CHASING HOPE ~ A STORY THAT STAYS WITH YOU

BOOK TITLE: CHASING HOPE

AUTHOR OF BOOK: Joy Lynn Goddard with Daniel Pike

GENRE: Women's Fiction

ISBN: 97810677110-0-9

PAGE COUNT: 326

AMAZON or FAVE LINK to BUY BOOK:  

https://www.amazon.ca/Chasing-Hope-Joy-Lynn-Goddard/dp/1067711007

REVIEWER: Jodi Cooper, Originally for Amazon 

X PERMISSION GRANTED TO SHARE REVIEW: 

FULL REVIEW 

5 out of 5 stars

A Story That Stays With You

Reviewed in Canada on September 3, 2026

Format: Paperback

While reading Chasing Hope, I kept thinking about how family is often the people we choose, not just the families we are born into. They are the people who love us, support us, show up for us, and to whom we give back in return. Finding this kind of family is precious and worth cherishing. I was also moved by the book’s portrayal of resilience. It reminded me that strength isn’t about overcoming hardship on our own. Sometimes it means accepting help, continuing to love, and finding reasons to hope when life feels overwhelming. I especially appreciated the message that our difficult experiences can become a reason to extend compassion to others and help create something better in the world around us.

This story left me with a renewed appreciation for how much one person’s kindness can matter in another person’s life, and how our paths can come together in unexpected ways and make us stronger together. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a heartfelt story about family, resilience, compassion, and hope.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joy Lynn Goddard and her husband, Daniel Pike, write adult fiction that blends mystery, romance, and suspense. Their first novel, Moonshadow, won a Book Excellence Award, a Reader Ready Award (Recommended Read), and a Canada Book Award. Their second novel, The Keepers, also won a Canada Book Award. In addition to their novels, they wrote a screenplay adapted from their novel A Good Mother and a collection of humorous short stories about the real estate industry, Buyers, Liars, Sellers and Yellers.

Although Joy is well known for her award-winning young adult and middle-grade fiction, with her books in schools across Canada, her novels with Daniel have found readers around the world. Joy and Dan divide their time between Guelph and Belleville, Ontario, where they enjoy spending time with their growing family when they are not working on their next book.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER: Jodi Cooper is an educator, art therapist, and filmmaker living in Eastern Ontario with her husband and two dogs. When she’s not working, she can usually be found reading, working on a creative project, travelling, or enjoying a coffee and good conversation. She’s endlessly curious and especially drawn to stories that explore creativity, connection, and what it means to be human.

MORE ABOUT #THENEWBOOKREVIEW ASSOCIATE, LOIS W. STERN

Lois W. Stern is the creator of Tales2Inspire®, an Authors Helping Authors project/contest with no entrance fees, a labor of love to help aspiring writers on their paths to discovery. Now in its thirteenth year, Stern has published twelve Tales2Inspire® treasured Tales2Inspire Gem Collection anthologies, each with a different Gemstone emblazoned on its cover, to match the theme of the stories within that particular collection. Learn more about this fascinating project, and the woman who created it, in two quick films at https://www.tales2Inspire.com/BIO.

Stern is a multi award winning author herself, whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Press, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV and in live presentations in varied venues. As an Associate at the award winning blog, TheNewBookReviewBlogSpot, Stern serves as an outreach, helping other authors brand themselves as authors of talent.

MORE ABOUT #THENEWBOOKREVIEW BLOG:

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish the reviews of books they want to share with others; 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 and love. NewBookReview associate Lois W. Stern is the silver circle associate in charge of review submissions and the one who keeps services offered on this blog to authors free with her AuthorsHelpingAuthors projects. Please see submission guidelines in Lois W. Stern’s silver circle icons in the right column of this blog, in a tab at the top of this blog's home page, or go directly to the submission guidelines at https://bit.ly/ThePlacetoRecycleBookReviews. (WARNING some cell phones cut off the right column of this blog, so try it using your desktop!) Carolyn Wilhelm is our IT expert, an award-winning author and veteran educator. Reviews, interviews, and articles on this blog are indexed by genre, reviewers' names, and review sites so #TheNewBookReview may be used as a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. As an example, writers will find this blog's search engine (the link is also found in the right column!) handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com and #FrugalSmartTuned-InEditor.blogspot.com. Learn more about the team using our frequent hashtags: #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing and Carolyn’s website, HowToDoItFrugally https://bit.ly/ThePlacetoRecycleBookReviews.

