Retired Postman Ronnie Jackson suffers from Dementia. He retains a very early hour of rising and on several occasions sees something suspicious at the Blackwaterfoot slipway. He does not believe. Can Ronnie make sense of what has happened to him and can he settle happily after his traumatic experiences?
Seaweed In My Hair
Central London gets Kate and Greg Bailey down. The skills of a hair stylist and a health club manager seem transferable to the Scottish Isle of Arran. But the move turns out to be a disaster for them both. As their relationship tears apart, Kate must survive traumatic events. Can she turn her world around on her own? Can she possibly find contentment in her life as the wild sea churns over and the fresh sea breezes blow in her direction?
About the Author:
Educated at the Reform Street, Primary school, Kirriemuir, Angus; Shawlands Primary Glasgow; The Glasgow Academy; Edinburgh University, London University and Glasgow University.
Miller’s first post was in Tema in Ghana as a Church of Scotland Missionary.After six years abroad he was appointed as an educational social worker in Stirling at St Modan’s Roman Catholic Secondary School.
In 2003 he became a full time author.
In 2006 he was appointed the Camp Manager at Mundihar, NWFP Pakistan, following the South East Asian Earthquake.
While I have not read the first book in “The Arran Trilogy,” “Murders at Blackwaterfoot,” I had no trouble reading these stories as a standalone. Below is my review of each tale.
Dementia Adventure was an exciting story, and I liked Ronnie in the lead. As Ronnie has dementia, I was curious to see how people perceived what he witnessed. While Ronnie is fascinating, I found it a bit odd how calm he appeared, especially in the Kilmarnock prison scenes. Nevertheless, the story is exciting because quite a lot happens to Ronnie in the short story, and I found the concept unique. I also liked John and Ranald and felt there could have more scenes with John.
Similarly, Seaweed in my Hair was also an entertaining read, where we follow Kate and her move to Arran that changes her life. I adored Kate as she went through a divorce, as well as a new relationship, along with some surprising moments revolving around Amal Zaidi. However, I felt that her relationship with Burce moved too fast, and I didn’t feel it was realistic for anyone to move into a relationship quickly.
As I mentioned earlier, the only criticism I have is that both the stories felt rushed. It would have been nice for the author to add more details to the plot and the characters and publish this as two separate books, rather than clubbing it into one. Nevertheless, I liked how the author described the quaint setting of Arran yet gave it a dark side with the mysteries that take place in it.
Overall, if you are looking for a short set of stories to read, do check out “Dementia Adventure and Seaweed In My Hair: Omnibus.”
Book Tour Schedule
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Dementia Adventure and Seaweed In My Hair by Miller Caldwell Blog Tour hosted by LoveBook Tours.
Once Upon Academy, where fairytales are real and princesses really do get happily ever afters.
To kick off the end of our first semester, Once Upon Academy is hosting the annual Winter Ball. A night full of magic, love and happy endings.
Join the descendants of classic fairytale characters as they navigate the prestigious halls of Once Upon Academy. Get boujee on the most magical night of the school year and experience a fairytale kiss under the mistletoe.
It’s a night you don’t want to miss.
About the Authors:
Breezy Jones lives in a small town in Florida with her husband, daughter, son and four furbabies, as a SAHM. If you ask what first got her into writing, she’ll tell you it was over the ending of Divergent. She remembers laughing at the first person to suggest that she could write a book, but chose to give it a shot. When she’s not writing Breezy splits her time among her many hobbies; reading, repainting dolls, makeup and graphic design, just to name a few.
Elle Klass is an award winning author. She currently lives in Florida with her family. To date she has written and published over twenty books, in varying genre’s including mystery, suspense, psychological thrillers, fantasy, sci-fi and contemporary fiction. When she’s not writing she’s spending time with family or friends, traveling, relaxing at home watching ghost and horror movies or listening to an audio book.
