Bubba in Phantom Weenie : A fun Halloween mystery adventure with our Dachshund friends! by Greg LeFrancis

This spooktacular story follows our three weenie dog friends, Bubba, Hannah, and Amber, and their bird buddy, Yellow Boy through a fantastic Halloween night full of tall tales and trickery which in turn teaches one dog a lesson about stealing. A book for children ages 5 and up.

Title: Bubba in Phantom Weenie : A fun Halloween mystery adventure with our Dachshund friends! (Bubba and Friends Book Series 1)

Author: Greg LeFrancis

Pages:

My review

A perfect story for this Halloween!

Bubba in Phantom weenie is the celebration of this Halloween season. Written in the background of Halloween celebrations, this story is about three friends, Bubba, Hannah and Yellow boy. Their enthusiasm to celebrate the most awaited season is quickly intervened by another pirate dog, Amber. She tricks them for her selfishness. The three friends, together recover from the pitfall and celebrate the season happily at the end.

The beautiful story is accompanied with colourful illustration. The vibrant illustrations can strike a chord of imagination for sure. The author has made a small mystery thriller through very less pages and words. The story is written in a way to create curiosity to know what will happen next. In the climax, a valuable message of honesty and sincerity is also delivered. Loved the illustrations and story!

Brooklyn’s Song by Sydney Arrison| Book review

Brooklyn Pierce has just witnessed an attempted assassination, and Detective Song Kai and his partner, Detective Mattice Blake, are on the case.

But as the story progresses, sparks begin to develop between Brooklyn and Song, providing the reader with a storyline overflowing with sensuality, compassion and romance amidst the onset of drama, tension, suspicion, deception and murder and an explosive ending, which you will never see coming.

Title: Brooklyn’s Song

Author: Sydney Arrison

Pages:272

My review

Brooklyn’s song is carefully woven, beautifully crafted crime thriller. The story opens with the introduction lead character, Brooklyn Pierce, a teacher and philanthropist. Her father Sage Pierce, a self-made billionaire is the first elected African American Governor of New York. Brooklyn witnessed the attempted assassination of her father and his fiancé in the announcement ceremony for seeking next term. A gruelling investigation leading by detective Song Kai is underway. With the culprit freely roaming in public, can Brooklyn go back to her normal life? What will be the outcome of the investigation?

Crime thrillers always hold high interest in my reading list. We are following the detective and the whole story is seeing through his perspective. How he analyses and put each piece of the puzzle to solve a larger mystery determines the course of the story. This single point of view itself creates suspense. In this crime drama, we can experience everything, a heartwarming romance, love, family bond, betrayal, heartbreak and greed. Every little piece of emotion is carefully included and woven together with perfect moments in the story. The story quickly gets its pace from the second chapter itself. The author takes just enough time to introduce the lead characters. The mysteries are suddenly unveiled and the plot gets twists and turns at regular intervals. The narration is simple and free-flowing. We can easily follow the narratives of Brooklyn and Song. What makes this thriller a perfect one is there are no loose ends left at the end. Every mystery is solved and the puzzle is cracked in the climax. Even the author included a beautiful epilogue too to bring completeness to the story.

Before the Origin by F.S. Bala | Book review

Much has changed. Climate change has inspired a new generation of discrimination – one where the mutation of a hereditary gene has become the greatest crime. The others – a minority kept silent for years are now up to something sinister.

Agent Amy Taff has moved through the world unnoticed until the recent disturbances in an otherwise perfect utopia require her expertise. Desperate to make her mark, Amy is hurled into a world of mystery and magic, deeply rooted in ancient African folklore. Discoveries that threaten her life and could not only change her reality but hold far-reaching implications for everyone on the face of a lone continent. Follow her into an epic tale that begins with accepting a new job at Scythe. Where it ends could swing the scales of balance toward life or death.

Title: Before the Origin

Author: F.S. Bala

Pages: 124

My review

Have you ever been in a maze that keeps shifting again and again when you tried to escape? No? This story will give you the same experience. It will give you a feeling of unending mysteries.
All sci-fi thrillers have the same beginning. They will transport us to a new world. A world which that can only build through our creative capabilities. Then we start to solve the puzzles. The puzzles are twisted, to keep it interesting to play. In the end, the puzzle is solved. But this is not that typical sci-fi thriller.

