Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: First Place Winner

  • 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.

     

  • EXECUTE ORDER by Jett Ward – Political Thriller/Suspense, Military Thrillers, Action/Adventure

    EXECUTE ORDER by Jett Ward – Political Thriller/Suspense, Military Thrillers, Action/Adventure

    On a military base outside Las Vegas, Lieutenant Brent Parker sits in a bunker in a darkened room looking to an outsider to be playing a sophisticated aerial combat video game. But this is no game. People live and die with Parker in control of a lethal drone nicknamed the Reaper flying over forbidden Syrian air space in 2011, striking American enemies on the ground with killer missiles from several miles in the air.

    Enemies are one issue, but collateral damage—men, women, children, whole families who die in a missile attack as a side effect of bringing down a terrorist—weighs heavily on Parker’s conscience. It doesn’t help when his ultra-sensitive cameras see the face of a woman who his missile will obliterate as a side effect of bringing down a military-mandated target, a face that haunts him as he leaves the bunker for the clean, and safe, American desert air of Nevada.

    Early on, we find out that Parker isn’t as safe as he thinks he is. Forces across the globe are watching as his drone wipes out an apartment building in the Middle East where a renowned Iranian bomb maker is holed up. When a missile controlled by Parker takes out the bomber and decimates the site, an incident widely reported by the international press, sophisticated military men in the enemy camp want the head of the man who murdered their prized weapons maker. They dispatch an assassin to infiltrate the U.S., track down and kill the killer of their esteemed techno genius.

    That’s only half of Parker’s problems.

    The other concerns another mission where Parker’s eye in the sky over Libya spots the transfer of some suspicious crates looted from a former Libyan dictator Gadaffi stronghold that turns out to be surface-to-air missiles that could wind up in the hands of ISIS. A U.S. crew is parachuted into Libya to stop the hand-off, but the mission becomes complicated when they are detected and are outnumbered by a superior number of ISIS soldiers. To complicate matters, a helicopter used to support the U.S. soldiers is shot down, and the soldiers’ orders are to kill the pilot to avoid him falling into enemy hands. Parker makes a decision to help the trapped soldiers, using a method frowned on by his superiors and puts him in danger of being court-martialed by his own command structure.

    This tense action novel gives the readers a close-up, first-person knowledgeable view of the massive, sophisticated technology with which war and the collateral spying that goes with it. It feels hands-on real, both in the descriptions of the various weaponry and the way it is used. Someone lived this life, which makes it all the more readable. It also delivers a satisfying portrayal of the international forces focusing on controversies that Parker kicks up in the performance of his job as the pilot of a remote killer aircraft, and the actions he takes that have international repercussions.

    There is more back story including a relationship that Parker develops with a well-paid Las Vegas escort and various battles with bad guys from both America and the Middle East. Some are bloody detailed hand-to-hand struggles, others are vicious mind games played by both sides.

    Parker himself is portrayed in terms that would fit well in a graphics novel or a Jason Statham movie. Some of the dialog between him and other characters is less than stellar. But this isn’t a novel you read for Eudora Welty-level characterizations. You read Execute Order for the rush of an action novel with complex plots, a knowledgeable narrative, and a surprising, satisfying conclusion. On that front, Execute Order delivers the goods, and then some.

    Execute Order won First Place in the CIBA 2019 Global Thrillers for Military Thrillers.

  • PINTO! Based Upon the True Story of the Longest Horseback Ride in History by M.J. Evans – Horse Showing and Training, Equestrian Sports, Middle-Grade Equestrian Fiction

    PINTO! Based Upon the True Story of the Longest Horseback Ride in History by M.J. Evans – Horse Showing and Training, Equestrian Sports, Middle-Grade Equestrian Fiction

    In the charming and heartfelt Pinto! Based Upon the True Story of the Longest Horseback Ride in History, M.J. Evans brings to life a forgotten piece of American history. Here from a unique perspective, Evans recaptures the legendary journey of the Overland Westerners, a group of four men on horseback who rode over 20,000 miles across the US, over 3 years. Their goal was to visit each of the 48 state capitols, be photographed with the governor, and ultimately reach California for the triumph of the 1915 World’s Fair Panama-Pacific Expo. Of the seventeen horses who joined the trip, whether traded, sold, or lost along the route, only one heroic equine made it the entire way.