Lois W. Stern is the creator of Tales2Inspire®, an Authors Helping Authors project/contest with no entrance fees, a labor of love to help aspiring writers on their paths to discovery. Now in its thirteenth year, Stern has published twelve Tales2Inspire® treasured Tales2Inspire Gem Collection anthologies, each with a different Gemstone emblazoned on its cover, to match the theme of the stories within that particular collection. Learn more about this fascinating project, and the woman who created it, in two quick films at https://www.tales2Inspire.com/BIO.

Stern is a multi award winning author herself, whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Press, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV and in live presentations in varied venues. As an Associate at the award winning blog, TheNewBookReviewBlogSpot, Stern serves as an outreach, helping other authors brand themselves as authors of talent.

Freebies at: www.tales2inspire.com/gifts

MORE ABOUT #THENEWBOOKREVIEW BLOG MORE ABOUT #THENEWBOOKREVIEW BLOG The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish the reviews of books they want to share with others; 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 and love. NewBookReview associate Lois W. Stern is the silver circle associate in charge of review submissions and the one who keeps services offered on this blog to authors free with her AuthorsHelpingAuthors projects. Please see submission guidelines in Lois W. Stern’s silver circle icons in the right column of this blog, in a tab at the top of this blog's home page, or go directly to the submission guidelines at https://bit.ly/ThePlacetoRecycleBookReviews. (WARNING some cell phones cut off the right column of this blog, so try it using your desktop!) Carolyn Wilhelm is our IT expert, an award-winning author and veteran educator. Reviews, interviews, and articles on this blog are indexed by genre, reviewers' names, and review sites so #TheNewBookReview may be used as a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. As an example, writers will find this blog's search engine (the link is also found in the right column!) handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com and #FrugalSmartTuned-InEditor.blogspot.com. Learn more about the team using our frequent hashtags: #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing and Carolyn’s website, HowToDoItFrugally https://bit.ly/ThePlacetoRecycleBookReviews.

Lois W. Stern is the creator of Tales2Inspire®, an Authors Helping Authors project/contest with no entrance fees, a labor of love to help aspiring writers on their paths to discovery. Now in its thirteenth year, Stern has published twelve Tales2Inspire® treasured Tales2Inspire Gem Collection anthologies, each with a different Gemstone emblazoned on its cover, to match the theme of the stories within that particular collection. Learn more about this fascinating project, and the woman who created it, in two quick films at https://www.tales2Inspire.com/BIO.

Stern is a multi award winning author herself, whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Press, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV and in live presentations in varied venues. As an Associate at the award winning blog, TheNewBookReviewBlogSpot, Stern serves as an outreach, helping other authors brand themselves as authors of talent.

Freebies at: www.tales2inspire.com/gifts

A 5 Star Readers Favorite Review for The Heiress in Kent: Kopp Chronicles

BOOK TITLE: The Heiress in Kent: Kopp Chronicles

AUTHOR OF BOOK: Gregory Kopp

GENRE: Victorian Historical Romance

ISBN: 978-1981089246

SERIES: Kopp Chronicles

PAGE COUNT: 81

AMAZON or FAVE LINK to BUY BOOK:  https://www.amazon.com/Heiress-Kent-Kopp-Chronicles/dp/1981089241

 

THE REVIEW ITSELF: Reviewed by Doanné Deventer for Readers’ Favorite

Gregory Kopp's novel The Heiress in Kent takes place in 19th-century London and New York. Sir Richard Mayne and Her Majesty the Queen ordered Scotland Yard detective Richard Cordwell to investigate urgent matters regarding the British throne's financial investments in the American railroads. During a global financial crisis, Cordwell embarks on his journey to uncover the truth and meets new and interesting people along the way. The handsome detective is entrusted with a secret mission from the queen herself that keeps him on his toes. While traveling to different towns to investigate the financial fraud that could negatively impact Britain's economy, he finds himself in challenging situations to complete this secret mission. The burning question on everyone's mind is, who exactly is The Heiress in Kent?

