Chanticleer Book Reviews

Category: Reviews

  • The SEARCH (ACROSS the GREAT DIVIDE, Book II) by Michael L. Ross – Christian Historical Fiction, Western Romances, Multicultural Romance

    The SEARCH (ACROSS the GREAT DIVIDE, Book II) by Michael L. Ross – Christian Historical Fiction, Western Romances, Multicultural Romance

    The Search (Across the Great Divide: Book II) by Michael L. Ross brings to life the history and events of the Westward Expansion in a post-Civil War US. In this sequel to The Clouds of War (Book I), we once again follow Will Crump, now a young Confederate Veteran, a POW survivor, and a sufferer from what must be PTSD. With the war over, nightmares and tension with the family disrupt his life and plans to marry his pre-war sweetheart. He wants to get away from civilization, build a little cabin in the mountains, and live in peace. 

    Will strikes out on his horse Dusty and soon picks up a stray dog he names Lightening. Both animals play essential roles in Will’s survival throughout his journey, and readers will worry for and root for them as much as for Will as they face the wild west head-on. 

    Early on, Will witnesses a native woman trying to escape two native men who seem to be holding her captive. When he realizes her life is in jeopardy, Will jumps into action and puts his sharpshooting skills to work. At this point, Will struggles to control his incapacitating panic amidst the flashbacks brought on by firing his rifle. He rescues the young woman, Dove, and they travel together. 

    The last thing Will finds is peace, and he begins to think that coming west might have been a mistake. Nevertheless, he and Dove reach Fort Laramie, where Will grows to respect and even love a native woman. Nevertheless, he has made a vow to return her to her people, and he will not rest until he has done so.

    There are a host of characters surrounding Will, many of whom come directly from history. Through extensive research into the events of the time, Ross has developed a plot and narrative that is believable and entertaining. History comes alive with his expert storytelling prowess, and he does not shy away from incorporating the brutal attitudes of the US government and its citizens toward Indigenous peoples.  

    Ross remains true to his story, and the result is a read that will not disappoint. This book can easily be read as a stand-alone book but might inspire readers to go back and read Book I and anticipate Book III’s release. For fans of Ross and stories set around the Civil War-era, or those new to the historical fiction of the Westward Expansion, this novel informs and entertains in a fast-paced, page-turner that is stunning in its descriptions and satisfying to the very end. 

    Ross uses one character, Gabe, as a sympathetic lens to expose the subtle differences between the tribes and that of the whites that overrun native hunting lands. Gabe serves as a go-between for Will in his pursuit of returning Dove to her father and in negotiations for the couple’s marriage. 

    Within the context of the settlers’ infringement on the migratory nature of indigenous people, the story unfolds. The Indigenous peoples’ very way of life is threatened and pressed to acts of desperation, leaving readers to wonder if Will and Dove’s story will ever come to fruition. 

     

  • SCEPTER of FLINT (The Lord Hani Mysteries, Book 3) by N. L. Holmes – Historical Mysteries, Historical Mystery, Historical Thriller & Suspense Fiction

    SCEPTER of FLINT (The Lord Hani Mysteries, Book 3) by N. L. Holmes – Historical Mysteries, Historical Mystery, Historical Thriller & Suspense Fiction

    The yearning for justice is a heartfelt sentiment that has stirred people through the ages. The price for justice can be high, and it’s not always predictable who will pay. In this third Lord Hani mystery of ancient Egypt, Lord Hani is confronted with a puzzling dichotomy. It’s a pool of two truths that cannot coexist. And for Lord Hani, neither truth has the desired outcome. Yet, the King has assigned him to solve this mystery of the stealthy tomb robbers. They have broken into several sacred resting places and stolen valuable contents meant to sustain the spirits of those who passed on. Lord Hani must uncover the secret leader to stop these villains, the one determined to wield a Scepter of Flint to spark fires of division, suspicion, desperation, and greed.

    As Lord Hani begins the investigation with his reliable assistant and son-in-law Maya, longtime enemy Mahu the police chief continually shows up looking for trouble and looking to get Hani off what Mahu sees as his case. However, Hani continues to puzzle out the mystery of the tomb robbers, why their crimes have started now, and where they may strike next. As he follows the clues, he finds more to this spree than robbery – much more. And now, it’s not just property that is threatened. Now lives are at stake.

    Interviewing suspects and witnesses keeps Hani busy between the political new capital and the beloved old capital, a boat ride apart. He and Maya are not alone in their pursuit for the truth; generations of his passionate family, including his father, brother, dear wife, and daughter, join in. From their diverse interests and work Hani gleans insightful information. To make matters even more dire, a terrifying plague sprouts in the capital. So extra care must be taken, and their days are surrounded by the tragedy of the illness.