    Pinto was that beautiful, 6-year-old black & white Morab, i.e., half Morgan/half Arabian horse. Only 15 hands high but sturdy and well-proportioned, he had always dreamed of accomplishing something great. The opportunity comes about when George Beck chooses Pinto to join his ambitious cross-country trek. Clearly, the two develop a special bond rooted in heart and determination.

    In a story that blends history, travelogue detail, equine knowledge, and adventure, this book is so special because the narrative is told from Pinto’s point of view. Whether struggling with variations of the terrain, observing human frailties – consider in the aftermath of a stolen saddle, Pinto opines, “I don’t like the evil side of men.”; performing as a show horse, or posing for photo ops; the arduous adventure keeps us invested.

    Humor and pathos play hand in hand throughout the chapters. Whether revealed in the act of a pile of manure deposited in response to a dishonest rancher’s nefarious business tactics or the harrowing lesson of a near-drowning due to improperly secured horse packs, this well-crafted storyline moves steadily forward. Throughout their odyssey, the riders sold postcards and calendars to help fund their endeavor, though often they found it difficult to pay bills or feed themselves. While hard times often had them relying on others’ generosity, pep talks and song helped buoy their spirits, and the well-being of the horses was always a priority.

    As an avid horsewoman, Evans weaves relative informative tidbits throughout this work. These range from artful descriptions of horses forming small familial bands rather than joining herds, dealing with colic’s precarious nature, and understanding the consequences of a horse’s improperly fitted tack or harness.

    Evans retrieved much of her research from the Overland Westerners’ diaries, journals, and photographic materials, housed in the Oklahoma City National Cowboy Museum, as well as historical museums in Washington State. Much of the dialogue is based on the actual writings. Choice conversations and actions serve to showcase individual personalities and the emotional sentiments of trek participants, through the likes of facing belly-high snows on a precarious trail; appreciating the comic relief and antics of a companion dog, Nip; or witnessing the rough and declining character of some who overindulge in alcohol. While certain details were created from Evans’ own imagination, such embellishments heighten the excitement and enhance the drama.

    In a nod to the classic Black Beauty story, one of her childhood favorites, Evans felt it necessary for Pinto to tell this tale. Though targeted for a middle-grade audience, history buffs and horse lovers of all ages will enjoy this rare account. The glowing result is informative, entertaining, engaging historical fiction that creatively explores a monumental horseback ride, now destined to be remembered.

    Pinto! won the CIBA 2019 First in Category Gertrude Warner Awards for Middle-Grade Fiction.

     

     

  • FAST BACKWARD by David Patneaude – Y/A Time Travel Fiction, Y/A Apocalyptic & Post Apocalyptic Fiction, Y/A Coming of Age Fiction

    FAST BACKWARD by David Patneaude – Y/A Time Travel Fiction, Y/A Apocalyptic & Post Apocalyptic Fiction, Y/A Coming of Age Fiction

    In Fast Backward, David Patneaude’s most recent YA novel, fifteen-year-old Bobby sets out on his morning newspaper route, but what happens next blows his shorts off, literally. First, he witnesses a blinding light that grows into a mushroom cloud, but no one on the military base where he delivers papers will talk about it. Then, on his ride home, a dot in the distance takes on the shape of a girl, a naked girl in the middle of the desert at the side of the road. Thus begins Patneaude’s novel that brings WWII to life through the eyes of a young man torn by his father’s anti-war sentiments, and his uncle’s military patriotism.

    Bobby realizes that this girl, Cocoa, is somehow tied to the blinding explosion. What does Bobby do? He offers the girl his carrier bag, his shorts, and a ride home. After some preliminary conversation, Cocoa realizes where she is, and what she must do.

    She has knowledge she must deliver a message to those in charge in the hope of stopping nuclear bombs that decimated her world.

    Are we concerned yet? Bobby is. He can hardly believe Cocoa’s crazy story, but Cocoa’s knowledge of dates, towns, and ship names make him a believer. They convince his parents and, with some effort, Bobby’s Uncle Pete. Cocoa has enough knowledge to capture the attention of some high-ranking military officials, but she also receives serious skepticism. When a bombing that she’d predicted actually happens, the Generals start listening.

