Review of Protective Instinct, by Joy York

Here we are with February coming to a close in the next week, and the weather’s been bouncing up and down like our dog’s floppy ears during a run. Today we’ve returned to the deep freezer, and that comes as no surprise because this is usually the coldest time of the year.

Yesterday afternoon, my daughter and I volunteered for the, Coldest Night of the Year, fundraiser in support of the homeless. It always does well. We live in a very generous community. 

Right now, I just wanted to share a quick review of my most recent read. But first, let’s get a gist of what this one’s about.

When self-absorbed, international bestselling author Sebastian Bartoli refuses to write the biography of the infamous, mob-connected Maximillian Fontana, the consequences turn deadly.
Sebastian (Bash) Bartoli is an international bestselling crime novelist. Maximillian (Max) Fontana, who is reputed to have ties to organized white-collar crime, has insisted Bash write his biography. Concerned for his safety, Bash’s friend/agent devises an elaborate plan for him to disappear to a secluded location on Guntersville Lake in Alabama. Being accustomed to having his comfortable life managed, Bash is irritated by the inconvenience of having to deal with his own affairs, not to mention the danger it might pose if he is discovered.

Morgan Skylar is a good-natured and unfiltered, southern kindergarten teacher. She is much more comfortable eating potato chips with Cheez Whiz and Louisiana Hot Sauce than champagne and caviar. After the death of her overly protective grandfather (Pops) who raised her in rural Georgia, she takes time off to grieve, ending up in a cottage next door to Bash. When mechanical issues arise, she seeks help from the renter in the main house. Bash is annoyed that his secluded hideout is apparently not so secret. Begrudgingly, he offers her assistance. This is where Morgan and Bash’s worlds collide. When suited, armed men show up at the lake house, Morgan’s trained survival skills take over, and she secures their escape by boat as bullets fly.

Morgan offers to provide a temporary sanctuary to Bash in her Pops’ remote Appalachian cabin. Upon arrival, she discovers a letter from Pops revealing his dangerous past that may now be coming for her. As the unwitting targets of dangerous men, Bash and Morgan fight to stay a step ahead of their pursuers, while seeking answers. Bonds are tested. Trusts are broken. Alliances formed. Agendas hidden.

Just My Thoughts:

Morgan Skylar is the benchmark for unassuming characters. A mild mannered kindergarten teacher who uses the phrase, “Turkey feathers!”, to sum up her feelings for dire situations. But she’s got a secret life. A childhood that any doomsday prepper would be proud of. 

Mix in a pampered best selling author, Bash, who believes a crime boss is out to get him, add a visit from a pair of goons, and watch the wheels spin. Though the story borders on the fantastical at times, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The moments of cheeky banter between Morgan and Bash added spice and filled out their profiles.    

Amidst the action, two constant themes emerge: people are often not what they seem, and sometimes you just have to trust. The writing style is naturally tweaked for the action genre, with one or two-word sentences sprinkled throughout; but not overdone. The protagonists are highly dynamic, seasoned by trials and reliance on each other. 

I recommend this one to those who enjoy an American thriller with a spritz of James Bond.   

Meet Joy:

Joy York grew up in Alabama but has spent much of her adult life in the Midwest, currently living with her husband in Indiana with their two golden doodles, Jake and Bailey. Inspired by a family legacy of oral storytelling, she began creating stories and adventures for her son when he was growing up. With encouragement from family and friends, she began to write them down. Her first book, The Bloody Shoe Affair: A daring and thrilling adventure with the jailer’s daughter, a YA mystery, was published in 2015. Genuine Deceit, an adult suspense novel, is her second book. For more information, visit joyyork.com.

Review of Broken Rhodes, by Kimber Silver

With Christmas in the rearview, I’m using the interlude between Boxing Day and New Years to post my last review of 2023. I hope each of you has been able to spend some quality time with loved ones while finding moments of restful solitude.

So, What’s It All About?

Kinsley Rhodes blows into Harlow, Kansas like a tornado, twisting Sheriff Lincoln James’ life into knots. Her grandfather has been murdered and she wants answers.

As if the town’s first homicide in twenty years wasn’t enough, the beleaguered sheriff now has to deal with Henry Rhodes’ bobcat of a granddaughter, plunging his life deeper into chaos. As a dark storm threatens, long-held secrets are exposed, placing Kinsley directly in harm’s way.