    What Hani ultimately uncovers is shocking, and in the end, the reach of the scepter will put his family and many other innocents at risk. Hani’s trust in others – even his boss – will be tested. If he makes the wrong choices, more innocent victims will suffer. If Hani can’t complete his fight for justice in time, will they all succumb to the Scepter of Flint?

    While tomb robberies serve to remind all that nothing on this earth is guaranteed to last, and political forces are turning intolerant toward divergent views, those connected to Lord Hani have the company of a true and trusted friend. Hani and his wife keep a house that is as busy as ever with family and friends coming and going. It often feels like a safe harbor, where all are welcome.

    N.L. Holmes arms her fascinating characters with motives and dreams that tug at the heart and places them in a world of highly relatable circumstances. Because Holmes masterfully lays out the unique story and situation of each character, there are no real minor characters. She contrasts the very human foibles with the stunning descriptive passages of the natural beauty surrounding these characters, if only they appreciate it. The reader certainly does. The author’s poetic depictions capture the spirit and renders us helpless in her grasp, then she draws us back to conspiracies, machinations, and perilous plot twists that spark fears of the Scepter of Flint.

    The third book in the Lord Hani mysteries, Scepter of Flint, will keep readers glued to the page – and dying for the next book in the series, The North Wind Descends. Those who are new to the series will undoubtedly want to read the first two books, Bird in a Snare and The Crocodile Makes No Sound.

     

  • END of the RACE by Judith Kirscht – Contemporary Literature, Family Drama, Women’s Literature, Women’s Fiction

    END of the RACE by Judith Kirscht – Contemporary Literature, Family Drama, Women’s Literature, Women’s Fiction

    An intricate mystery set in a small fictional town in northern Michigan, End of the Race is contemporary fiction at its finest. Annika Wolfson is a young mother and accomplished swimmer that has faced adversity in many areas of her life. Growing up in the Berglund household was rarely quiet for Annika because her father struggled with mental health and his unwavering feud against the affluent Wolfson family. Despite the long feud between the two families, Brian Wolfson and Annika bond as kids over swimming and their dream of the Olympics. Fast-forward a handful of years, Brian and Annika are now married and have a daughter. Their dreams of Olympic gold have been close to reality but always just out of reach.

    After facing defeat in Athens a few years prior, Annika dives back into training for one last shot at Olympic gold, but then tragedy strikes. While in a low and vulnerable place, her husband Brian leaves to go on a sailing trip with friends from college and ends up missing. As Annika tries to unravel what has happened to her husband, she begins to suspect that the Wolfsons are not all they appear on the surface. Navigating a complicated family dynamic, she races to find answers as her life comes crumbling down around her and her daughter.

    Kirscht keeps readers on the edge of their seats as she delicately deepens the mystery of Brian Wolfson’s disappearance. This mystery is far from the only one within the story. What happened that caused Annika to miss the Sydney and Athens Olympics? What happened all those years ago between Tom Berglund and Karl Wolfson that has created an almost Shakespearean divide between their houses? As the story progresses, Kirscht answers these questions bit by bit as the narrative alternates between the past and present. Towards the end of the novel, the timelines catch up with one another. There are still many things left unsaid and plenty of room for interpretation after the novel’s conclusion.

    The mystery is presented mostly through Annika’s eyes, so readers only learn what she does. The full picture of the Wolfson family and their secretive attitude towards any outsiders is never fully explained. Even though Annika is a Wolfson by marriage, she is an outsider to her in-laws and her own family. The frustration and confusion she feels as a result adds complexity to the story as a whole.

    Journey to the rustic setting of northern Michigan, where the idea of family may not be as simple as it seems. End of the Race is a quiet and refreshing story that will have readers longing for a trip out on the water.

    End of the Race won First in Category in the CIBA 2019 Somerset Awards for Literary novels.

  • WANDERS FAR – An Unlikely Hero’s Journey: Part of the Adirondack Spirit Series by David Fitz-Gerald – Native American Literature, Historical Fantasy Fiction, Folklore

    WANDERS FAR – An Unlikely Hero’s Journey: Part of the Adirondack Spirit Series by David Fitz-Gerald – Native American Literature, Historical Fantasy Fiction, Folklore

    An engaging history of ancient Native American peoples is brought to magical life by author David Fitz-Gerald.