    Cocoa’s premonitions are a torment to her, and when she remembers something that involves Robert’s dad, a journalist and pacifist and conscientious objector, Robert’s world is turned upside down. His ideas of the world are forever changed by Cocoa, Future Girl, the girl who will save the world.

    Award-winning YA author, David Patneaude effectively suspends our disbelief as he deftly crafts a world where nuclear bombs, Nazi submarines, the bombing of US cities, with two kids coming of age stuck in the middle, becomes a reality. Patneaude’s world explodes on the page in this post-apocalyptic war story that is plausible, terrifying, and quite satisfying to the spectacular end.

    Fast Backward is highly recommended for young and old alike – and won First in Category in the CIBA 2019 Dante Rossetti Awards for Young Adult fiction.

     

     

     

  • MARTHA by Maggie St. Claire – Small Town Crimes, Contemporary Social Issues, Literary

    MARTHA by Maggie St. Claire – Small Town Crimes, Contemporary Social Issues, Literary

    In the unique and compelling voice of an aging woman teetering on the edge of financial ruin, Maggie St. Claire’s debut novel, Martha, takes the reader from affluent residential areas of Los Angeles to its urban streets of despair, shadowing a 71-year-old, retired bank teller as she comes to grips with the challenges and adversities that threaten her existence.

    This is the story of Martha Moore, many years divorced, estranged from her only child, and living a lie, as she enters her golden years. The most important things in her life, outside her pride in her desirable Hancock Park bungalow, are her book club friends. She attends their meetings dressed in her finest, projecting what she hopes is the image of a well-educated, well-to-do, Los Angeles dowager. The three wealthy women who comprise the remainder of the group are her best, perhaps only friends, and sometimes that’s a stretch.

    In reality, anxiety and fear permeate her psyche as Martha struggles with uncertainty, failing health, food insecurity, and dwindling finances. Impoverished and alone, she is learning to live by her wits, filching food from many sources and raising money in unorthodox ways.

    Martha’s handbag is filled with things from the kitchen that will never be missed when she leaves book club meetings and after times she volunteers at her church—she helps with the food bank and clothing donations, earning stars in her crown. She’s the sweet little old lady schmoozing her way to the buffet at local weddings and/or funerals, or the seasoned businesswoman whose nametag has been misplaced at conventions and rallies—a chameleon in sheep’s clothing, one might say.

    Such events are her food sources. Of course, they don’t pay the overdue bills or the taxes. She worries how long it will be before she loses her home.

    Then, seemingly, the planets align.

    After finding her friend’s large emerald and diamond ring on the bathroom counter at a book club meeting, Martha sticks it in her pocket, intending to return it. Later, at home, she finds it still in her pocket. She had intended to return it—hadn’t she? Conflicted, she vacillates between fears of losing face or being thought of as a thief, and the urge to keep the ring until she can sell it and raise some badly needed cash. When she decides, the die is cast. She’ll sell the ring somewhere in one of the many jewelry venues abounding in the city.

    Because she doesn’t dare, doesn’t know-how, and fears being found out, it was a fruitless decision until an indigent, young woman with her own problems enters Martha’s life. Then, everything changes …

    Throughout the story, the direction of Martha’s life has been dictated by both changing circumstances and the choices they engendered. Ultimately, she must make a choice that will permanently change the rest of her life.

    While the reader may “bump” out of the story by grammatical and formatting errors, they are drawn back in by the author’s complex characters, vivid imagery, and authentic dialogue and setting. In Martha, Maggie St. Claire has deftly chronicled troubling social issues that often go unnoticed in today’s world, within the context of one woman’s life.

    More than just a good read, Martha is a relevant, provocative, and memorable story that lingers long after the book is closed.

     Martha won First in Category in the CIBA 2019 Somerset Awards for Literary fiction.

     

     

  • MISCHIEF and MAYHEM (Whiskey Sisters, Book 2) by L.E. Rico – Clean and Wholesome Romance, Small Town and Rural Romantic Fiction, Romantic Comedy

    MISCHIEF and MAYHEM (Whiskey Sisters, Book 2) by L.E. Rico – Clean and Wholesome Romance, Small Town and Rural Romantic Fiction, Romantic Comedy

    Jameson O’Halloran never asked for her life to be so complicated and unpredictable. She never asked for a cheating husband, never asked to be in charge of her father-in-law’s life, and indeed never asked for her brother-in-law to show up looking so irresistible. Since her recent divorce, Jameson has focused on rebuilding her life without the dream family she always wanted. Her toddler, Jackson, takes up most of her time, and when she isn’t caring for him, she is helping her sisters run the family pub in Mayhem, Minnesota, after the death of their father. Jameson is NOT looking for love, not now, maybe not ever again. Still, when her ex-father-in-law suffers a stroke, she is forced into the very delicate position of health proxy for the seriously ill man she still considers family. However, she isn’t alone. Big Win Clarke named a co-proxy, his estranged second son, Scott. Scott, a Project Peace employee, has spent the last ten years abroad, running from his father and from himself, but when he is called to his unconscious father’s bedside, he knows those years spent abroad were a mistake, one he may never get to correct if his father doesn’t recover. When he lays eyes on his beautiful ex-sister-in-law, he can’t deny the attraction drawing him to her. Together they must uncover the truth behind the mystery that sent him running years earlier and hopefully find themselves along the way.

    The family bond is a strong theme within this novel. The contrast between the close-knit O’Hallaron sisters and the volatile Clarke brothers is significant to every part of the plot. The “Whiskey sisters,” Hennessy, Jameson, Walker, and Bailey, function as a solid unit. Named by their pub-owning father, these girls share more than their unique names; they have solidarity, which is touching and profound. Even when they argue, they know the immense love they have for each other will never fade. Pulling together to run the family business after their father’s death, these women willingly sacrifice for the legacy left them by their parents. Having lost their mother, the girls have been both mother and sister to each other. They celebrate triumphs and mourn their loss as one, filling in the gaps in their lives with sibling unity. Jameson can’t fathom going days without seeing her sisters, holding them, confiding in them, let alone years.

    On the other hand, Scott and Win Clarke (junior) have never had and likely never will have that bond. The brothers have spent their lives at odds with one another, keeping secrets and driving a wedge in what could be the most enduring relationship of their lives. For Win, jealousy pushes him to exploit Scott’s weaknesses, and Scott’s need to escape keeps him from discovering the truth behind his family history and from forging a bond with his ill father. Just like the Whiskey sisters, the Clarke brothers have also lost their mother, but where that draws the women closer, it only serves as the catalyst for pushing the men apart. It isn’t until Scott begins to lean on Jameson that he finally sees what family should be. The Whiskey sisters show Scott the strength behind sibling loyalty and help him face the revelation that changes his life.

    Like most novels of this genre, this second installment of this series is chocked-full of romance but with a refreshing burst of humor that will leave the reader LOLing! Scott Clarke is sigh-worthy on every level, and like most male protagonists in a romance novel, he struggles with the notion of settling down and committing to any woman. He’s unsure he can give up his nomadic life while feeling drawn to the idea of a home of his own, a family to come home to every night. Jameson has been hurt in a way only adultery can hurt. She feels unworthy of love and bitter that her picket-fence dream has been shattered by the only man she’s ever loved. In many respects, the plot is traditional for the genre, but the light-hearted nature of Scott and Jameson’s budding relationship is the real gem. In scene after scene, these two–and many of the other characters as well–will leave the reader in stitches. One of the novel’s best parts is Scott’s interaction with Siri, a novelty he has just discovered since his return to civilization after years in remote locations with Project Peace. Numerous chapters end with Scott’s philosophical discussions with his voice-activated assistant, and his first experience with Facetime is priceless! With scenes that will leave you swooning mixed in, the reader will not be disappointed with this clean, wholesome romance.

    Character building, not just for the protagonist but with the entire cast of Mayhem, is a strength of the whole Whiskey Sisters series. From psychic baker to gossipy priest to celebrity cat sweater maker, the characters shine. Each of the O’Hallaron women has her own distinct personality, offering a promising glimpse of what is to come in the series. The reader will love her visit to this picturesque town and long for the cozy comfort of O’Halloran’s pub. The entire town is a unique tapestry with love woven into every scene. [Read our review of Blame it on the Bet the first book in the Whiskey Sisters’ series.]

