authentic reviews and insightful interviews for inquisitive readers
Danielle 
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Secret of Clouds by Alyson Richman brings to life the bond between a teacher and student. In the current environment, it is a reminder of how precious a life is even for a fleeting moment. It is a story of hope and the dreams of a young boy who readers will connect with immediately. The book opens with Sasha and Katya living in the Ukraine. They move to America but discover their young …
Title: Moonlight & Whiskey Author: Tricia Lynne Series: N/A Choking on angst and cliches I would like to thank Tricia Lynne, Loveswept/Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book definitely wasn’t to my taste. I requested it several months ago and can’t remember what appealed to me about it to begin with, but I don’t usually get into the sexually graphic, angsty, uber urban young-and-free type of …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Say You’re Sorry by Karen Rose will keep readers guessing and thinking. It has thrills, suspense, psychological analyses, and a bit of romance. People are kept at the edge of their seats by a story that delves into intense subjects such as cults, pedophiles, torture, abuse, alcohol dependency, anxiety attacks, and PTSD. Although the first novel in a new series, it draws on characters from the Baltimore series. The heroine, Daisy Dawson, should be …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper The Earl and the Enchantress by Paullett Golden brings to life the 1790s in this historical novel with a touch of romance. As an English professor at the American Military University she has decided to become an author as well. In this debut novel her heroine lives in King Arthur’s birthplace, while the hero lives where King Arthur supposedly died. Throughout the story tidbits of King Arthur are weaved as the mystery develops regarding …
Find an interview with the author here. Or read Danielle’s review of The Earl and the Enchantress here. Elise Cooper: Thank you for doing this. Because you lost your mother at a very young age and your father raised you to be self-sufficient you expect to be respected within any relationship. Valuing independence, there is the expectation of being treated as an equal. It appears you have basically given up on marriage. Then you met Sebastian Lancaster, the Earl of …
Title: Strawberry Hill Author: Catherine Anderson Series: Mystic Creek #5 Likable characters but terribly unfocused plot I liked this story, I found it both tragic and heartwarming, but it had some big problems narratively. At the center was Slade and Vickie, two sixty-something has-been sweethearts who were to be married until distrust broke them apart forty years ago. I didn’t relate to them all that much, but I liked Slade quite a bit. Vickie was meh. My biggest problem with …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Annelies by David R. Gillham has Anne Frank surviving the Holocaust. As the “what if” comes true, the book presents a story of hope, survival, trauma and redemption. But it is also a reminder of what was lost during the Holocaust: how many of those lives taken away had such promise. Gillham gives Anne Frank’s life back to her, a life brutally cut short by the Nazi monsters. Gillham skillfully transforms Anne from a …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Untouchable by Jayne Krentz is the finale in the Cutler, Sutter, and Salinas series. It intertwines a good mystery, suspense, and a little romance, while delving into the world of mind control through lucid dreams and hypnosis. The hero of the story, Jack Lancaster, has his mother killed in the cult fire set by Quinton Zane when Jack was 12, and since then he has been on a quest to find the murderer. His …
Title: Summoned to Thirteenth Grave Author: Darynda Jones Series: Charley Davidson #13 A hollow narrative with only humor and charismatic characters as its merits I would like to thank Darynda Jones, St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I beg of you, don’t spoil any part of this series for yourself. Usually I don’t mind spoilers, but this is one series for which spoilers are simply criminal. If you …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Code Name: Lise by Larry Loftis brings to life the most highly decorated woman spy. The story delves into how Odette Sansom displayed courage and patriotism while having to endure endless torture by the Nazis. Born in France and living in England Odette decides she wants to help with the war cause. Because of her knowledge of the French language and customs she was recruited into Britain’s Special Operations Executive Program to conduct espionage …