    In the early 1100s, in a region now known to us as the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York, a small band of tribal people is living in longhouses, growing crops, fishing, hunting, and enjoying certain rituals such as face and body painting, occasional migration for food survival, and even seasonal “vacations,” all while willingly obeying a simple form of governance with elements of basic democracy. In this tribe, we meet Wanders Far, a child who earns his nickname after showing a propensity to disappear and explore since he could walk. His mother, Bear Fat, is the recognized chieftainess of their group, mother of a large brood, one of whom is stolen as the book opens. Wanders Far would be considered an unusual child in any society, gifted with a highly accurate memory and the ability to visualize future events. He can also run like the wind, and with his love for travel, he is often the first to see and warn his people of danger, such as a cadre of warriors from a hostile tribe heading towards his home settlement.

    Fitz-Gerald’s book interweaves family chronology, legend (such as tales of Hiawatha), and fact-weighted history into what is essentially a human drama focused on the personal lives of Wanders Far and his cultural community. Through the happenings described, we learn more about how such indigenous people survived and progressed. We see them fishing, hunting, and foraging, as well as loving, celebrating, and mourning. One dominant theme concerns the mixture of tribes in the area – Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, and Seneca. We see how they interact, with some being more generally friendly and others being enemies who may become allies as, in the future, they will meld into what is called The Iroquois Confederacy, serving a significant role in the founding of the first European colonies. We see Wanders Far and his relatives – all with earthy, practical names like Squash, Gentle Breeze, and Big Canoe – as real people who laugh and cry, fall in love, make war and form alliances in their nature-bound, intuitively guided, pre-technological circumstances.

    Imbuing his hero with “second sight” along with exceptional physical prowess, Fitz-Gerald states that he was drawn to compose the story of Wanders Far through his own powers of imagination coupled with a fascination for the region where he himself has lived and explored. He draws a dynamic portrait of how specially gifted people were and can still be welcomed into the fold despite their differences. Wanders Far will experience a long life, here skipping from his early twenties to his mid-seventies, and readers will hope that a future novel may reveal more of the exploits of his full manhood. A small hint at the book’s end alludes to a distant identity and makes us want to see more from this multi-talented, highly creative author.

    Wanders Far won First Place in the CIBA 2019 Laramie Awards for American Western Fiction.

  • LEGACY of LIES by Janet K. Shawgo – Suspense Action, Mystery Action, Action Thriller

    LEGACY of LIES by Janet K. Shawgo – Suspense Action, Mystery Action, Action Thriller

    The question is not if history will catch up with you but instead, when will it attack with a vengeance. Characters with a Legacy of Lies discover they can run, but they can’t hide from past actions. When Caren Johnson sees her family and life literally explode in flames, her uncertain future falls into the hands of a mysterious Irishman. His name is Declan Malone, and he claims he’s been sent by her brother to save her from assassins determined to kill her too. How can that be when her brother’s death was reported ten years ago? Declan’s reasons for a hasty departure from Ireland appear suspect and put a target on his back too.

    A sequel to Archidamus, the intrigue thickens. Aaron Caydon made many enemies in his life, and some are highly motivated for revenge. Declan claims he’s hired to go to Boston, Massachusetts, and save Aaron’s sister and her suburban family. When he arrives, things go terribly wrong, with tragic and deadly results. The plan to make it to the protection of Aaron Caydon blows up right before Declan’s eyes. Now Caren joins him in a race to somehow find this ghost man, her brother, and hope for safety. Declan and Caren are on the run from unknown and hidden enemies. It’s a fast-paced pursuit from Maine to mysterious cemeteries in New Orleans, and on to the lone state of Texas, with imminent danger lurking around every plot twist and turn.

    Declan is happy to find that Caren has many useful skills of her own, including fighting strengths and an eidetic memory. As they battle forward together, they realize one person who might be the missing link to Caren’s brother. Bevan Benjamin was the last man they know of to have seen Aaron. It’s a long shot and a long journey to reach Bevan. If they can get to him alive, will he even believe their story or agree to put himself and his own family in danger to help them? As Declan and Caren run toward this destination, they find a growing attraction between them, igniting a new threat. Can they trust each other completely?

    This tightly paced thriller is full of mystery and fueled by very worthy opponents who match wits ruthlessly against skilled protagonists. It’s a chess game played on steroids that stretches across the cities and countryside of small towns across the USA. The vivid settings provide unique and haunting clues to the intrigue that the reader discovers in the characters. Surprises and setbacks encountered by both the protagonists and their enemies bring out the best skills and cunning in each. It’s fascinating to read the motivations that bring together people to fight for a cause, both for good and for diabolical. “The mistakes men make in their younger lives tend to return at some point and demand retribution.”