The Heiress in Kent, a historical mystery novel by Gregory Kopp, is a delightful and easy-to-read book. Kopp skillfully introduces several characters in the plot, including two based on his great-grandparents. He has portrayed the era and two different countries remarkably well and has also conveyed the challenging times faced by the characters to the reader in a touching manner. The financial difficulties that the characters experience are relatable to our current economic situation. Kopp has conducted extensive research on the eras and history of both Britain and America, which is evident from the detailed annexures containing references to some of the characters and other relevant information. The book is fast-paced, and not overly complicated. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey it took me on.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gregory Kopp is a 5-Star Reviewed Author, Graduate of Northwestern University and a Principal Consultant for Kopp Company, a privately held firm. Gregory is also a Talent Ambassador for The Walt Disney Company. The 5-Star acclaimed Kopp Chronicles series of novels have been nominated for Reader's Choice Awards and have received glowing reviews and been featured in “First Lines” of "BookLife Publishers Weekly", an international news website of book publishing and bookselling and in “Readers' Favorite”, the fastest growing book review and award contest site on the Internet, respected by publishers Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster and Harper Collins. They have also received numerous "Cover of the Month" & "Book of the Day" Honors. 

 

X Permission to publish the review. 

You can learn more about Gregory Kopp and "The Heiress in Kent" at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-heiress-in-kent where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.

Lois W. Stern, TheNewBookReview Associate and Facilitator, works with a passion to help other authors strengthen their visibility on this blog and elsewhere. She is also the creator of Tales2Inspire®, an Authors Helping Authors project/contest to help aspiring writers on their paths to discovery. And best of all, her services are Free. As such, Lois serves as an outreach to help other authors brand themselves as authors of talent. She has now published twelve Tales2Inspire® treasured anthologies and six award winning Tales2Inspire 2-in-1 Diamond Collection anthologies of her contest winners' stories. Lois is a multi award winning author herself, whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Press, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV, The Authors Show podcast and in live presentations in varied venues. 

Website: https://www.tales2inspire.com

E-MAIL: tales2inspire2@gmail.com

 

MORE ABOUT #THENEWBOOKREVIEW BLOG The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish the reviews of books they want to share with others; 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 and love. NewBookReview associate Lois W. Stern is the silver circle associate in charge of review submissions and the one who keeps services offered on this blog to authors free with her AuthorsHelpingAuthors projects. Please see submission guidelines in Lois W. Stern’s silver circle icons in the right column of this blog, in a tab at the top of this blog's home page, or go directly to the submission guidelines at https://bit.ly/ThePlacetoRecycleBookReviews. (WARNING some cell phones cut off the right column of this blog, so try it using your desktop!) Carolyn Wilhelm is our IT expert, an award-winning author and veteran educator. Reviews, interviews, and articles on this blog are indexed by genre, reviewers' names, and review sites so #TheNewBookReview may be used as a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. As an example, writers will find this blog's search engine (the link is also found in the right column!) handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com and #FrugalSmartTuned-InEditor.blogspot.com. Learn more about the team using our frequent hashtags: #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing and Carolyn’s website, HowToDoItFrugally https://bit.ly/ThePlacetoRecycleBookReviews.

Five Star Review for Overture to Murder, Another Mystery Thriller by Erica Miner

BOOK TITLE: OVERTURE TO MURDER      

AUTHOR OF BOOK: ERICA MINER

GENRE: MYSTERY/THRILLER

ISBN: 1685127819

SERIES: JULIA KOGAN OPERA MYSTERY SERIES

PAGE COUNT: 300

PUBLISHER: LEVEL BEST BOOKS

AMAZON or FAVE LINK to BUY BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Overture-Murder-Julia-Kogan-Mystery/dp/1685127819/

REVIEWER’S NAME AND PERMISSION TO REPRINT: 

JESSICA FAHEY, THE SAN FRANCISCO BOOK REVIEW

Heidi K. Rojek, Owner

THE REVIEW ITSELF:

By Jessica Fahey, The San Francisco Book Review

FULL REVIEW HERE

(https://sanfranciscobookreview.com/product/overture-to-murder/)

Erica Miner’s Overture to Murder is an absorbing and intelligent addition to the Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series, combining the rarefied world of grand opera with the satisfying architecture of a classic whodunit. As a longtime lover of mysteries, I found this novel very rewarding.

Set against the formidable backdrop of Wagner’s Ring cycle at the San Francisco Opera, the novel opens with an atmosphere of tension and grandeur that immediately establishes both scale and stakes. The prologue, reaching back to 1922, lends the story a sense of legacy and continuity, while the present-day chapters immerse us in the complicated machinery of mounting Das Rheingold. Miner’s familiarity with the operatic world is evident from the first pages; the rehearsal dynamics, the politics between stage director and management, and the physical layout of the opera house feel authentic and meticulously observed.

Julia Kogan, the protagonist, is a particularly appealing heroine. Now serving as interim concertmaster after a suspicious hit-and-run injures her predecessor, Julia must navigate not only the technical demands of Wagner’s monumental score but also the fragile egos and rivalries that inevitably simmer behind the curtain. Julia’s relationship with her partner Larry and their precocious daughter Rebecca adds warmth and dimension to the narrative. The scenes of Julia teaching Rebecca violin, complete with the child’s imaginative interpretations of the strings, provide a tender counterpoint to the darker events unfolding at the opera house.

One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is Miner’s portrayal of backstage tensions. The abrasive stage director Yves Chauvet is drawn with sharp precision: ambitious, temperamental, and dismissive of others’ expertise. His public berating of Julia during rehearsal is both shocking and believable, and it sets the emotional groundwork for the tragedy that follows. When a fire alarm disrupts opening night and Chauvet is discovered dead in his dressing room, the transition from artistic drama to criminal investigation feels organic rather than contrived.

I especially enjoyed the way Miner layers professional hierarchies into the mystery. The general director, the orchestra manager, the house head, and the union dynamics; each plays a role in shaping both motive and opportunity. For readers like myself who relish procedural detail, these elements enrich the story rather than slow it down. The author’s background as a violinist shines through in the descriptions of rehearsal pressures, bow strokes, and the unique responsibility borne by a concertmaster. Those passages lend the book a gravitas that elevates it beyond a standard cozy.

In all, Overture to Murder is a polished and engaging mystery that will delight opera aficionados and general readers alike. It offers intellectual intrigue, vivid characterization, and a richly textured setting that lingers long after the final page.

Blurb:

"Divas and deadly secrets share center stage in Erica Miner's Overture to Murder, a classic mystery tale set at the San Francisco Opera House. Underpinning the plot of this delightfully twisty novel is a full-scale Wagnerian opera production that provides an apt metaphor for the action and a chilling backdrop for murder. The stakes could not be higher for violinist Julia Kogan, whose pursuit of a killer is rendered with all the immediacy of a live performance. Precise details, inside information about the glamorous world of classical music, and a cast of finely drawn characters propel the action from the opening curtain to the final bows. The suspenseful and surprising finish to this tale of mystery, music, and mayhem is a page-turner. Highly recommend." - Lori Robbins, author of the Master Class and On Pointe Mysteries

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Former Metropolitan Opera violinist turned author ERICA MINER now has a multi-faceted career as an award-winning author, screenwriter, journalist and lecturer. Winner of the Fiction Prize in the Direct from the Author Book Awards for her debut novel, Travels With My Lovers, Erica has received kudos for her Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series published by Level Best Books, based on her experiences at the Met: ARIA FOR MURDER (2022); PRELUDE TO MURDER (2023); and OVERTURE TO MURDER (2024).

Erica writes music criticism for websites such as US Bachtrack; Classical Voice of North America; Broadway World and LA Opus. Her lectures and seminars on writing and opera have won praise at numerous arts and academic organizations including: the Seattle Symphony, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of San Diego and University of Washington; and Wagner Societies across the US and in Australia. Erica’s  writings also can be found in publications such as Leitmotive, the magazine of the Wagner Society of Northern California; Italian American Magazine; San Diego Jewish Journal; Del Mar Lifestyle; Opera+ St. Petersburg Music & Art Magazine; Vision Magazine; WORD San Diego; and Istanbul Our City.