Valerie Puriis an author of Paranormal, Fantasy, and Young Adult. As an author of both short stories and novels, she enjoys the flexibility of writing tales of any length. Her favorite aspect of writing is the ability to create something out of nothing. She loves building worlds readers can visualize and filling those worlds with complex characters and storylines. Valerie believes that the experiences we have in life are just stories waiting to be written. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, or listening to audio books. She is a Florida transplant, but part of her will always call the Midwest home.
“Once Upon Academy Winter Ball” is the second book in the anthology series and equally fun as the first book.
I love how the creators teamed up for the concept of the book. We see characters from different fairy tales who attend the academy come together for the Winter Ball in this volume. However, they encounter drama, excitement, and other exciting thrills in the process. Having read the first book, I loved revisiting the characters from the first book, like Zeke, Perle, Ryder, and even Ms. Fay. Below is my review of each tale.
Mice and Magic: What a fun start to the series. While the story starts slowly, it is in full swing once Melanie and her posse wreak havoc. Cindy is great as she tries to communicate with Eton and Raven, and I wondered what would happen.
Secrets of the Ring: Mandevar and Grenna return in another tale, and I loved the storyline with the Djinn, the ring, and the carpet. Ida is an interesting character, and I enjoyed the scenes with Mande hearing his mother.
Perle of Love: This was my favorite story in the book! I loved how the author wrote Zeke and the conflicting feelings of feeling defective and disappointed. Similarly, Perle’s storyline is gripping with what happens with Tilda.
Fear No Raven: This one was interesting because of the twist between Balen and Astrid on trying to kill him. The author wrote their romance beautifully and almost had a gothic feel.
Shadowed Hearts: A sweet conclusion to the anthology featuring one of my favorite characters Ryder and his feelings for Gemma.
Overall, “Once Upon Academy Winter Ball” is a beautiful addition to the series, and I hope the writers continue to make more!
Giveaway:
1 Winner will receive a $25 Amazon GC, International.
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Once Upon Academy Winter Ball Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
Welcome to Once Upon Academy where Magic is real and Princesses really do have happily ever afters.
Once Upon a time, in the realm of Fairytales there is a little known school only the best are accepted to attend. The Academy is deep inside the fantasy forest hidden in plain sight. When those who have not been invited in, they see a normal school, brick and mortar but when the acceptance letter is received it becomes the beautiful estate for those to continue their college education in the magical world.
Join the descendants of classic fairytale characters as they navigate through their college lives at the prestigious Once Upon Academy.
About the Authors:
Breezy Jones lives in a small town in Florida with her husband, daughter, son and four furbabies, as a SAHM. If you ask what first got her into writing, she’ll tell you it was over the ending of Divergent. She remembers laughing at the first person to suggest that she could write a book, but chose to give it a shot. When she’s not writing Breezy splits her time among her many hobbies; reading, repainting dolls, makeup and graphic design, just to name a few.
Elle Klass is an award winning author. She currently lives in Florida with her family. To date she has written and published over twenty books, in varying genre’s including mystery, suspense, psychological thrillers, fantasy, sci-fi and contemporary fiction. When she’s not writing she’s spending time with family or friends, traveling, relaxing at home watching ghost and horror movies or listening to an audio book.
Valerie Puri is an author of Paranormal, Fantasy, and Young Adult. As an author of both short stories and novels, she enjoys the flexibility of writing tales of any length. Her favorite aspect of writing is the ability to create something out of nothing. She loves building worlds readers can visualize and filling those worlds with complex characters and storylines. Valerie believes that the experiences we have in life are just stories waiting to be written. When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, or listening to audio books. She is a Florida transplant, but part of her will always call the Midwest home.
Kerry Evelyn is the author of the Crane’s Cove series, #sweetresortromance set in Coastal Maine, and several short stories that span multiple genres. She’s also a Guest Author for the Cat’s Paw Cove romance series. A native of the Massachusetts SouthCoast, Kerry changed her latitude in 2002 and now calls the Orlando area home.
Toni is a stay at home wife and mother living in rural Alabama with her husband, daughter, and two dogs, Trixie and Dixie. When she isn’t writing, she can be found reading or spending time with her family and friends. Even though winter is her favorite season, she enjoys the summer months because that means spending time on the lake with her favorite mermaid princess. She loves tattoos, rock, coffee, traveling. Her biggest traveling dream is to visit Ireland.