    No wonder author Janet K. Shawgo’s settings are so skillfully described and play such an integral role in this well-developed and intricate plot. As a travel nurse, she’s worked extensively across the United States for twenty-three years. She shares a great imagination in her books that plots a spellbinding story, with characters who show great heart and courage.

    Legacy of Lies won First in Category in the CIBA 2019 Clue Awards for Thrillers and Suspense novels.

  • GRACE in the WINGS by Kari Bovée – 20th Century Historical Romance, Historical Thriller, Hard-boiled Mystery

    GRACE in the WINGS by Kari Bovée – 20th Century Historical Romance, Historical Thriller, Hard-boiled Mystery

    Grace Michelle never asked for stardom or fame. Content to sew costumes with her mentor Lucile, Lady Duff Gordon, Grace doesn’t need adoration from anyone. Still, when her sister Sophia, a rising starlet in the Ziegfeld Follies, begins a rapid downhill spiral and then ends up dead, Grace is thrust into the spotlight by Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.

    Florenz, or Flo, was her savior, rescuing Grace and Sophia from a life on the streets when they were mere children. He enrolled the girls in dance, voice, and acting lessons, too. Now, Grace feels obligated to take up the reins and save his floundering Follies. Grace knows her sister’s death was no accident and definitely not the suicide those around her believe. However, the only place to find the truth is California, where her sister was last seen alive with her new husband, Jack Pickford, brother to the famous actress Mary Pickford.

    When Flo sends Grace to Hollywood on a promotional tour, Grace reluctantly agrees, even though it means traveling with Chet Riker, a private investigator indebted to mobster and Flo’s financier, Joe Marciano.  Haunted by Sophia’s death and overwhelmed by the pressure to bring Flo success, Grace doesn’t need to fall for the handsome stranger, but neither can deny the longing they feel. As Grace gets closer to the truth, she realizes everyone is keeping secrets, even Chet, and the only person she can rely on is herself. But will she be enough?

    A significant issue raised within the novel is that of female independence. At twenty years old, Grace is just beginning to understand who she is and what she wants from life. Having moved from seamstress to junior designer, she is finally on the path she most desires, one spent in the shadows of the stage, not in the gleaming gel lights her sister so loved.

    As Grace finds her voice literally and figuratively, she knows she cannot follow in her sister’s footsteps, neither on stage nor in life. As she investigates Sophia’s death, she becomes emboldened and more sure of herself. Grace learns to challenge those in power, people who would have terrified her before. The more strength she finds, the more righteous anger develops. Though she will fulfill her obligatory role in Flo’s latest scheme, Grace vows to fight for freedom once the promotion trip is over and to never again allow a man to take care of her but to put her own feet on the ground when and where she chooses.

    Chet Riker is more than just a pretty face. Tall, dark, and handsome, he fits the image of most romance heroes; however, Chet’s story adds another layer to this period thriller. Chet is haunted by his memories of World War I, a man with a complicated past, but not in the expected “brooding hunk” way. Chet was given up by his mother when he was a boy. Old enough to remember her, Chet spent his life wanting to find her again someday, but when he does, he discovers she is dying and in need of an expensive operation. Money is needed, and that need leads him indebted to a vicious mobster. That debt takes him to Flo, who then attempts to use him in an illegal scheme and eventually sets him up as an unwitting conspirator in his machinations to use Grace. He knows he must pay off his debts or risk his PI career–and possibly his life. Torn between his anger at being used by these two men and his newfound love of Grace Michelle, Chet will have to decide between honor and honesty or ruthlessness and reputation. His story, much like Grace’s, will force him to fight for independence or to remain a captured pawn in a game of titans.

    Set against the glamorous stage of the Roaring Twenties, this star-studded whodunnit will not disappoint fans of mystery and history. Grace in the Wings won First in Category in the CIBA 2019 Chatelaine Awards for Romantic Mysteries.

  • The VALLEY of DEATH, Arken Freeth & the Neanderthals, Book Five by Alex Paul – Children’s Fantasy & Magic Adventure, Children’s Action & Adventure, Children’s Sword & Sorcery Fantasy Books

    The VALLEY of DEATH, Arken Freeth & the Neanderthals, Book Five by Alex Paul – Children’s Fantasy & Magic Adventure, Children’s Action & Adventure, Children’s Sword & Sorcery Fantasy Books

    The Valley of Death, Book Five in the Arken Freeth Middle-Grade series, continues the story of a heroic young man in a land before time.

    The book is the latest chapter in the swashbuckling saga of Arken Freeth, a hero who will eventually become the central figure of his era, 11,000 years before the Roman era, as powerful and wise as Alexander the Great would be to his time. The many readers of the award-winning series know his adventures as a teenager in the land of the Neanderthals, or Nanders as they are called, along with his royal friend Asher, heir to the throne of Tolaria, and the young woman Talya. They know his Nander blood brother Ord, the evil pirate Yolanta, king of the Tookans, and the vile Gart whose life he saves despite their difficulties.

    These familiar figures return in the latest thrilling installment. A war between the leading factions of the time, the Amarrats, the Lanthians, and the Tolarians is on the brink. The central prize that all desire: ownership of the necklace of Tol, which possesses enormous powers such as foretelling the future to those who own it. The quest to own the necklace is such that war is being threatened by the Amarrats against the Lanthians in order to possess it. Arken, who placed the necklace in the hands of the Nanders, is now the one person who can successfully stop the bloodshed by retrieving the necklace.

    The dramatic story of freeing Ord, who has been captured and enslaved by Gart’s family, backed by the King of Tolaria, becomes one of Arken’s biggest challenges. He who owns Ord will enable the recovery of the necklace and all of its powers since Ord is related to the Nander family who now possess the necklace. Those who would free Ord, the families, and their extended families, face death for their treasonous actions. It takes all of Arken’s cunning and leadership to forge a plan allowing he and his family, facing death, to free Ord and escape with him, return him back to his people, repossess the necklace and place it in safe hands away from those who would abuse its powers.

    We get to know the families of Arken, Asher, and Talya as they explore their individual futures as well as their intertwined fates. A soothsayer tells of Arken’s fate as the savior of their world, even though he is only 14 at the time of this volume. Arken plans to marry Talya when they turn 16, a relationship that began in a previous volume in the series. Asher, a prince, is destined to become a ruler in his world. His sister, Sharmayne, is set to marry another prince to cement their family’s alliance with the power structure but is resisting with all her might.

    The discovery by Arken, Asher, and Talya of the major invasion secretly planned by the Amarrats to conquer Lanth is is a huge new development. Can Arken and his friends, fleeing the wrath of the king of Tolaria, warn the people of his country about the attack, plan a sneak attack that will thwart the massive Amarrat forces, and arm friendly Nanders with weapons in order to fight the Amarrat forces? Stay tuned.

    The continuing story of Arken and his friends, details that make this book a delight for fans of the series, almost like participating in a members-only club. Hopefully, the colorful exploits of these daunting youthful heroes portrayed in The Valley of Death might just encourage readers experiencing the world of Arken Freeth for the first time to go back and read the whole series.

    Alex Paul’s Valley of Death won the Grand Prize in the CIBA 2019 Gertrude Warner Awards for Middle-grade fiction.

     

     

     

     

     

  • ORPHAN DREAMER: Little Peach Lies, She Laughs Last, and The Missing Arrowhead (Books 1, 3, 9) by J Nell Brown – Black & African American Sci-fi, Black & African American 90-minute Sci-fi & Fantasy Short Reads, Teen & Young Adult Time Travel

    ORPHAN DREAMER: Little Peach Lies, She Laughs Last, and The Missing Arrowhead (Books 1, 3, 9) by J Nell Brown – Black & African American Sci-fi, Black & African American 90-minute Sci-fi & Fantasy Short Reads, Teen & Young Adult Time Travel

    The Missing Arrowhead

    Daniela Rose Cavanaugh is the Orphan Dreamer, destined to travel time and space and to protect the world from a demon who’s already set his sights on her. But as a young black girl in the American south, all she wants is a friend who understands her well enough to be called a kindred spirit. J. Nell Brown paints a vivid picture of Daniela’s alienation from her peers; her thoughts are clear as she questions God’s choice of her as the Orphan Dreamer, as Daniela’s depression, guilt, and sense of inferiority clash with her divine mission. Daniela desires to be “normal” and love herself with the help of a friend she hasn’t met yet. Her strong character voice carries the story forward, under the crushing weight of the world and the fate of her best friend on her shoulders. When she loses an arrowhead on a journey to the past, Daniela faces disbelief from those around her. What if others label her as ill and lock her away? Orphan Dreamer and the Missing Arrowhead is an impeccably paced story, full of the complex thoughts of a girl who yearns for connection.