The story keeps twisting again and again. There is no end in this maze. We will keep traveling back and forth, future and past. In the end, an entirely new dimension of the story is uncovered.
I’m truly mesmerized by the beautiful writing style. How easily the author has carried a complex story without creating any loopholes but creating suspense and confusion at times. It was so exciting for me to turn each page. Because I was eager to know what happens next.

At first, I thought that the author is narrating some parallel storylines, just like others. But it was not parallel storylines. It is all a part of one story. It was quite thrilling for me to come across each piece of that story and how it is connected to each other. The climax gave me a feeling that the best part is yet to be released. The cliffhanger is enough to keep the curiosity high till the next part.  A must-read for all sci-fi lovers.

Rating:5/5

Kat Doggers: Superspy: Book 1 of the Kat Doggers Series by Austin Stack

Kat Doggers is more than an ordinary house cat. She’s also a secret agent of F.U.R., the feline spy team that protects the world from evil genius snails, master criminal fish, and the red dot of doom. Kat is ready for her first day on the job, but instead of an easy assignment, she chooses to go on a super-important special mission with two of F.U.R.’s best agents.

When the mission goes terribly wrong and her team gets captured, will Kat be able to save the day all on her own?

Title: Kat Doggers: Superspy: Book 1 of the Kat Doggers Series

Author: Austin Stack

Pages:54

My review

Kat Doggers is living a dual identity. She is an ordinary house cat by day and a high-tech superspy by night. She is the rookie agent in the elite Feline Undercover Regiment (F.U.R) and awaiting her first mission. An unforeseen incident lands her in an unexpected mission with two other top agents, one is her cousin and the other is her idol. But this high-risk operation goes wrong and it is up to Kat to solve the mystery and rescue her fellow agents. Will she able to rise to the occasion?

Kat Doggers: Superspy is a well-written mystery thriller. The author never attempts to drag the story to unnecessary details. The story sticks to the crime and investigation. Over the course of the investigation, this story teaches us many lessons. One of such important lesson is believing in our abilities. If we believe in ourselves, we can defy all odds. We have to earn the stripes. No one will respect you until and unless we show them what we can do. It also points down to the importance of knowledge and analytical skills. This quirky, hilarious blend of characters creates a full-fledged entertainment throughout the story.

An Interview with Blair James Steward| Author of “Miracle Uprising”

Today I’ll be hosting  author Blair James Steward on my blog. His book “Miracle Uprising” is available on Amazon.com

Me: What inspired you to start writing Miracle Uprising?

Blair: I was given a lot of pain with the life I was given. I needed an outlet to vent this agony and to escape my reality. Miracle Uprising was the world I created to make sense of everything in my mind. It was a free therapy tool.

Me: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Blair: I was very young, I would write down elaborate stories as a kid. I did not know that it was my escape at the time, but it was. I was probably about 10 years old when I chose writing as a source of expression.

Me: How long have you been writing?

Blair: Well, 20 years if you want to pair it with the last response. I published my first book almost 4 years ago. I worked as a freelance writer before that, but they were more informative than creative.

Me: What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

Blair: Editing is such a struggle for me. I’m good at it, I just hate it. Any writers that are reading this and love editing should consider themselves lucky.

Me: What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing your book?

Blair: It really is a freeing process. I was homeless, and the only thing that kept me alive was the ability to write in a public library. I’ve been blessed tenfold since then, but I still find freedom in creative writing.

Me: Who is your favourite author, and why?

Blair: J.R.R. Tolkien and Mitch Albom are tied. Tolkien can create depth and reality with his own vision. Albom can explain feelings that nobody else can find words for.

Me: What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Blair: To be perfectly honest with you, I have found this influence in lyrics. Pink Floyd has explained my agony back to me in three separate albums. The Beatles turn words in emotion like nobody else can. Led Zeppelin is a quenching taste of both of these elements. If I had to put them in order, I would say The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd.

Me: Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers?

Blair: Do not hesitate to write your thoughts down. Write everything you want to express and don’t look back. That’s what editing is for, and perhaps why I hate it.

Me: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Father, Husband, Anomaly

Me: Are you working on anything at the present you would like to share with your readers about?

Blair: I am working on the sequel to Miracle Uprising. Fans, please be patient with me. I have two children in diapers, and I am a full-time student. Thank you so much for the overwhelming support!