Valerie Willis is a sixth generation Floridian who loves crafting novels with elements inspired by Mythology, Superstitions, Legends, Folklore, Fairy Tales and even history. In 2018, she received the Reader’s Favorite Bronze medal in Fiction – Mythology and FAPA’s President’s Silver medal in Fantasy/Sci-fi. She braved the Independent Publish route at the end of 2012 and has devoted herself for being a pillar of “Self-Publishing How-to” from formatting of both print and digital versions to book cover designs.
“Once Upon Academy” is a creative collection of fantasy stories of students with special powers getting admission to the Once Upon Academy, and it was delightful! Below are my thoughts on the tales.
Bird’s Eye View – What an excellent start to the anthology! I loved the chemistry between Nettie and Reggie, and the plot was grand!
Song of the Reaper – I liked Lyra in the lead as she joins OUA and undergoes training of Reaperhood. The story has exciting moments, like when Lyra plays the flute.
Sense & Sensitivity – I loved that this story focused on subjects in the academy like herbology. Quilo is fascinating, and my favorite moment was Adeline’s incident in the Enchanted Woods.
Swindled Hearts – One of my favorite stories in the anthology! I loved Ryder and his chemistry with Gemma surrounding the emerald. Even Jackson was fun.
Perle of Wisdom – Another lovely tale about Perle fitting in, and I enjoyed the mystery surrounding Zeke.
Bone Stars – Another highlight in the book. I enjoyed Grenna and Mandevar’s scenes together, especially how mysterious he was. Moreover, the story had hints of a fun Hansel and Gretel retelling.
A Stormy Romance: This story was fun because of the crossover with characters from the other stories, and I liked the dynamics between Aina and Taren, especially when there is another girl in the picture.
The King’s Son and Little Gem – Perhaps the most extended story in the anthology but entertaining. Hesse and Kalmin sizzle. I loved Sebastian and the backdrop of Valkyrie history.
Taming Her Might – a sweet story that I enjoyed because there was hardly any romance and focused only on Celeste, her powers, and dragons!
Malefic Mixology – An amicable conclusion with teen drama with Stephan and Li Feng.
Giveaway:
1 Winner will receive a $25 Amazon GC, International.
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Once Upon Academy Winter Ball Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
Erica Winchat, a young writer overwhelmed by the stress of her first book contract, discovers thirteen curious items tangled in the flotsam on the Scottish beach of Tràigh Lar. Erica tells the intriguing story of the owner of each of these items, uncovering a series of dramatic events—from a Chicago widow’s inspiring visit to Quebec City to a shrimper’s daughter facing Tropical Storm Ruby in North Carolina.
The thirteenth item, a concert laminate badge, inspires Erica’s novella Fan Girls, in which the separate stories of four fans of the Scottish rock band Datha unfold in first person, culminating in their reunion at a concert in Chicago—a show where a shooting takes place.
About the Author:
DIANNE EBERTT BEEAFF is the award-winning author of five previous published books. Her poetry, watercolors, graphite drawings, and magazine articles have been featured throughout the United States and Canada. Also, Dianne and her husband, Dan, reside in Tucson, Arizona, USA, and are the parents of two children.
“On Traigh Lar Beach” is a remarkable collection of short stories that makes you ponder life.
To begin with, I loved how the author structured the book, where Erica and Greyson visit the beach, and they see random items and wonder how they got there. What follows is a sequence of short stories revolving around a different character, with a piece of thing, and each of them moves you somehow. I enjoyed many moments in the stories, like Melody Rose Beckman with her authoritative mother, Brook with her challenges of being a nurse, and even Mari’s story about how she feels self-conscious as she looks back in her life. Moreover, the author also changes the writing style in some tales, and I loved the epistolary touch in the story where emails get shared between Shanty and Tilda about Robin. On a side note, I also loved the floral illustrations we get at the beginning of each chapter, as that gave the book a vintage look.
The main story, of course, is the Fan Girls, which is an entertaining novella. We follow four women, Annie, Emily, Dana, and Chelsea, who are all fans of Datha. The author writes each tale uniquely, where you feel for Emily’s liberation and wonder how Michael and Dana’s relationship would work out. However, my favorite character was Annie, as she goes on her journey to see Raine. Quite a few thrilling moments surround this character, like when she confronts Giorgio, making the tale memorable.
Overall, “On Traigh Lar Beach” is a charming collection of stories that might seem random at times but will nevertheless make you think about our lives and the history of objects the next time you go to the beach.
Book Tour Schedule
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the On Traigh Lar Beach by Dianne Ebertt Beeaff Blog Tour hosted by Suzyapproved Book Tours.
Step into nine eerie lives where the obvious is behind the door, and the surprises are just a page turn away.
Family secrets a girl struggles to suppress, a man trapped by a woman’s bones. It also includes a couple of killers and a touch of madness.
“Dark and twisted with a sting in every tale.” Cass Green, Sunday Times bestselling author of In a Cottage in a Wood
About the Author:
Through her poignant non-fiction, fast-paced fantasy adventures, and adult fiction, Liane Carter bares her soul. And thus, she devotes her time giving her readers smiles, tears and tension. She is the author of ‘The Chronicles of Joya,’ ‘The Fig Bean and the Huvri.’ Also ‘The Dream Devils,’ ‘Darcy The Dog Who Talked,’ ‘Tammy The Little Cat With A Big Attitude.’ She has written features and a weekly column for Costa Blanca News, articles for Writing Magazine, Besides, she has taught over 150 writing workshops. She pours her innate joy into her books and expresses it in nature, playing instruments, creating art, and dancing.
“Snuggle with the Strange” is a gripping collection of nine short stories that will send a chill up your spine (and gave me goosebumps in a few as well).
The first thing that stood out in the book was the variety of horror/suspense stories. Each story is different from the other and makes you feel something different. You get tales involving strange creatures, disturbed individuals, and much more. This book is the first one I read of the author, but I would love to check out more of her books.
Two of my favorite stories were “Victoria’s Violin” and “He Looked like my first mistake.” I have a soft spot for psychological thrillers and thought the author wrote these two stories beautifully. Both stories involve the characters finding themselves in situations where emotional manipulation and their reaction in such circumstances. Moreover, I loved Jemma’s character in the second one and how they plan to get back on Mike.
Still, the rest of the stories are also intriguing in their way. “The Bone Chair” gave me goosebumps because of its sadistic nature, and this was one of the most disturbing in the collections. Similarly, “The Flight,” “A Killer like Me,” and “Life in the Shed” were gripping but felt too short. “The Reason in the Rain” and “The Power of the Weed” were also very entertaining but had similar plot endings. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading them all.
To summarize, “Snuggle with the Strange” is the perfect book to pick up if you love horror anthologies like “The Twilight Zone” and are in the mood for some suspense and macabre.
Release: April 20th, 2021 Format: Ebook Publisher: Hanover Square Press Source: Amazon Find it atGoodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, Kobo.
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The latest Mystery Writers of America story collection, featuring terrifying tales of encounters with strangers from some of the top bestsellers and award winners in crime fiction
It’s been said that all great literature boils down to one of two stories. A man takes a journey, or a stranger comes to town. Always mystery writers have been successfully using both approaches for generations. However, there’s something undeniably alluring like a stranger either as an uninvited guest, the unacquainted neighbor, or the fish out of water.
No matter how or where they appear, strangers are walking mysteries. They are complete unknowns in once familiar territories who disrupt our lives with unease and wonder. In the Mystery Writers of America’s newest collection of stories, each author weaves a fresh tale. An eerie feeling comes when a stranger enters our midst—these feature stories by prolific mystery writers such as Michael Connelly, Dean Koontz, and Joe Hill.
About the Author:
Michael Koryta is the New York Times-bestselling author of 14 suspense novels. Stephen King and many others have praised his work. They have been translated into more than 20 languages. His books have won nominations for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize etc. Various publications as diverse as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal have selected them as “best books of the year.”
His recent thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead was the summer’s best thriller in Amazon and Entertainment Weekly.
Before turning to write full-time, Michael worked as a private investigator and as a newspaper reporter. And he taught at the Indiana University School of Journalism. As a journalist, he won numerous awards from the Society of Professional Journalists.
Michael was from Bloomington, Indiana, and graduated from Bloomington North High School in 2001. Later he graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Michael’s passions outside of writing and reading involve various outdoor pursuits like hiking, camping, boating, and fishing when he’s not working on a new book. Some of his favorite spots in the world are the Beartooth Mountains, the setting of Those Who Wish Me Dead, and a place to which he returns at least twice a year.
“When a Stranger Comes to Town” was such a treat to read.
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I enjoyed reading this anthology of mystery and thrillers. The book contains an eclectic selection of stories that kept me entertained. This book has a wide variety of stories, from assassins to U.F.O.s. Moreover, the tone of each level is different from one another. You have tales like “Assignment: Sheepshead Bay,” “Avalon,” and “Exit Now” that fills with adventure. Then, there were stories like “Kohinoor,” which I appreciated for its brutal depiction of Indian exotic club dancers. Similarly, even “Tokyo Stranger” moved my heart as it came across as an emotional tale. However, while I enjoyed all the stories, the below topped my list and made the book memorable.
A Six-Letter Word for Neighbor: I loved the slow burn mystery and Jay as the main character. The author wrote it in a thrilling, cozy mystery fashion glued to the pages (particularly when they get in the basement).
Here’s to New Friends: Probably one of my favorites! A simple tale with just three people on a train. But, I was at the edge of my seat throughout, and the ending shocked me!
A Different Kind of Healing/Solomon Wept: I loved both these stories for their tale of revenge and justice, and it reminded me of “Kill Bill.”
P.F.A.: Janice made this story memorable and had me laughing. I loved her snarky attitude towards the new neighbors, and it had a delightfully twisted ending too.
The remaining stories were also fun, like “Seat 2C” and “Room for one more,” but felt short and light compared to the others. Nevertheless, this is a beautiful selection of novellas which I highly recommend if you are a fan of mysteries and thrillers!
In the summer of love, or rather of madness, there emerges a whole set of stories . But there is one that has got everyone talking. Kurt Vannes decides to win back his ex-girlfriend with the help of a literary classic. He triggers a string of events that will build to a dramatic finale.
About the Author:
Alex Raphael is Half-Welsh, half-Mexican and grew up in London. He started writing when at college. He writes in particular on poetry and short stories.
Studying English and American Literature at university meant he took a break from writing. This gave him the chance to see more of Mexico on his travels. He concentrated on his journalistic career while working on different writing projects. His favourite genre of literature has been short stories that inspired him to write.
The Summer of Madness, is a romantic short story about a guy who goes out to try to win his ex-girlfriend back. They are a memorable set of characters along for the ride.
His second book Illusions, Delusions reflects Raphael’s love of alternative short stories from the writers of his childhood ..It deals with different styles of the narrative in the form of a questionnaire, a poem or a set of jokes.
Alex Raphael is currently working on his third collection of short stories, with his trademark imagination, humour and memorable dialogue with distinctive characters.
This was an adorable short story that made me want to revisit Wuthering Heights.
I love romance novels, whether it is feel-good or a tragic tale. Although this is a very quick read (of less than 50 pages), the author did a wonderful job in making you fall in love with the idea of romance. As Kurt says in the story, we always root for the main character to win the love of his life, no matter how ridiculous the method is. I was curious to know if the story is based off real events the author experienced, as he wrote in such a personal manner. He tells the story in simple, yet alluring manner.
Let’s not forget the references to Bronte’s classic. The character recites passages from Wuthering Heights that made me want to re-read the classic. Moreover, I really liked Kurt as the main character and thought he was charming. What’s really nice is that the author also contradicts the character’s actions from the questions that strangers ask him. Hence, it was nice getting both perspectives of the situation. On one hand, I loved Kurt’s determination to win back his love. However, on the other hand, I could also understand that it came across as he was stalking and pressurizing her by doing this.
The story also ends in a bitter sweet manner which makes it memorable. I hope the author writes an anthology of such stories/novellas and publishes them as he has a wonderful talent for writing romance.
Overall, even if you are not an avid reader, you will love this short story if you are in the mood for a nice romance novel.
Book Tour Schedule
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the The Summer of Madness by Alexander Raphael Blog Tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources.
Release: August 11, 2020 Format: Ebook Publisher: Flame Tree Press Source:Random Things Tours Find it at: Amazon, B&N
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Vintage Crime is a CWA anthology with a difference, celebrating members’ work over the years. The book will gather stories from the mid-1950s until the twenty-first century by great names of the past, great names of the present together with a few hidden treasures by less familiar writers. The first CWA anthology, Butcher’s Dozen, appeared in 1956, and Julian Symons, Michael Gilbert, and Josephine Bell co edited the book. The anthology has been edited by Martin Edwards since 1996, and has yielded many award-winning and nominated stories in the UK and overseas.
To summarize, this new edition includes an array of incredible and award-winning authors: Robert Barnard, Simon Brett, Liza Cody, Mat Coward, John Dickson Carr, Marjorie Eccles, Martin Edwards, Kate Ellis, Anthea Fraser, Celia Fremlin, Frances Fyfield, Michael Gilbert, Paula Gosling, Lesley Grant-Adamson, HRF Keating, Bill Knox, Peter Lovesey, Mick Herron, Michael Z. Lewin, Susan Moody, Julian Symons and Andrew Taylor.
About the Author:
Martin Edwards (editor) is the author of eighteen novels,including the Lake District Mysteries,and the Harry Devlin series. Besides, his ground-breaking genre study The Golden Age of Murder has won the Edgar, Agatha,and H.R.F.Keating awards. Martin has also edited twenty eightcrime anthologies. He has won the CWA Short Story Daggerand the CWA Margery Allingham Prize. He is also series consultant for the British Library’s Crime Classics.
If you are a fan of crime fiction, you must read this book. Most of the stories listed are gripping and very entertaining. I read them all and have categorized them as per the below:
My Top Three:
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Below are my top three stories that made the book so memorable!
Footprint in the Sky: AMAZING! The best one in the collection. A perfect blend of suspense and crime as Dorothy wonders if she murdered someone while sleepwalking.
Top Deck: I loved Keith and his curiosity to know if his boss murdered someone or not. The twist is something I did not expect.
Moving on – One of my favorites. You don’t know who is the crazy one between Martin and Gerard. They both act suspiciously over Anna’s death and had me guessing.
What I Loved
The below stories were also delightful and I loved reading them.
Strolling in the Square One Day: Quarles is interesting in the story. I enjoyed the way he he tries to get the photos from the blackmailer and how he tries to solve the case.
The Service Flat:A gripping tale of a woman who feels that someone is using her flat when she is not at home. The story is short and suspenseful where you don’t know if Marion is crazy or if something sinister is happening in her flat.
The Nuggy Bar – A very simple story, but so nice in the way the author narrates it. I loved the details, research and the project planning that Hector implements for the perfect murder.
The Woman who Loved Elizabeth David – Another standout suspense crime tale. One of the creepiest scenes in this book where the protagonist hides rats to get her revenge.
In those Days – A very disturbing tale about a women who writes a letter to a man detailing the events to his sister’s death. I loved the way the author tells the story via letters.
Turning Point– An adultery themed crime tale. I enjoyed this mainly due to the Mel’s feelings for Philip.
The Hand that feeds me – This was beautiful and different as told from a dog’s perspective! A very interesting collection to the anthology.
What I Liked
While the below stories are not as great as the ones listed above, they are still very entertaining.
The woman who had everything – A very entertaining black comedy that is different from the others.
The Perfect Alibi– A fun story with twists and turns, but I found the sergeant and the rookie annoying.
Nowhere to be found– An interesting tale that starts off well. However, the ending felt weak.
Money is Honey– Great start to the anthology. Although the reveal appears suddenly, I wanted to find out what happened to Mr. Mallet.
Cuckoo in the Wood – The shortest story in the anthology. It is a nice story but too short to be memorable.
Melusine – A classic crime tale of jealousy and possessiveness. This was very entertaining.
All She Wrote – A nice end to the book, and a twist that made the story memorable.
What I wanted to like, but couldn’t
I am sure there are readers who found the following stories fascinating. However, they were either lengthy, convoluted or confusing for my taste. These were “The Egyptian Garden”, “Sins of Scarlet”, “Interior, With Corpse”, “Cold and Deep” and “Inspector Ghote and the Noted British Author” (which was unfortunate because I loved the references to India, but couldn’t grasp the plot)
Overall, this collection offers an eclectic range of crime novels from various decades and has something for everyone.
Book Tour Schedule
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Vintage Crime from CWA by Martin Edwards Blog Tour hosted by Random Things Tours.
Release: May 8th 2020 Format: Ebook Publisher: The Roaring Lion Newcastle Ltd Source:RABT Book Tours Find it at: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Kobo,
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The first collection of short stories by this multi-talented author entwines everyday events that are articulated in excellent storytelling. The title story Inferno of Silence portrays men’s societal challenges and the unspoken truths and burdens . While Black lives Matter shows the firsthand trauma of a man facing racism as a footballer plying his trade in Europe. Similarly, in Return Journey, we encounter a techpreneur/ Poet/Serial Womanizer confronting consequences of his past actions.
Blinded by Silence, is about a couple united by love must face a political upheaval changing their fortune. Also, Trouble in Umudike deals with family wealth and marriage. Then, in Everybody don Kolomental , the main character deals with mental health issues. In the Trap of Seers when one’s life is on auto-reverse and with the death of her intimate mother as she takes us through her ordeal and journey to redemption. Thus, this is a broad and very inclusive collection
About the Author:
Tolu’ A. Akinyemi hails from Nigeria and lives in the UK where he has been endorsed by the Arts Council England as a writer with “exceptional talent”. Moreover, he is the author of seven outstanding books, one of which is a collection of ‘short essays’ encouraging you to “Unravel Your Hidden Gems”. Also, the five other books form the basis of his poetry collection, ripe for future growth, and which includes Dead Lions Don’t Roar, Dead Dogs Don’t Bark, Dead Cats Don’t Meow, Never Play Games with the Devil and his latest release, A Booktiful Love. He has also authored a widely acclaimed stellar collection of Short stories titled “Inferno of Silence”.
A former headline act at Great Northern Slam, Crossing The Tyne Festival, Feltonbury Arts and Music Festival, and featured in various Poetry Festivals, Open Slam, Poetry Slam, Spoken Word and Open Mic events in and outside the United Kingdom.
His poems have appeared in the 57th issue (Volume 15, no 1) of the Wilderness House Literary Review, The Writers Cafe Magazine Issue 18, GN Books, Lion and Lilac and elsewhere.
Moreover, his books are based on a deep reality and often reflect relationships, life and features people he has met in his journey as a writer. They have instilled many people to improve their performance and/or their circumstances. Tolu’ has taken his poetry to the stage, performing his written word at many events. Similarly, through his writing and these performances, he supports business leaders, other aspiring authors and people of all ages interested in reading and writing. Sales of the books have allowed Tolu’ donate to charity, allowing him to make a difference where he feels important, showing that he lives by the words he puts to page.
“Inferno of Silence” provides a variety of short stories covering diverse issues and makes it a very compelling read.
While all the stories are different from one another, my top three favorites was “Black Lives Matter”, “Inferno of Silence” and “In the Trap of Seers”. In fact, “Inferno of Silence” was the standout for me. My heart went out to the main character for trying to stay positive and have hope. A man’s masculinity is judged by how ‘alpha’ he acts in society. Hence, the story beautifully depicts how even men are ostracized in society for being weak if they step away from the norm.
Moreover, the author makes some valid points like how people should be tolerant and ALL lives should matter in “Black Lives Matter”. “In the Trap of Seers” was also interesting on the prejudices a girl faces in society for not behaving a certain way. Similarly, the remaining stories also cover a variety of issues like trauma, depression, mental issues, and social stigma. Each story has something unique to offer, which makes this collection very interesting.
However, there are a few things which I felt could have been better. For instance, there are some terms that I did not understand like “Kolanut” and “Yoruba”. I would have liked the author to mention a footnote or a glossary for these. Also, there were few scenes which felt over descriptive, with mentions of secondary characters, who do not make a physical appearance. This made few of a the passages a bit difficult to read.
Apart from that, I thought “Inferno of Silence” offered a dynamic selection to keep the reader entertained.
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Inferno of Silence by Tolu’ A. Akinyemi Blog Tour hosted by RABT Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
Devil’s Ways Anthology Authors: Nancy Kress, Ben Loory, R. S. A. Garcia, Michael Swanwick, Andy Duncan, Curtis C. Chen, Darrell Schweitzer, Imogen Howson, Edwina Harvey, Avram Davidson, J. M. Sidorova, Nancy Kress, (Edited by Anna Kashina and J. M. Sidorova) Release: June 25, 2020 Format: Ebook Publisher: Dragonwell Publishing Source:Rockstar Book Tours Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
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There is no light without dark, no highlights without shadows and no good without evil. The Devil is where things happen. Where stories begin. This collection brings together stories from multiple cultures, featuring the Devil both as an abstract concept and a creature, a terror, a force of nature, an enemy, a trickster, and so many more.
Step into the world of shadows, and travel through Devil’s many incarnations spanning centuries of history and myth, from the Ancient Greece, African and Caribbean folklore, dark ages in Europe, all the way to the present day.
This anthology features new and established authors from diverse, multicultural backgrounds.
About the Authors:
Founded in 2012, Dragonwell Publishing is based in the US Northeast and publishes 4-6 books a year, focusing mostly on science fiction and fantasy. Dragonwell Publishing titles have been featured by Publishers Weekly, ForeWord Magazine, RT Book Reviews, San Francisco Book Reviews, and Portland Book Reviews, and highlighted by Historical Novel Society and Mythopoetic Society. Their books have been among the winners of the 2013 ForeWord Book of the Year Award and 2014 Independent Publishers Book Award.
I love reading creepy short stories, and this book offers a very nice collection of them! What struck out about this anthology is how different each of the stories are. There is a variety of themes, cultures and folklore mentioned. Moreover, each story stands out in its own manner.
“Of Finest Scarlet Was her Gown” was my favorite story! I loved everything about the story and how Su-Yin goes to the depths of hell just to bring her father back. My second favorite story was “The Hag”. The story has a nice medieval setting, and what the knight experiences in the woods is terrifying. “Frayed Tapestry” was my third favorite story and I loved how Candy tries to find out what is happening to her.
A lot of the other stories were nicely written too. “Fire in his eyes, Blood on his teeth” was very nice and felt like a wonderful Gothic revenge love story. “Unto the Daughter” was an interesting take on Adam and Eve from the devil’s point of view. Also, I liked the quick small tales like “Death and the Lady” and “The Fisherman”.
However, I did not give this book a 5 star rating was because I felt a few of them were too confusing. Even though “Nzembe” is unique in its own way with the African folklore, I didn’t get a clear view of the evil mentioned. Also, I felt like some of the stories were not really scary in any manner. For example, “Where is Evil” is also a nice story that changes our perception of good and evil, but there was no horror element to it.
Overall, “Devil’s Ways Anthology” offers a nice variety of creepy short stories about good vs. evil and our perceptions of them.
Giveaway:
Enter the giveaway to win $10 Amazon Gift Card, International!
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the DEVIL’S WAYS ANTHOLOGY Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
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