     

    She Laughs Last

    Gertrude Smith rides a Greyhound bus to meet her soon-to-be-born granddaughter. She reads about the science of dimensions and muses on the destiny waiting for her granddaughter, Daniela Rose Cavanaugh. The past haunts her ride, as she remembers the murder of her son at the hands of a racist mob in a Greyhound station years ago; grief, love, and fear for her family mingle while she wears a false smile, hiding the turmoil inside her from the other passengers. She Laughs Last explores how false happiness can eat at someone and how much the social obligation to appear good-natured is worth. Can truth and trust be buried by lies and doubt? But surrounded by people—one of whom is the fancy scientist who wrote her book on dimensions—the isolation of being judged presses on Gertrude, adding only more reason to wear a mask. The scenes of Gertrude riding the bus are intimate and filled with emotion, dwelling on her thoughts and memories. Elsewhere, in the cosmos, the demon Nomad plots against the world and the Orphan Dreamer, planning to drown Daniela in depression. Gertrude speaks to her granddaughter, as the story’s themes of truth and faith come together in her words.

    Little Peach Lies

    Charlotte Cairstine McDonald’s research intrudes on her dreams. She sees the ghostly story of Mary, Queen of Scots, and feels a strange connection between herself and the long-dead monarch. In her waking life, Charlotte is embroiled in her own royal drama. She intends to marry Charles Darbyshire, grand-nephew of Queen Elizabeth, but the secret of her pregnancy threatens to throw both of them into a devastating scandal. Charlotte rides the highs and lows of joy and fear at the prospect of her new family, while the phantom visions of Mary grow darker. Charlotte is a lively protagonist whose chemistry with the other characters—particularly Charles—makes Little Peach Lies a delight to read. The descriptions are flavorful and quickly set each scene, giving space for the story to explore the pull between freedom and obligation, independence, and family legacy. The past repeats itself, as secrecy leads to danger.

     

    All three stories, connected over space and time, are powerful portraits of three women trying to move into new stages of life—whether that be grandmother, mother, or hero. The past follows them; fear and guilt are clear to see in their internal monologues and hampers their connection to the people around them at every step.

    Nell Brown illustrates the divide between how the world sees her protagonists and how they want to be seen. The descriptions show what these characters love about the world, what makes them happy and interests them, while complex emotions swirl in their heads. Orphan Dreamer and the Missing Arrowhead, She Laughs Last, and Little Peach Lies are all united by the central theme of family, trying to connect with and do right by the people one loves, the need to have faith in one’s self before that faith can genuinely extend to others. These characters’ unbearable yearning to find someone who understands them, truth and all, will resonate with all readers. Highly recommended.

     

               

               

  • VALENTINE’S DAY SWEET READS with ALL THE LOVES from CHANTICLEER

    VALENTINE’S DAY SWEET READS with ALL THE LOVES from CHANTICLEER

    Books count as safe social distancing

    As we step toward Valentine’s in quarantine, we might be a little further from our loved ones than normal, but hopefully that doesn’t mean we’re further away from love. Just like we can stay in touch with each other in different ways, we can take a moment to appreciate the different types of love we still have access to.

    Love is a gross exaggeration of the difference between one person and everybody else. Like all young men, you greatly exaggerate the difference between one young woman and another…. And the only way to make sure of that is to keep changing the man; for the same man can never keep it up. – George Bernard Shaw

    Now we like Shaw for his obscure connection to our Chatelaine Awards, which you can read about here (the long and short of it is that Shaw based Eliza Doolittle’s character from My Fair Lady off of Jane Morris, the woman, Jane Morris,  in the Chatelaine portrait by Dante Rossetti).

    Anyway, Shaw’s opinion on the ability of men to offer variety aside, did you know the Greeks have seven different names for love? Let’s dive in!

    The Greeks Seven Names for LOVE with Recommended Book Titles from Chanticleerian Authors whose works we love. 

    1) Eros:

    Eros is what we normally think of when we first hear the word love, the romantic and the passionate. Here are some great titles we recommend for the Eros readers out there.

    Heart of a Few by Jon Duncan: It isn’t distance that makes the heart grow fonder in this novel, but the thrill of trying to save the world from fascism in WWII. Here the aristocratic Livy Ashford falls for pilot Jamie Wallace. Like the couple’s passion for each other, the reader’s own delight will draw them through this book in a flash!

     

     

    The Skeptical Physick by Gail Avery Halverson: Fire, plague? Nothing can keep these Simon McKensie and Catherine Abbott apart! Gail Avery Halverson dives deep into the romance and the historical details that inspired the background setting for this whole novel. Winner of the Grand Prize in the Chatelaine Awards

     

    2) Philia:

    Philia is more of the love for our intimates and friends, those who we choose to keep close to us. Titles for the friendly readers out there.

    Victorian Town by Nancy Throne: A Time Traveling young woman finds friendship and joy in the past. Abby Parker never quite felt she belonged at home, but a magic ring that transports her back in time gives her a chance to make real connections and stand out in a time where outspoken women are often pushed to the side. First Place Category Winner in the Dante Rossetti Awards

    Mischief and Mayhem by L.E. Rico: Jameson O’Halloran might be surrounded by steamy looking men, but don’t be fooled. This story focuses most on the ties of family and the family we choose as we move through this veil of tears to live our best life. First Place Category Winner in the Chatelaine Awards

     

    3) Ludus

    Ludus is a close cousin of Eros, the playful, flirtatious love that is a little harder to make work over a Zoom room. For all you sassy flirts, we recommend the following

    Love’s Misadventures by Cheri Champagne: The title says it all as you jump into Miss Anna Bradley’s hurried search for a husband, being in danger of forever living as a spinster at the ripe old age of 25. Written in the tradition of Jane Austen for the modern reader, this novel features debonair gentlemen who can keep their distance and pack a picnic, while delightful friendships make up a wonderful background cast of characters. First Place Category Winner in the Chatelaine Awards

     

    Secrets Revealed by Kate Vale: Sometimes what’s meant to be fun and easy turns into something more, as happens when Owen Haskins and Faith Russell’s initial tense relationship breaks through to romantic as the casual adversaries turn into casual lovers and then maybe more. First Place Category Winner in the Chatelaine Awards

     

    4) Storge

    Storge is the unconditional love that we hope comes from family, chosen or otherwise. These titles are great reads for those who love family connection.

    Promise of Tomorrow by T.K. Conklin: When Shyfawn Tucker’s adventure with her friend Mabel leads to disaster, the two need to figure out how to survive on their own. Meanwhile, Shyfawn’s sister Jo isn’t the type to sit around while her family is kidnapped. A story rich in romance, but that explores the ties that bind family together and what it means to find the best in everyone while still being true to yourself.

    Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes you Knew by Ellen Notbohm: A beautiful book for parents who are struggling to better understand their children. Probably the highlight of the list is 10. “Love me unconditionally.” Don’t base approval on an “if” along with an emphasis on people with autism being whole and not promoting a harmful narrative of fixing people. A thoughtful look at the ways we can unconditionally accept people regardless of difference. Winner of the Grand Prize in the Nonfiction Instructional & Insight Awards

    5) Philautia

    Philautia is probably the most forgotten love we need to try and remember, which is self-love.

    Hard Cider by Barbara Stark-Nemon: After building up a family and life that she can be proud of, Abbie Rose isn’t one to call it quits. She embarks on a totally new career path to keep living life to the fullest and be the truest version of herself that she can be. Winner of the Grand Prize in the Somerset Awards

     

    The Knock by Carolyn Watkins: Sometimes understanding your family’s love means loving yourself when they can’t be there. Carolyn Watkin’s beautiful look at childhood with a deployed parent will tug on your heartstrings. First Place Category Winner in the Little Peeps Awards

    6) Pragma

    Pragma is another good overlapping love that’s usually connect to other loves. This one encompasses committed, companionate love.

    Seize the Flame by Lynda J. Cox: A story of forgiveness and finding a way to love again. Will Drake Adams and Jessie Depre be able to overcome the traumas of their past and their current betrayals to find love together again?

     

    My Sister’s Super Skills by Lauren Mosbeck: Sometimes commitment and love mean helping our family through tough times. Mosbek does an excellent job laying out fun tools to help kids deal with anxiety and depression, especially with the current state of the world. First Place Category Winner in the Little Peeps Awards

    7) Agápe

    Agápe: The last and biggest love that is empathetic and universal love.

    Blossom – The Wild Ambassador of Tewksbury by Anna Carner: The story of how Carner and her husband took a deer into their family and then try to raise awareness to keep her safe. Balanced with reflection of Carner’s own youth, a beautiful reminder that we are all connected with the tone of a nature thriller. First Place Category Winner in the Journey Awards

    The Last Outrageous Woman by Jessica Stone: Sometimes a past lover’s dream can take you places you never dreamed possible. That’s what happens eighty-six-year-old Mattie decides to embark on a worldwide adventure with her best friend Edna and Edna’s niece. It’s a whirlwind of fun where each woman seeks fulfillment in their own way while jumping into an international stage and connecting with the wider world at large.

    Do you have another type of LOVE to add to the list? We do!

    BIBLIOPHILIA – The LOVE of BOOKS

    Are you a Bibliophile?  We are!

    Here are some of Kiffer’s favorite earworms (aka lyrics) concerning love.

    Because all you need is love. Love is all you need. The Beatles

    Love will bring us together.  Captain and Tennille

    Love lifts us up where we belong.  Joe Cocker and Buffy Sainte-Marie

    What the world needs now is love, sweet love. Hal David

    Happy Valentines Day! From all of us Chanticleer Reviews! 

    Love comes in many forms and so do our contests! Submit here! Want to tell us about some of the favorite loves you’ve read? Talk to us on Twitter, Facebook, or join us here on The Roost.

  • FIRE TRUCKS, GARTER BELTS, and MY PERFECT EX (Edie’s Automotive Guide, Book 2) by Heather Novak – Romance, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance

    FIRE TRUCKS, GARTER BELTS, and MY PERFECT EX (Edie’s Automotive Guide, Book 2) by Heather Novak – Romance, Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance

    The old adage “You can’t go home again” is often very real, but for Vera Eastman, it is a massive understatement. Vera left home eleven years ago after losing her mother to breast cancer, changed her name, and began a very successful career as a porn star. Her seven-figure salary and multimillion-dollar, female-owned porn business might be acceptable in SoCal, but in her hometown of Grenadine, Michigan, she is a pariah. After a breast cancer scare, Vera goes back home to fulfill her mother’s bucket list. With an estranged father, a grandmother she believes is dead, and a sexy ex-boyfriend who haunts her dreams, Vera wants to get in, keep a low profile, and run back to her best friends and fellow porn stars, Jasmine and Payton. But when she discovers her grandmother is still alive and her ex is now an even sexier fireman, Vera knows leaving may be easier said than done.

    When Vera wrecks her exotic sports car, she has the perfect excuse to stick around awhile despite the stares and hateful whispering that surround her everywhere she goes in town. But the longer she lingers, the more demons there are to confront – and more questions arise within her whether her financial success is genuinely the kind of success she really wants.

    Family isn’t just those connected by blood. Sometimes, the strongest familial bonds are those people create by choice. When Vera left home, she met the women who would become her lifesavers, Jasmine and Payton. These women are beyond important to Vera. They gave her a family when her own had deserted her and forced her away. Without Payton, Vera would never have gotten clean and turned her life around. Though many would argue becoming a porn star isn’t exactly a significant life change, that change, partially facilitated by Payton, created the career for which Vera feels very accomplished. Throughout the novel, the text messages between these three women add more than just humor. It’s that “girl-bond,” with which many women identify. They are her rocks, giving her advice and acceptance.

    Another important theme of the novel is a lesson Vera learns throughout her journey through her mother’s bucket list. Home isn’t really a place. It is a feeling. From the moment she sees Jack Reeves, her childhood sweetheart and one true love, memories flood her heart and leave her stunned in their ferocity. The familiarity gives Vera a feeling of true peace, a comfort she hasn’t had since her father told her to go and never come back. Though she had been in relationships since she left Grenadine at eighteen-year-old, she had never really connected with anyone. Jack, as it turns out, feels the exact same way. The two have more than history; they have love, undeniable and complete. She comes to see that he is home, more than any location can ever be, and he accepts her with open arms, just like a home should, and not even a successful career can take the place of that feeling.

    Prejudice is another significant part of the novel. Grenadine is a small town with all the drama contained therein. Everyone knows everyone, and news travels faster than social media. Vera immediately feels that prejudice, getting kicked out of her B&B before she even unpacks her suitcase despite her pleas to allow her to stay since that is one item on her mother’s list. Though Vera feels no shame in her porn-star status, she can’t help but be affected by some of the townspeople’s disdain. When she rear-ends the most prominent, loudest busybody in town, her hopes of getting out unscathed in this emotional battleground are shattered.

    Despite her kindness and philanthropy, many refuse to see her as more than trash, especially her own father. Without Jack, her feisty Grandma Bea, and her lifelong friend Franky, she would have run away and never looked back–again! But Vera isn’t the only character who daily runs the gauntlet. Franky experiences his own brand of prejudice as a trans man, and Grandma Bea, the owner of an adult novelty store known as Happy Endings, isn’t exempt either. However, Grenadine isn’t a typical small town, and somehow, Vera, Bea, and Franky all find a place in this anomalous cast of characters that will keep the reader smiling.

    Fire Trucks, Garter Belts, and My Perfect Ex by Heather Novak won First in Category in the CIBA 2019 Chatelaine Awards for Romance books.