    Mischief and Mayhem won First Place in the CIBAs 2019 Chatelaine Awards for romantic fiction.

     

  • The NATIONS by Ken Farmer and Buck Stienke – African American Historical Fiction, Old West History in the USA, Western Fiction

    The NATIONS by Ken Farmer and Buck Stienke – African American Historical Fiction, Old West History in the USA, Western Fiction

    “Return now to those thrilling days of yesteryear,” may sound familiar. It’s the opening for the radio version of The Lone Ranger.

    It’s also an appropriate introduction to The Nations by Ken Farmer and Buck Steinke and not just because the dialog will ring in the reader’s ear as very reminiscent of plenty of classic TV and movie Westerns. But also, because the hero of The Nations, Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves, may have been the inspiration for the Lone Ranger himself.

    Reeves, born in slavery, was the first black Deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi. He was also one of the most successful Deputy Marshals of his own or any subsequent era, arresting over 3,000 felons during his long career, but was never wounded by any of the desperate criminals he brought to justice.

    But this story, the first in a 10-book series – at least so far – fictionalizes Reeves’ exploits into something that will be savored by readers looking for the kind of story that Louis L’Amour, Zane Grey and Elmer Kelton used to write – and that William Johnstone still does.

    This adventure pits Reeves and his partner, Deputy U.S. Marshal Jack McGann, against a gang of outlaws known as the Larson Brothers’ gang after its leaders Wesley and Ben Larson. The brothers typify different stereotypes of outlaws, with Wesley as the leader and voice of reason who is in it for the money, while his younger brother Ben is a killer because that seems to be how he gets his kicks.

    The story begins with Wesley and the gang rescuing Ben from the clutches of the law after Ben gets himself captured – yet again – by being overconfident and disobeying his brother’s orders.

    That escape begins a cat and mouse game between Reeves and McGann and the Larson gang, as Ben is captured again, his brother helps him escape, and the lawmen become even more determined to bring them in.

    The Nations reads like a classic western tale of the school of Louis L’Amour and Zane Grey. The lawmen are always on the side of angels, and the outlaws are forever threatening the towns, laws, and lawmen. There’s no question about which side represents the “good guys.”

    And there’s no question that compassionate, professional Reeves is the star of this story. What makes this story shine – is Reeves truly was as good a lawman as the story makes him out to be, a good tracker, an excellent marksman, good at disguises, kind but fair to those he captured – and always riding a white stallion. If any of the above sounds familiar, it’s all part of the reason that some believe Reeves was the inspiration for The Lone Ranger.

    The Nations, and the entire series that follows it, will be loved by readers of those classic westerns and is recommended for that audience.

    Simultaneously, there are welcome differences from the typical stories of those “thrilling days of yesteryear.” Bass Reeves is the hero of this otherwise classic western who hands out evenhanded treatment of all the characters despite the color of their skin.

    Even the female characters are a bit more well-rounded than is usual for the genre, again on both sides of the law. But this story still centers on the male characters – who spend more time with their horses than they do with the women in their lives.

    This story’s grounding is in real history, not just in the characters of Reeves and McGann, but also in the background character of “Hanging Judge” Isaac Parker, who sent the Marshals out to retrieve criminals to be tried and frequently executed. That portrait of life in the American West in its heyday will appeal to readers who are fascinated with that period – and they are legion.

    The Nations won First Place in the CIBA 2014 Laramie Awards for American Western Fiction.

     

     

  • MY SISTER’S SUPER SKILLS by Lauren Mosback, MA, LPC, NCC – Family Health, Child Psychology, Children with Disabilities

    MY SISTER’S SUPER SKILLS by Lauren Mosback, MA, LPC, NCC – Family Health, Child Psychology, Children with Disabilities

    During these uncertain times, recent news reports have indicated that children as young as three years old can experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. Clearly, emotional upheaval is at an all-time high. Luckily, child psychologist, Lauren Mosback is here with her new book, My Sister’s Super Skills. A tale that provides a fun and entertaining kid-friendly book that offers up healthy coping tools to help manage stress and promote positive emotional development for even the youngest of sufferers.

