if it didn’t. What matters is what we learn from them.

Get a sneak peek of the book at http://youtu.be/Qtgtp_rnAZ4

Available wherever books are sold and online.

About the Author:

 

Maggie Lyons was born in Wales and brought up in England before gravitating west to Virginia’s coast. She zigzagged her way through a motley variety of careers from orchestral management to law-firm media relations to academic editing. Writing and editing nonfiction for adults brought plenty of satisfaction but nothing like the magic she discovered in writing fiction and nonfiction for children. Several of her articles, poetry, and a chapter book have been published in the children’s magazines Stories for Children Magazine and knowonder. Author Website http://www.maggielyons.yolasite.com
Twitter @maggielyons66

You can find out more about Maggie Lyons’s World of Ink Author/Book Tour at http://tinyurl.com/9t24kgy

To learn more about the World of Ink Tours visit http://worldofinknetwork.com

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :