Avonna Loves Genres

Feature Post and Book Review: That’s What Friends Are For by Wade Rouse

Book Description

Theodore Copeland has created a fabulous life in the desert oasis of Palm Springs, where he shares a fabulous pink mid-century home with three fabulous friends: Barry, a former actor still clinging to his youth, his hair, and the memory of the dream role that killed his career; Ron, an uprooted Christian from the Midwest with a big heart but no one to give it to; Sid, who, after coming out late in life, has never found love. Teddy is the caustic, unspoken leader of “The Golden Gays”—the foursome’s monthly drag tribute to The Golden Girls. Despite their foibles and bickering, they have turned their golden years into a golden era.

But the harmony of their desert enclave becomes a carousel of emotional baggage when Teddy’s estranged sister, Trudy, shows up on their doorstep, her dramatic teenage granddaughter in tow. While Teddy keeps Trudy at arm’s length, she manages to wheedle her way into the lives of the Golden Gays, until the real reason for her visit is revealed and the secrets they’ve all been keeping from each other unravel faster than a hastily stitched hemline.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/232737568-that-s-what-friends-are-for?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=qRpszGheVN&rank=1

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR by Wade Rouse is a wonderful look at a family made not born written also as a beautiful homage to the Golden Girls sitcom. This LGBTQ+ fiction novel takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions with witty and sharp dialogue and characters that could walk right off the page.

Teddy, Ron, Sid, and Barry are mature gay friends living together in a pink mid-century home in Palm Springs. The four came from different professions and parts of the country to make a safe home for themselves in their golden years. While they all get along, like any family, they have their problems, too. They perform together every month as The Golden Gays, which is based on a script written from an original episode from the Golden Girls sitcom but is also updated.

Teddy is Dorothy. He runs the mid-century vintage clothes store, Dorian Gay, and is a widower. He lost his husband to suicide. Ron is Rose. He is an exceptional interior designer and the mother hen of their home. Ron grew up in a Christian home and still deeply believes, he just does not go to a traditional church. Sid is Sophia. He is the oldest of the group, Jewish, and still practices as an attorney parttime. He lived his life hiding his sexuality and raised a family as expected in his time but came out and divorced once his children got older. Barry is Blanche. He is a very fit actor who is afraid of aging. He writes the episodes for their shows and has never emotionally dealt with having his character cut from the original Golden Girls pilot.

While each is dealing with their own mortality, they are also dealing with the changing society, not only in the general population, but in the gay community of as well. Teddy is hiding a secret and before he can even emotionally deal with that, his ultra conservative sister and her young, goth granddaughter show up at their home and shake everyone and everything up. Soon secrets begin to surface and relationships alter. Can this chosen family survive?

I loved this novel so much. There is so much love, caring, crying, anger, and perfectly cutting dialogue. Being of a certain age myself and having worked in the bar and restaurant industry my entire life, these characters are wholly and partial reminders of many of my friends and co-workers. This story made me laugh out loud, and feel rage at the injustices that still abound, but it ultimately is a story of love and family and left me with a smile on my face and a full heart.

I highly recommend this beautifully written LGBTQ+ fiction novel.

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About the Author

I am the USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly and internationally bestselling author of 18 books, including five memoirs and thirteen novels. I also write fiction under the pen name, Viola Shipman, as a tribute to my working poor Ozarks grandma, whose family stories, heirlooms and love inspire my novels. I was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Awards in Humor (I lost to Tina Fey) and was named by Writer’s Digest as “The #2 Writer, Dead or Alive, We’d Like to Have Drinks With” (I was sandwiched between Ernest Hemingway and Hunter Thompson).

That’s What Friends Are For is inspired by The Golden Girls, and this novel is like the sitcom in that it lessens life’s pain with laughter, it breaks down walls and unites with humor. Moreover, it’s ferociously funny (money back guarantee you will laugh on the first page!), hopeful and heart wrenching, a story about what so many of us have endured in this life to find friendship, love and respect. The novel has already been praised by #1 New York Times Jodi Picoult “Hilarious, tender, devastating!), the New York Post (Full of heart, humor and friendship, quick witted and heartfelt … buy one for yourself and another for your BFF) and named a 2026 Most Anticipated Read by Zibby Owens.

This marks the twentieth book I’ve written and my twentieth year as a published author, and I feel as if this is not only the book I was meant to write but also the right moment for this story – inspired by The Golden Girls – of friendship, family, faith, aging and acceptance. This novel is a HUGE departure for me in in career – my first novel under my own name – and I wrote this story because it called to my soul, and I knew that I needed to follow my heart. I’ve learned that sometimes the greatest moments in our lives happen when we are most terrified – as writers and souls – and that if we can just corral that fear and walk through the fire to emerge on the other side – heart racing, a bit scorched –what we dreamed of and fought so hard to achieve has the chance to change the world. I believe this novel does. When you think of the show or hear the lyrics to the song, and smile, that is the spirit that this novel captures.

Social Media Links

Website: https://waderouse.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wade.rouse.9

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorwaderouse/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/that-s-what-friends-are-for-by-wade-rouse

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: The Ice Angels by Caroline Mitchell

Book Description

A deadly pattern: Jenny Flynn, Chelsea Hobbs, Sophie Miller. All three children were snatched from the streets of Lincoln, England years apart. All stolen in the bitter chill of winter. All on their way home from school. Then Sophie Miller is found. She’s not speaking, but she may hold a clue to the whereabouts of the missing girls, if someone can get her to open up.

Somewhat reluctantly, Detective Swann calls in his not-quite ex-wife, the perfect woman for the job: Finnish Crime Inspector Elea Baker. No one knows the cases of the Ice Angels better than Elea, and no one is more invested in solving them. Ten years ago, Elea’s daughter Liisa was taken in Helsinki.

Alternating between Elea and Liisa’s perspectives, The Ice Angels is a propulsive and twisty thriller featuring a compelling mother-detective desperately clinging to the hope she can bring her daughter home.

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Elise’s Thoughts

The Ice Angels by Caroline Mitchell has a gripping story that will have readers on the edge of their seats from the many twists.

The story has Finnish police detective Elea Baker probing the disappearances of two Helsinki 12-year-olds when her own daughter, Liisa, was kidnapped on the way home from school. These children were known as the Ice Angels. All three families received a single white feather in the mail when their child vanished. Now, 10 years later, Elea’s ex-husband, Swann, asks her to consult with police in Lincoln England on their investigation of three more girls’ disappearance. The similarity is that each family received a white feather. No one knows the cases of the Ice Angels better than Elea, and no one is more invested in solving them.

One of the victims,12-year-old Sophie Miller, escaped, and is found clutching a doll that resembles one of Liisa’s favorites. This seems like a breakthrough for Elea, and she immersed herself in finding Liisa.

Told from the alternating narratives of Elea in the present and Liisa in the past, readers get a perspective of how the victim feels and the different emotions of those families left behind.

The best word to describe this novel is WOW as the author emotionally pulls people into the character’s story! Hold on to your hat because this story will take readers on a wild roller coaster ride.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Idea for the story?

Caroline Mitchell: I wanted to have my detective, Elea Baker, challenged. I liked the setting where I live now, Lincoln England. Plus, my brother told me how amazing it is where he lives, in Finland, with the rivers, sea, and forest. I merged both areas. Ideas come quickly and freely to me. The theme can be “looks are deceiving,” and that monsters are not always apparent. I think it is more terrifying when the bad people appear like ordinary people. I had my detective come to the UK from Finland to help consult on cases of children’s disappearance.

EC: Since you had two settings is there a difference between the English and Finnish cultures?

CM: Here everyone talks to everyone else. In Finland, my brother says, they do not do small talk at all. They are very loyal. If someone makes friends with you, they are friends for life. Elea can appear quite standoffish but once people get to know her and she lets them in they see she has a heart of gold. Plus, the weather is different in that Finland has extreme cold winters.

EC: Did your professional experience help you write this story since you were a former police detective?

CM: Yes. Even the simple things like working with other colleagues including the banter and the emotional baggage. They call it here, the ‘thin blue line,” where a detective is personally involved but needs to remain professional and not get too emotional about the case. But of course, Elea does, which adds to the intensity of the story. All the cases I worked and the memories I had is like a tapestry.

EC: What about the Ice Angels?

CM: There were three original ones. Each walked home alone before they were snatched. Their parents were sent white feathers. One of the children was Liisa, the daughter of Detective Baker, who disappeared ten years before. The story has tried to find her own Ice Angel, her daughter, who also has a narrative. She was a mother first and a police officer second. She became broken, confident, passionate, loyal, has grief, sarcastic, and unpredictable.

EC: How would you describe Elea Baker?

CM: Having her child disappear put a strain on all her relationships including her marriage that eventually ended. This often happens in the case of missing children where the husband and wife cannot cope with the grief anymore and break up.

EC: What about Liisa, did she have Stockholm Syndrome?

CM: I wanted readers to think about it. Even I was not sure and could be open to interpretation. She had a very strong survival instinct and knew she had to placate them. During her entrapment she kept to herself, quiet, manipulated, lied too, and had a love/hate relationship with her captives. She never forgot her mom and the strong bond was evident. She could hear her mom’s voice in her head all the time.

EC: What about Swann, the lead detective on the new disappearance and Elea’s former husband?

CM: Elea tells him not to give up on Chelsea, one of the Lincoln girls who disappeared, like he gave up on Liisa. She is very hurt by how he acted. There is a scene in the book where he tells her, ‘You told me to leave,’ and she responds, ‘I did not think you would actually do it.’ He is currently jealous of her interactions with other men. He provided quiet strength for Elea at times. There was a weird dynamic because in Finland she was his boss, and now in England, he is her boss.

EC: What was the role of Swann’s current partner, Alice, who had a child with him?

CM: She is part of a love triangle. She is insecure and is uncomfortable with Elea around. She was a B – – – -. She was cruel and not a good person. She personally got pregnant to keep him. Alice has no redeeming qualities.

EC: How would you describe Liisa’s kidnappers?

CM: Psychopaths, evil, and took what they wanted without care or consequence for someone else.

EC: Next book?

CM: There is a sequel. Book two is titled The Night Watcher, coming out about this time next year. It is about a stalker and Elea consults on it, still in England. Readers will find out a lot more about the relationships with Elea, Liisa, and Swann.

THANK YOU!!

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BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.

Blog Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: Hakuna Matata: Paradise can be Hell by Stewart Giles

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for HAKUNA MATATA: Paradise can be Hell (A Jan Norge and Hilda Baker Thriller Book #1) by Stewart Giles on this Books ‘n’ All Blog Tour.

Below you will find a book description, my book review, and the author’s bio and social media links. Enjoy!

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Book Description

The first in the new series featuring detectives Jan Norge and Hilda Baker.

It starts with a body in a burned out car.

Jan Norge, recently transferred from Norway hits the ground running with his first case on UK soil.
The body in the car is just the start of a journey to hell and back.

As Jan and Hilda dig deeper into the cause of the burned out car, they find themselves drawn into a world of secrets, lies and murder.

Everything leads back to one family. On the surface, the Hunts are a normal, middle-class unit, but they’re anything but. All of them are keeping secrets from the others, and when these secrets turn deadly, Jan and Hilda run out of places to look.

In a case that has its roots on the paradise island of Zanzibar, Jan Norge and Hilda Baker have to disregard everything they believed about human nature in order to beat the most dysfunctional family either of them have ever come across.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245951080-hakuna-matata?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=sT2D0tSaPV&rank=1

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My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

HAKUNA MATATA: Paradise can be Hell (A Jan Norge and Hilda Baker Thriller Book #1) by Stewart Giles is an intriguing first crime thriller/British police procedural book in a new series featuring DS Hilda Baker and DC Jan Norge, a new transplant from Norwegian law enforcement, in the small town of Hartlepool, England. This is an interesting read with unique new characters, so you are going to want to start this series right here from the beginning.

Each chapter goes back and forth between the members of the Hunt family and the Hartlepool detectives. Starting with the dysfunctional Hunt family and their vacation in Zanzibar and at home in England, the discovery of a burned-out car containing a burned body. Hilda is a brash and talented DS who is paired up with the new member of their team, DC Jan Norge, who is a very talented detective, but he keeps secrets and is a Taylor Swift music lover. The two shouldn’t work, but they do. Lies, secrets and murder are a tangled web that Hilda and Jan must pull apart to get to the truth and find a killer.

This is an intriguing and fascinating start to this new series. The Hunt family is severely twisted and amoral. I liked how their story unfolded in opposing chapters with the investigation into their lives. I admit that the beginning of the book was a bit confusing, but once the investigation began to pull me in, I was hooked. Hilda and Jan are characters that always surprised me. Hilda seems very outspoken to be a small-town detective, but it worked because she also showed empathy when needed. Jan made me laugh with his Swiftie addiction, but as we learn of his past, it is heartbreaking. I am excited to read the next book in this series. Mr. Giles always gives me an intricately plotted crime thriller/police procedurals with surprising twists and these two new characters are going to be interesting to follow and see how they develop.

I highly recommend this riveting new crime thriller/British police procedural!

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Author Bio

After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.

In 2013 Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later.

3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC Harriet Taylor Cornwall series.

The Beekeeper was published and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.

I continued to self-publish the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor series and was published in July 2018.

After The Backpacker I had an idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brings together the brooding, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor. Dropzone followed shortly after and the third in the series, The Raven Girl finished things off.

Miranda is something totally different. What was to be a stand-alone psychological thriller, it is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before. The ending begged for a sequel and, Mistress was born. Medusa completes the Miranda trilogy.

There are now 25 DS Smith books available with many more planned for the future.

I wanted a break from the crime thriller genre so I came up with The Divide – a macabre horror tale of survival, but crime will always be my true love.

A new series featuring Irishman, DI Liam O’Reilly begins with Blood on the Island, and that was followed by ten more mysteries set on the island of Guernsey.

When I’m not writing I love sailing, guitars and jumping out of perfectly good planes. I’m lucky to have a huge lake on my doorstep as well as a world-class skydiving drop zone.

Social Media Links

Website: https://stewartgiles.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewart.giles.33

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hakuna-Matata-Paradise-Norge-thriller-ebook/dp/B0GDCWYCD6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=CICZE087Z5IH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OunjhqP9

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Still Waters and An Amish Baby in Her Arms by Patricia Johns

Still Waters and An Amish Baby in Her Arms by Patricia Johns have gripping plots. The characters in the stories must navigate their Amish life with their desires and wishes.

The characters of both books make for wonderful stories. Anyone who enjoys an intense plot, with riveting characters, should read these books.

Book Description

Unsure of her future within the Amish community, Beth Peachy arrives in Lancaster County for the summer to care for her ailing grandmother. Yet with dementia threatening to steal away Mammi’s memories, Beth’s visit quickly evolves into an urgent search for answers to questions that her relatives seem determined to avoid. How can Beth possibly make a lifelong vow to the Amish church when her own family is concealing so much of the past from her?

Beth’s childhood friend Danny Lapp faces his own dilemma as his ex-Amish older brother turns his back on their family upbringing, dishonoring his Plain heritage. Struggling to find some sort of connection with his brother despite their deep difference of opinion, Danny is determined to find a solution before church leadership becomes involved. As Beth and Danny reconnect and seek to help each other in their search for answers, they find themselves stirring up not only surprising revelations about the past, but questions about a possible future–together.

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Elise’s Thoughts

Still Waters has two of the female characters trying to navigate the Amish world versus the English world. Tabitha Schrock left the Amish faith because she wanted to become a veterinarian. Although she has no regrets about that choice, she decided to come back to the Amish community after divorcing her husband who cheated on her. She is getting closer to a friend, Jonas who is willing to help her. Unfortunately, they are attracted to each other but because of Amish rules they can never be married. Tabitha is not the only Amish character who is struggling with her life choices. There is also Beth Peachy who came to Lancaster County to help her ailing grandmother. She wants answers about her dad’s history since he just died. She is also struggling with her Amish faith since she wants to pursue things she enjoys. Danny Lapp is hoping Beth will stay in the Amish faith because he is in love with her.

A powerful subject matter is how Beth’s grandmother, Mammi, has the first signs of dementia. This presents anguish, grief, and peace with the characters since it is hard for Beth to get answers.

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Book Description

A widow reeling from loss…

Can the storm deliver her a family?

Miriam Yoder thought she’d never feel happy again after the loss of her husband and unborn child—until a baby is abandoned outside her workplace. Seeing this as an opportunity for her heart to heal, she cares for the helpless infant during a fierce storm with her late husband’s brother. But Amish farmer Isaac Yoder has been keeping secrets. Hiding them from Miriam as he temporarily works alongside her at his aunt’s chocolate shop is one thing…but caring for a baby together presents a new challenge. Can their growing connection withstand the weight of the truth and open Miriam’s heart again?

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Elise’s Thoughts

An Amish Baby in Her Arms is also a powerful book. The female lead, Miriam also questions parts of the Amish faith. She married her true love, Elijah, but he was a bad husband who drank, gambled, had infidelities, and abused her emotionally. She had a hard life after losing Elijah in an accident and the baby she was pregnant with. Now a feminist of sorts she has decided to never remarry and to be responsible for herself, never depending on a man again. Elijah’s brother Zach also has secrets since he was in love with Miriam and did not think she should marry Elijah.

They were thrown together in a storm after finding an abandoned baby. They navigated the dangerous weather to travel to her grandfather, but the storm got even worse and Zach had to stay there. Working alongside each other, caring for the baby, and being in such close contact, they both started having feelings for one another.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for Still Waters? Was it comparing life as an Amish person versus an English person?

Patricia Johns: I wanted to write about the well intentions of family and how different generations react to the traditions. The characters are struggling to find their place in life, and it is not all perfect.

EC: How would you describe Tabitha?

PJ: Tabitha has given up a lot since she has come back to the Amish life. She feels different and unique. She wants to fit in but also wants more from her life. She is impressive, confident, hopeful, lonely, and is compassionate. Right now, she feels like an outsider.

EC: How would you describe Jonas?

PJ: Jonas does not want to be under his father’s wing and to do something different, like raising sheep. He is loyal, trustworthy, and lonely.

EC: What about the relationship between Tabitha and Jonas?

PJ: He has only eyes for her and is frustrated because of their situation. They both have feelings for each other but realize there is no future.

EC: How would you describe Beth?

PJ: Beth’s family wants to believe that retaining an Amish faith will be an idyllic life. Yet, her family have many secrets they have not revealed. She is considerate, she questions if the Amish life can give her everything she wants. Because of this she is vulnerable, frustrated, and searches to find her place. She has a healthy rebellious streak because she constantly asks questions to get to the whole truth.

EC: What about the relationship between Danny and Beth?

PJ: She sees him at times unreasonable and feels he is not willing to bend or compromise. He wants to have the pure Amish experience. He does not want to acknowledge that times people do not have a great Amish life.

EC: What about the Beth’s dad experience?

PJ: He is the broken rule. He is the walking, talking exception. He is the key to the mystery.

EC: There is a lot in the book about the Amish traditions and rules. Please explain.

PJ: They only have education through the 8^th grade. Marriage is not allowed if divorced. Living in sin is absolutely forbidden. Women in the Amish community lead in the home but nowhere else. The problem comes up when the husband is no good then the women are very vulnerable.

EC: How did you get the idea for the book An Amish Baby in Her Arms?

PJ: I had this image in my head of a baby on a doorstep during a crushing storm.

EC: How would you describe Zach, the male lead?

PJ: Protective, feels guilty, has secrets, and is reserved. He questions why the Amish keeps the English at arm’s length. He has guilt surrounding his brother’s death, guilt about his feelings for his late brother’s wife, and guilt for not agreeing with the fact that the Amish separate themselves from everybody else.

EC: How would you describe Miriam?

PJ: She has grief over losing her baby and husband. She does not want to be reliant on any man again. Miriam is hardworking, stressed, kind, considerate, tough, and determined. She is an Amish feminist even though she herself would not describe herself in that way since she wants to support herself and not be reliant on a man again. She is not looking for a man to rescue her.

EC: What did Miriam go through while married to Elijah, who is now dead?

PJ: She has gone through a miserable heartbreaking experience and never wants to experience it again. She is determined not to put herself in that vulnerable position again. Her late husband, Elijah, broke her spirit, did not respect her, was irresponsible, uncaring, not devoted to her, caused her pain, disorder, unhappiness, and made her lose her self-esteem and sense of purpose.

EC: How would you compare Zach to Elijah?

PJ: Zach is the direct opposite of Elijah. He builds her up, is kind, and supportive. He makes her life easier, respects her, and sees her value.

EC: What is the role of the baby, Ivy?

PJ: She is most vulnerable who needs care and love. She is the catalyst that has Zach and Miriam opening their hearts to this baby, so their own hearts are more open to each other. They must work together to take care of this baby.

EC: What about the role of the storm?

PJ: It isolates Zach and Miriam together. It keeps the rest of the world out and forces them to deal with their personal problems.

EC: Next book?

PJ: It is titled Through the Valley and wraps up this series, “The Amish of Shepherd’s Hill.” The plot will have Tabitha’s long deserved, long awaited happily ever after. Although you could read this last book as a stand-alone you will appreciate it even more if the previous two books in the series are read first.

THANK YOU!!

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Book Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: For the Honor of the Empire by Andrew J. Harvey

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for FOR THE HONOR OF THE EMPIRE (The Honor Trilogy Book #2) by Andrew J. Harvey on this Black Phoenix Book Tour.

Below you will find a book description, my book review, an about the author section, and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

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Book Description

Haunted by the horrors of war and the weight of her new role as envoy to the Sultan Line, Margaret Peric reaches her breaking point. But with the support of her estranged mother, her devoted sister Louise, and a slowly healing bond with Markus Ackov and his daughter, Jessie, Margaret begins the long road to recovery.

Meanwhile, on the volatile world of Sultan, Jade Carvello and her partner Carlos Babineaux uncover a terrifying plot: eco-terrorists are preparing to unleash a devastating weapon-one that could destabilize the entire Cross-Temporal Empire. As Carlos walks a dangerous line between spycraft and exposure, Jade must protect Margaret, now a symbol of diplomatic hope, from enemies closing in on all sides.

But when a deadly bombing rocks the Sultan capital and Margaret is taken hostage, survival becomes uncertain. The conspiracy leads back to a line thought lost to history-and to a biological weapon born from its ancient secrets.

As the C-TE prepares for war, For the Honor of the Empire delivers a gripping story of political intrigue, emotional resilience, and interdimensional conflict-where loyalty and love must stand against terror, and redemption comes at the highest cost.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242874015-for-the-honor-of-the-agency?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=FRukz4A4Jr&rank=1

Universal link for the book on Amazon

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

FOR THE HONOR IF THE EMPIRE (The Honor Trilogy Book #2) by Andrew J. Harvey is the second exciting book in this sci-fi trilogy and it is so much more than middle book filler. The political intrigue, plot twists and surprises continue, along with the romances. Once you figure out the worldbuilding of multiverses, these books contain everything a good suspense thriller gives you and more.

As all the main players continue to try to discover who is biologically sabotaging the Mainline’s crops, this book focuses more on the action and political intrigue in the Sultan Line multiverse.

The book opens with Margaret Peric being discovered having attempted suicide due to her unresolved PTSD from the war. Margaret is asked by the First Leader to be the new diplomatic Ambassador to the Sultan Line and she believes she cannot handle the assignment on her own, but she also cannot refuse. With the support of Markus Ackov and his daughter, Margaret is thrown into a hornet’s nest of intrigue, political double cross, and anarchists. A bombing in the capital with hostages taken ratchets up the stakes and the tension.

This book in the trilogy focuses on Margaret and while it starts with her succumbing to her PTSD and insecurities, she then must attempt to find her warrior strength and determination, real or not, to carry on and lead. I loved reading more about Jade and Carlos’ relationship and their work to uncover who wants to destroy the Mainline, but while Margaret and Jade had two intertwining plotlines in the first book, I feel this book is much more focused on Margaret’s character arch and the political intrigue/thriller plotline. An intricate plot with plenty of action and fully developed characters had me wanting to not put this book down. I also had more understanding of the multiverse worldbuilding in this book, which made it even more enjoyable.

I highly recommend this intriguing second book in the Honor Trilogy and cannot wait to read the next!

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About the Author

Andrew spent his high-school years in the school’s library lost in the worlds of Andre Norton, Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov. Reading in turn led to writing, with the first draft of The Portal Adventures originally completed to read to his two sons at night. Now his children have left home he lives in Perth with his wife, one dog, and sixty four gold fish.

Andrew is presently the Principal of Hague Publishing, established in 2011 as an independent publisher of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Registered in Western Australia, it publishes original work by Australian and New Zealand authors.

Andrew’s first published short story (A Messenger to the Dragon) appeared in Aurealis – Australian Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1992. His most recent was the award winning 1827: Napoleon in Australia, which appeared in Sea Lion Press’ anthology Alternate Australias released in 2020.

His first novel, Nightfall (book one in the Clemhorn Trilogy) is an adult, alternate history set against the backdrop of the Cross-Temporal Empire and its fifty-four separate lines. Nightfall was released by Zmok Books in 2019. The series is distributed by Simon and Schuster.

Trouble on Teral and Crisis at Calista Station, the first two books in his new middle-grade, Science Fiction adventure series, The Portal Adventures, were released by Canada’s Peasantry Press in 2020. The open ended series is a combination of Caroline Lawrence’s Roman Mysteries and Andre Norton’s juvenile speculative fiction.

A passionate reader of Alternate History Andrew is working on completing a number of additional series of trilogies based on the Cross-Temporal Empire.

Social Media Links

Website: https://andrewjharvey.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndrewJHarveyAuthor

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/andrew-j-harvey

Book Tour/Feature Post and Mini Book Review: The Reluctant Pioneer by Julie McDonald Zander

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for THE RELUCTANT PIONEER by Julie McDonald Zander on this Black Coffee Book Tour.

Below you will find a book description, my mini book review, an about the author section, and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

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Book Description

Matilda Koontz cherishes her life as a wife and mother on a Missouri farm, but her hardworking husband wants to claim free farmland in the Pacific Northwest. When he suggests selling the farm to trek two thousand miles across the Oregon Trail, she balks.

But in the spring of 1847, Matilda and Nicholas Koontz and their sons embark on a grueling journey westward. Fresh graves testify to dangers of disease, accidents, starvation, and a multitude of hazards threatening her family and her beloved’s dream.

With new struggles at every turn, Matilda wonders how she can protect her sons on such a perilous journey. Will they reach the trail’s end? Will the babe growing inside her womb survive?

When tragedy strikes, the question changes: How can she possibly continue?

This pioneer woman’s journey is inspired by a true story.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218201752-the-reluctant-pioneer?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=clKBXcJyrB&rank=1

Universal link for the book on Amazon

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My Mini Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

THE RELUCTANT PIONEER by Julie McDonald Zander is a Christian historical fiction novel featuring a woman and her family’s journey westward from Missouri on the Oregon Trail in 1847. The story draws from real events and thorough research, making each scene feel immersive.

This is such an emotional read as you experience every step of the journey. Matilda is courageous and resourceful through all the trials of this journey. All the secondary characters are fully developed and I loved Matilda’s boys. I did have a bit of trouble with the slow start, but it did eventually pull me in, and I was even disappointed when it ended. I enjoyed this author’s writing in a previous book, and I do realize this is a Christian historical and based on a religious woman, but this story had too many religious references for me to thoroughly enjoy.

Overall, though, I found Matilda compelling, the story historically interesting and well researched, and well worth reading.

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About the Author

Julie McDonald Zander, an award-winning journalist, earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and political science from the University of Washington before working two decades as a newspaper reporter and editor. Through her personal history company, Chapters of Life, she has published more than 75 individual, family, and community histories. Her debut novel, The Reluctant Pioneer, won a Will Rogers Medallion and was a finalist for the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award for Best Historical Novel. She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest, where they raised their two children.

Social Media Links

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BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-reluctant-pioneer-by-julie-mcdonald-zander