    Here, fearless big sister Lily featured in her raspberry pink cape, serves as the motivational guide for her young brother David as he struggles to understand and deal with his mixed emotions. This smart, adoring, be-spectacled heroine offers simple little tricks to help her sibling feel better. Her advice of “Name your feeling to begin the healing,” sets in motion an offering of interactive remedies that help David navigate his worrisome thoughts and gain a more positive outlook.

    Mosback creatively chooses various animal actions to connect with each newly taught coping skill. Whether doing deep breathing like a horse, repeating self-affirmations with the strength of a lion, playing like a dolphin, or relaxing and cozying up like a Koala, the imaginative suggestions are entertaining and relatable for youngsters. Further sage advice: smiling, singing, painting, and even self-hugs, all positive affirmations that encourage kids to look beyond their uncertainty and incorporate these unique strategies when they are feeling overwhelmed.

    Eye-catching illustrations by Chiara Savarese are a major component of the story and provide the perfect complement to the casual rhyming style of the narrative. Amidst the portrait of a horse with his flapping lips, and images of a bubble-headed Lily in a relaxing bath, riotous laughing chimp faces, and a P.J.-clad monkey/child dancing on a bed, the visuals bring whimsy and humor to the story and enhance a playful tone. Bright, crisp, and bold coloring lends a vibrant air to the pages.

    Initial details of a troubled David evidenced in the sad eyes and the weight of a backpack heavy on his small shoulders showcase the toll of negative emotions. As the tale unfolds, suggested behaviors put into practice ultimately reveal a happier, wide-eyed youngster learning to deal with his problems.

    As a licensed children’s counselor, Mosback has smartly tapped into relevant subject matter reflecting the tumultuous state of our daily lives. In this well-crafted, engaging story, the highlight of a caring sibling relationship, and the clever offering of ways to manage feelings like sadness, frustration, anger, or fear proves an appropriate and timely gesture. While the work is primarily intended to promote emotional health and well-being for children, the core message is clearly relevant for readers of all ages. A charming worthwhile read reminding young and old alike to “think positive thoughts” and that “tomorrow will be a fresh start.”

    My Sister’s Super Skills won First Place in the CIBA 2019 Little Peeps Awards for Children’s literature.

     

     

     

  • PROMISE of TOMORROW (Rimrock Book 1) by T.K. Conklin – Historical Romance, Western Romance, Paranormal

    PROMISE of TOMORROW (Rimrock Book 1) by T.K. Conklin – Historical Romance, Western Romance, Paranormal

    Shyfawn Tucker and her friend Mabel just wanted a little excitement, a chance to see New Orleans, but after their arrival, they are drugged, kidnapped, and taken to the rugged, lawless town of Larksdale. They are to work as prostitutes in a saloon owned by their kidnapper, a ruthless man named Jared. Soon Shyfawn learns that she will be saved from servicing Jared’s clientele, but will become the virgin singer to draw more patrons to the already-thriving business. Mabel, however, suffers a terrible fate, and Shyfawn vows to protect as many of the women forced into service as she can.

    Unbeknownst to Shyfawn, her older sister Jo is planning a rescue mission. Jo enlists the help of David and Matthew Reeves, brothers who own ranches near Rimrock, several days’ ride from Larksdale. Matthew reluctantly agrees although he barely knows Jo and goes along to keep David safe more than anything, but as soon as he sees the captivating Shyfawn, he can’t keep his eyes or mind off of her. A difficult mission is made even more impossible when Jared vows to never stop looking for Shyfawn, and not even the undeniable attraction between Matthew and Shyfawn will be enough to keep her safe.

    Promise of Tomorrow is set in the American West, in the 1830s. It’s a rough and tumble community that places women as property. T. K. Conklin paints an authentic picture of the Old West, even though at times, we may cringe at the treatment women endured.  Women were considered property, often bought, sold, raped, and disowned for the crime of being taken advantage of. Shyfawn’s story of abduction exemplifies this sad scenario. Though the author spares her heroine the burden of rape, Shyfawn is still a captive, a prisoner, kept for the entertainment and profit of Jared, who treats most of “his” women as disposable, and she is under constant threat of rape if she misbehaves. Though she escapes, Shyfawn knows her past involvement, though completely involuntary, with the saloon will forever taint her reputation and will make finding a decent husband nearly impossible. Townspeople will judge regardless of her guiltless purity, and she can never return to her hometown of Charlotte. Even Matthew worries about what her reputation will do for his own when he brings her to work as a cook at his ranch.

