Crown of War and Shadow (Kingdoms of the Compass #1) by J.R. Ward

Title: Crown of War and Shadow Author: J.R. Ward Series: Kingdoms of the Compass #1 Thank you to J.R. Ward, Tor, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’ve heard good things about J.R. Ward for years, saw she was hopping on the romantasy trend, and figured that’d be as good an introduction to her as any. But then I decided to try her famed vampire series (Black Dagger Brotherhood) before …

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Interview with Ellie Curzon (The Lost Orphans and The Lifeboat Orphans)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Lost Orphans and The Lifeboat Orphans in The Runaway Evacuees series by Ellie Curzon, the pen name for Catherine Curzon and Helen Barrell, are two books that have touching, heart-warming, and heartbreaking moments, with a tinge of humor. The setting of London during the Nazi blitz of WWII shows how Londoners faced fear, survival, loss, and horror, but also were courageous, kind, brave, and strong. Both books are historical fiction based on the …

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Interview with Jenna Blum (Murder Your Darlings)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum has the author venturing into the thriller genre. Formerly known for her historical novels, she still maintains some semblance by making her female lead, Simone “Sam” Vetiver, a historical novelist. This suspenseful novel had love, grief, and revenge. Readers meet Sam who is finishing up a book tour while searching for some ideas for her next plot. She then receives a fan letter from best-selling author William Corwyn …

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Interview with Donna Everhart (Women of a Promiscuous Nature)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart is a compelling and fascinating read. This historical fiction sheds light on a lesser-known subject of how women were wrongly imprisoned. There are vivid scenes and compelling characters who fought their injustice with determination. The story was told from multiple points of view: two of the girls, Ruth Foster and Stella Temple, as well as the Superintendent Dorothy Baker. This allows readers to get an understanding …

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Interview with Kathleen Donnelly (National Forest K-9 series, Colorado K-9 Rescue)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Chasing Justice, Hunting the Truth, and Killer Secrets are the first books by Kathleen Donnelly of the National Forest K-9 Series. She is an author that should be put on everybody’s radar. Having been a handler for a private narcotics K-9 detection company, she is able to use her experiences to craft realistic stories in these novels. Each of the three books explains more of former Marine Maya Thompson’s and Deputy Sheriff Josh Colte’s …

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Interview with Lisa Childs (The Cowboy’s Claim, Christmas Security, The Unknown Colton)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Cowboy’s Claim has lawyer Maci Bluff trying to win a lawsuit for the Lemmon Brothers, Blake, Brett, and Levi. They were ranch hands for Frank (the owner) who has died and left them the ranch. But his birth daughter, Trish, and Maci’s best friend, are contesting the will. Maci has feelings for Blake but is trying to set them aside because she does not want a conflict of interest. Christmas Security has biophysics …

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Review Roundup Winter 2025-2026 – Part 1

A roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Winter 2025-2026. Beware of spoilers! Title: 100 Days of Sunlight Author: Abbie Emmons Series: Tessa and Weston #1 This author has a “writing how-to” YouTube channel that I’ve watched a few times, and when I learned she’s published a book with an interesting premise and it was available at my library, I wanted to check it out and see if Emmons can walk the walk or just talk the talk. DNF 19%. …

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You Can Scream by Rebecca Zanetti

Title: You Can Scream Author: Rebecca Zanetti Series: Laurel Snow #5 Much thanks to Rebecca Zanetti, Kensington, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I read the first couple books in this series and greatly enjoyed them, but One Cursed Rose was so awful it completely turned me off Zanetti for a couple years. I wish I’d continued this series where I left off instead of skipping to Book 5, because while …

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Interview with Tess Cacciatore (Yumi’s Universe)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Yumi’s Universe was born from the imagination of Tess Cacciatore, an award-winning writer, director and global peace advocate. After decades of empowering youth across continents, Tess envisioned a world where children could learn values of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility. The emphasis is to inspire children everywhere to grow with kindness, imagination, and peace through magical stories, music, and art from around the world. People can go to her website and explore Yumi’s Universe. (www.YumisUniverse.com) …

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Interview with Katie Bernet (Beth Is Dead)

Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet takes the Little Women story by Louisa May Alcott and turns it on its head. Readers who loved this timely classic will be intrigued how Bernet takes Beth’s death and turns it into a murder mystery, puts the characters in the modern day, and has many twists with many people of interest. Although it is listed as a YA book, adult readers will also find it enjoyable, gripping, …

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