MORE ABOUT #THENEWBOOKREVIEW BLOG The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. 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 and love. Please see submission guidelines in Lois W. Stern’s silver circle icon in the right column of this blog, in a tab at the top of this blog's home page or go directly to the submission guidelines at https://bit.ly/ThePlacetoRecycleBookReviews Authors and publishers will want to access use Lois W. Stern's #AuthorsHelpingAuthors services. All are free and listed in her silver-circle icons in the right column. WARNING some cell phones cut off the right column of the blog, so try it using your desktop!) Carolyn Wilhelm is our IT expert, an award-winning author and veteran educator, she also contributes reviews and posts on other topics related to books. Reviews, interviews, and articles on this blog are indexed by genre, reviewers' names, and review sites so #TheNewBookReview may be used as a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. As an example, writers will find this blog's 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. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing HowToDoItFrugally https://bit.ly/ThePlacetoRecycleBookReviews.

Metropolita Opera Violinist Writes Aria for Murder

BOOK TITLE: ARIA FOR MURDER 

AUTHOR OF BOOK: ERICA MINER

GENRE: MYSTERY/THRILLER

ISBN: 1685121985

SERIES: JULIA KOGAN OPERA MYSTERIES

PAGE COUNT: 254

AMAZON or FAVE LINK to BUY BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Aria-Murder-Julia-Kogan-Mystery/dp/1685121985/

THE REVIEW ITSELF: By Midwest Book Review

FULL REVIEW

Excitement mounts as the moment arrives for brilliant young violinist Julia Kogan's debut in the orchestra of the world-renowned Metropolitan Opera. But the high-stakes milieu of this musical mecca is rocked to its core when, during an on-stage murder scene, Julia's mentor, a famous conductor, is assassinated on the podium.

Thrust into the investigation when her closest colleague in the orchestra is named chief suspect, Julia teams up with opera-loving NYPD detective Larry Somers to solve the murder. In the process, they are shocked to discover the venerable opera house is rife with a web of secrets, intrigue, and lethal rivalries. But all bets are off when Julia suddenly finds herself the real killer's prime target!

Critique: A cosy mystery at its very best, "Aria for Murder" is the first of novelist Erica Miner's 'A Julia Kogan Opera Mystery' trilogy from Level Best Books. A fun read from cover to cover, "Aria for Murder" deftly combines the elements of a traditional 'whodunnit' detective mystery with a memorable crafted amateur female sleuth. The stuff of which Hallmark TV mystery movies are made, "Aria for Murder" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Aria for Murder" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

 Formerly a Metropolitan Opera Orchestra violinist for 21 years, Erica Miner now enjoys a multi-faceted career as an award-winning author, lecturer, screenwriter, and arts journalist. Erica's passion for Bringing Murder and Music together is embodied in her 3-part Opera Mystery novel series published by Level Best Books: "Aria for Murder" (which draws on Erica's own real-life experiences working at the New York Metropolitan Opera); “Prelude to Murder” and “Overture to Murder.”

Erica’s debut novel, “Travels with my Lovers,” won the Fiction Award in the Direct from the Book Awards. She recently received the Readers House Magazine Editor's Choice Award of Literary Excellence.  Erica  has given workshops for Sisters in Crime; Los Angles Creative Writing Conference; EPIC Group Writers; Write on the Sound; Fields End Writer's Community; Savvy Authors; and numerous libraries on the west coast.

NITTY GRITTY BUT IMPORTANT PUBLISHING STUFF

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Author’s Website: https://www.ericaminer.com. 

Lois W. Stern is an Associate & Review Coordinator for TheNewBookReview. She is also the creator of Tales2Inspire®, an Authors Helping Authors project/contest to help aspiring writers on their paths to discovery. And best of all, it’s Free. Lois has now published twelve Tales2Inspire® treasured Tales2Inspire Jewel Collection anthologies and six Tales2Inspire 2-in-1 Diamond Collection anthologies. Lois is a multi award winning author whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Press, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV and in live presentations in varied venues. As TheNewBookReview review coordinator, Lois serves as an outreach to help other authors brand themselves as authors of talent. 

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