In a race against time, Lincoln’s prime objective is to discover the killer’s identity before Miss Rhodes becomes the next victim…

Just My Thoughts:

Kinsley Rhodes is the embodiment of a conflicted soul. In her youth, the abhorrent cruelty of her peers diverges the course of her life. The once shy, but trusting Kinsley, constructs an emotional safe room, keeping a distance from normal social interactions and relationships. At the outset, her innate characteristics surface in moments of perceived security, but are frequently shelved as real or interpreted threats arise. Towards the end, Kinsley has begun to heal from her trauma, perhaps at a tempo that may not accurately reflect reality. In fairness, I had to keep in mind that this is a work of fiction.      

Returning to Harlow brings her face to face with her tormentors and a dangerous criminal enterprise that stretches far beyond the town limits.

This is compelling tale of ancient grudges, buried family secrets, a healing journey, and the struggle against a psychopathic force that has poisoned a community for too many years.

If you possess an affinity for the underdog, a curiosity for what lies beneath, a taste for mystery, and a fondness of slow burn romance, this is your next read.  

Meet Kimber:

My love of reading began early, cultivated by my grandmother. I cut my teeth on the works of Louis L’Amour. Then my curiosity for other genres blossomed, and I spent any free time I had in the library. The stories took me away from the farm, and the small town I lived in, to a world so vast, that I felt I could achieve anything.

My imagination has always been vivid, and my grandparents encouraged me to write down the stories I regaled them with. I have never felt more alive than when I’m immersed in a new tale, as it takes form.

Visit her website and order your copy:

Kimber Silver

Review Of, At The End Of It All: Stories From The Shadows, by Suzanne Craig-Whytock

Another week is in full swing, and another busy weekend is two days in the past. We celebrated my youngest’s fourteenth birthday. On Saturday, she shopped the mall with friends. That night they tented in our backyard, drifting into “peaceful slumber” while being serenaded by the nocturnal symphony.

Um, well, not exactly. More like they ‘semi-glamped’ in our massive tent, watching movies till the eye-reddening dawn. Small fans spun furiously to keep them cool and drown out the coyotes howling in the forest beyond.

Now, to some, the very idea of an overnighter in a canvas box as wild beasts roam outside, calling to their mates might fall under the label of a ‘creepy’. I’ve no doubt, that among the ranks of my readers, there are some who would delight in the soothing and beautiful voices of Canis latrans.

This brings me round to Suzanne’s collection of short stories, which in my opinion, are somewhat based on perspectives, as to what is really going on.

Foreword by Steven Baird

Enter a surreal landscape of the twisted and unusual. Wander through the echoing corridors of old manor houses, explore dead cities and hidden rooms, and dance with menacing marionettes. Lyrical, haunting, and occasionally humorous, At The End Of It All is a collection of twenty-seven stories that explore joy and sorrow, gratitude and grief, and hatred and desire. Open the cover, feast on the stories inside…and if you’re lucky, Mr. Death just might show up for dessert.

Here I go:

An eclectic mix of uncanny episodes that played out in my mind’s eye like a popular supernatural mystery show I used to watch.

A few of the endings were quite self-explanatory and neatly wrapped.  Many had the enticing quality of suggestive outcomes or causations which appealed to the writer in me. As a fan of horror, but not gore, this book fed my appetite for goosebumps and unsettling perspectives.

The writing style is engaging and lured me straight into the scenes. Suzanne manages to model everyday life while injecting a measured dose of the extraordinary in a manner that seems plausible. That’s no easy feat.       

I recommend this book for those who crave a reprieve from the ‘wash the dishes’ and ‘mow the lawn’ humdrum to unleash their imaginations!  

Say “Hello!”

Suzanne Craig-Whytock is the author of four novels: Smile (2017), The Dome (English version, 2019; international Arabic translation, 2022), The Seventh Devil (2021), and The Devil You Know, all published by Bookland Press. She is also the author of two short story collections: Feasting Upon The Bones (2021) and At The End Of It All (2023), both published by Potter’s Grove Press. The Georgian translation of her first novel Smile will be released internationally in summer 2023. Suzanne is also the editor-in-chief of DarkWinter Literary Magazine, an Ontario, Canada-based online publication featuring short fiction and poetry, as well as the founder of DarkWinter Press. What Any Normal Person Would Do is her first creative non-fiction publication.

Review of, Tell Me A Story In 99 Words, by Annette Rochelle Aben

It’s early morning and a welcomed cool breeze drift in from the open window. Every now and then, I pause to watch dawn’s ever-reaching hands pushing away the night. Meanwhile, my fingers clack the keys as I try to muster the words to do this book justice.

It has been a desire of mine since I was a young person to write stories. I had to start somewhere, so I chose to start by writing very short stories. That being said, I welcome you to a collection of short stories, very short stories as each of the stories is only 99 words in length. Meet memorable characters. See something of yourself in many of the scenarios. Experience a wide range of emotions. Be inspired to write stories of your own. Return to your favorites and enjoy them again and again.

Just My Thoughts:

The flip of every page brings a fresh journey into a different life. Written mostly in first person, I loved the ever-changing perspectives. Interpret Nuns through the eyes of a child in, A Most Holy Experience, or spend quality time with hungry grandchildren in, Chocoholics.

These tales play out in everyday life! A key character could be sitting on the bus next to you, scooting past in the grocery aisle, or staring back in the mirror.

This book is a roomful of trunks, their hasps straining to contain countless personal triumphs and struggles, all proficiently conveyed in 99 powerful words!

I recommend this book for everyone with a pulse.

Say, “Hello!”

Words are like threads that when woven together with passion and purpose can create a tapestry in which you long to wander. That passion was ignited in me when I was a small child and continues to burn bright even today. I was encouraged by educators who challenged me to try and by career paths that demanded I become a proficient wordsmith. I would like to think I have done them proud. Over the years, I have won awards, been nominated for an EMMY for television writing, and penned a #1 Best Selling book of poetry. My collection of books available here on Amazon include self-help, inspirational, and of course poetry. I have been invited to participate in anthologies and collections, several of which are here as well. Welcome to my world of words. Should you find something in which to lose yourself, I shall raise my glass in a toast to your happiness. Thank you for your kind attention.

Introduce yourself, don’t be shy! Annette is very friendly! And, while you’re at it, treat yourself to one of her fine reads. Just click on the link below.     

Welcome Home

Masked Bandits and the latest review of Vanished.

In the wee hours of this morning, and unable to sleep, I crept downstairs and fired up the laptop. I was going to get an early start to the W.I.P. Before the screen could transform from midnight to the majestic mountain wallpaper smattered with copious amounts of desk top icons, I heard something tumble in the garage. I held my breath and, yup, there it was again, followed by some rustling and a bang.

Not good. By the time my hand was on the door knob, I was pretty convinced of exactly what was making all that ruckus. Sometimes it sucks being right, but it’s worse when you underestimate a problem. You see, not one, but four, pairs of eyes reflected the coatroom light, as they glared from behind their furry masks. I mean, how dare I interrupt!

It turns out that someone, other than yours truly, forgot that the automatic garage door closer still requires the push of a button. Four toothy mouths chomped greedily at the chicken feed normally sealed in a bin.

We live in the sticks, so I did what any “sensible” country boy would do. I yelled for them to scram, while tossing shoes in their general direction. Wrong again! The schemozzle erupted into a run amok scramble when the critters decided to use my workbench and tool cabinets as gymnastics equipment. They went everywhere but the car sized opening. We don’t park in the garage because it’s crammed with my crap. 😉

What brought it all to an abrupt end was after Big Rocky, or Big Rachel, decided enough was enough and came at me with an, “I’m going to gnaw your leg off!”, attitude. I’m not one who fancies an early morning trip to the E.R. for stitches and rabies shots. It was somewhat evident that they were aware of my useless opinion and that the majority would rule, so I retreated inside and pecked away at my keyboard. Mind you, it took a considerable will of the imagination to pretend they were just celebrating late night Canada Day Festivities. Guess that’s why the beaver is our national animal and not that sordid lot.

Ah, heck! If that’s how they want to medicate their insecurity and petty jealousy, then gobble those pellets. It’ll be daylight soon, and then it’s off to bed for you. When you’re gone, I’ll be sure to hit that button.

But such is life in the wilds of the North. On a more positive note, I was pleased to receive a stellar review for Vanished. I’m so grateful to Annette, aka, Lady A. Lewis. If you’re so inclined, please feel free to visit the post and check out her engaging blog by clicking below.

Lady Lewis’ Library – Vanished