    A surprising plot element is a connection the Tucker sisters have to the paranormal. All three sisters have some “otherworldly” ability. To mention more here might be a dead giveaway!

    Conklin has done a great job at creating a world in the same vein as Deadwood – jacked up on romance. Even as the author gives us scenes of trauma true to the Old West, she elevates the positive themes of family, belief in better days, and finding one’s purpose in life. Shyfawn never feels sorry for herself despite the horrors around her. Her optimistic attitude leads her to shake off her sadness and look for the good in virtually everyone. She befriends the ranch hands despite their sordid pasts and even manages to see good in some of the men who hold her captive. She is able to remain positive when her chances are bleak, and her playfulness with everyone–especially Matthew–gives the novel humor and creates a fun, good ole fashioned Western.

    Promise of Tomorrow by T. K. Conklin won the CIBAs 2018 First Place in the LARAMIE Awards for Western Fiction and placed as a Semi-Finalist in the CIBAs 2019 Chatelaine Awards.


  • OSCAR’s CHRISTMAS WISH by Veronica Fischer – Children’s Christmas Story, Children’s Books in Rhyme, Children’s Animal Stories

    OSCAR’s CHRISTMAS WISH by Veronica Fischer – Children’s Christmas Story, Children’s Books in Rhyme, Children’s Animal Stories

    Veronica Fischer has written a delightful holiday story for young readers with rhyming prose and colorful pictorials that highlights an important message about being yourself.

    In Oscar’s Christmas Gift, the city zoo is home to a magnificent menagerie of animals, including horned rhinos, tuxedoed penguins, roaming lions, hooting monkeys, and trumpeting elephants. The furry and feathered residents here love being visited. Among them are a family of ocelots comprised of a Momma, 5 boys, and little Mary Lou. Young Oscar is a unique individual in the world of ocelots in that, unlike the felines showcasing a traditional spotted coat, Oscar’s golden fur has no markings. Embarrassed without his “polka-dots,” Oscar fears being laughed at. While his mom and siblings offer encouragement and highlight the attributes he possesses, words like “You’re smart!” “You’re silly!” “You’re ever so funny!” are not enough to convince a disheartened Oscar.

    Since it’s Christmas time, clever Oscar decides to write a letter to Santa and ask for the spots he so desperately wants. Fearing his request won’t reach the North Pole in time, Oscar decides to take it there himself. En route, he meets up with an alligator named Mit, who desires to sing, and Carl, a panda bear in need of a comfortable place to sleep. Unfortunately, when the three new friends reach what they believe to be their intended destination, they are informed by a bullying group of penguins that they aren’t at the “real” North Pole. A dismayed Oscar runs off, only to meet with an elderly, red-suited man. While this wise Santa-like character notes Oscar’s beauty and strength and points out the perfection of his uniqueness, nonetheless, he understands Oscar’s desire to fit in with the other ocelots. Soon he offers a practical and inventive solution for Oscar’s concerns, as well as those of his traveling companions.

    Vicky Amrullah’s full-color illustrations are bold and vibrant and artfully complement the narrative. Expressions on each characters’ face truly capture the sentiments of the storyline, whether in the tearful gaze of a shy, green-eyed Oscar, dismayed because he was born without spots; the toothy grin of a wanna-be singing gator; or the heartfelt kindness of a wool-capped, bearded man who bears a remarkable resemblance to Santa.

    From the opening Oscar Wilde quote, “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken,” to the underlying story of classic children’s books like The Ugly Duckling, Fischer takes an upbeat and contemporary storyline of being yourself. She gently reminds children about the importance of individuality, ingenuity, and appreciation for what we have. In short, a Children’s book we highly recommend – and a perfect holiday read.

    Oscar’s Christmas Wish won First Place in the CIBAs 2018 Little Peeps Awards for Children’s books.