About the Book

The book is originally published independently in 2017 but it received an update in 2020. The story is about a boy that has to face multiple battles in his teenage life. Forbidden love and facing actual warfare is just part of his life, but his biggest challenge he needs to face is the internal battle. A mental battle defines his everyday life. This book is the biography of the protagonist, a boy who is just seeking understanding and relief. The author wrote this book during the worst years of his life and this story helped him to cope with depression and the traumatic past, it was his escape from the real world. The book uses a lot of characteristics of high fantasy books. If you want to dig into the rabbit hole, this psychological thriller is definitely a unique choice.

Purchase here: Amazon.com Amazon.in

About the Author

Blair James Steward is an avid fan of psychological thrillers and enjoys writing books that’ll keep people guessing until the very last page. As a father, he also hopes to instill a love of reading in his children. After telling them stories, he finally decided to write out the stories he tells them into children’s books so other families can enjoy them.

With five books written, he’s always focused on the next story he wants to tell. Blair lives in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, with his wife and children. When he’s not writing, he’s making music, being a family man, and searching for inspiration for his next stories.

Reach out to Blair Facebook Instagram

Criminally Crocheted: Book Four of the Fiber Mavens Series by J. Traveler Pelton| Book review

Welcome to Lyonsville, a serene village where English and Amish shops draw tourists by the busload for the atmosphere, food, and handmade crafts. Brad’s been promoted, Casey is expecting, and the Yarn Sisters are yarn-bombing the town. The new pastor’s little boys have a tendency to go streaking. When the yarn-bombing gets out of hand and half the Yarn sisters go missing, Casey and Brad have to find the culprit before someone gets hurt or she has this baby in the squad car. You are going to enjoy book four.

Title: Criminally Crocheted: Book Four of the Fiber Mavens Series

Author: J. Traveler Pelton

Pages: 124

My review

Criminally Crocheted is the fourth installment of the Fiber Mavens mystery thriller series. Lyonsville is a small settlement of English and Amish groups. The closely-knit families are leading a quiet life with mutual love and respect. Brad is a young, intelligent detective, who is recently promoted. His wife Casey is expecting. Their quiet life is suddenly disturbed by a new crimewave. The crime rate of the town starts going upwards. Brad has to solve this mystery very soon because things are getting too personal and complicated.

Criminally Crocheted is not a typical mystery thriller. Although this plot is too built upon crime and investigations, the background is very pleasant and colorful. The people are very cheerful. They are mostly engaged in their businesses. The mutual bond between families is so strong. All of them are dependent on each other. The helping mindset provides peace in this community. There is no room for any kind of crime in this town. Because of this nature, if something horrible happens, the entire town will fall into jeopardy. This makes the story even more interesting.

This thriller is written in a way that, the mysteries will add up, once you delve deep into the story. You need patience to unwind the whole mystery. The author keeps the suspense till the last chapters.

Altogether, this was a very enjoyable read.

Craving Alaska, how to savor the last frontier by Day Pesh Melba | Book review

Daphne G. Forest is bold, brisk, and as barbed as the 1940s movie star she resembles. Mother Miriam Bliss is a flamboyant figment of her imagination, a sort of whimsical vindication for an editor who confused Daphne with facts, which she knows (for a fact) only tend to exist. When Daphne’s fictitious commune of blasphemous gourmet wilderness nuns unexpectedly create a national stir, Daphne goes on the lam in Alaska, a frontier big enough for Italy and France to hide in. She meets Jason, a gold seeker, who introduces her to the native Gwich’in tribe in the Far North. Tribal leader Rachel King, who is fighting an uphill battle against Big Oil, stirs Daphne’s dormant sense of right and wrong and lands her on a whole new trajectory. That trajectory is about to collide with that of a gay commune in San Francisco, who have fallen hard and fast for Mother Miriam. They decide she and her wild sisters must materialize. What is real, what is magical, what is realistic magic and magical realism? The answers and more questions are found in the mythic and monumental proportions of the Great Land, Alyeska.

Title: Craving Alaska, how to savor the last frontier

Author: Day Pesh Melba

Pages: 320

My review

A brilliant, bold, unusual story immersed in magical realism. This is a rare combination of art that will take you to the next level of confusion and self-awareness. The writing style is unique. The author never attempts to create an empathy between the characters and the readers. Rather, the story is narrated from an outsider’s perspective, often slipping into satirical moments.

The story is very distinctive and it is presented without losing its innate charmingness. Daphne was indeed seeking a refuge in Alaska. Because she is someone who is torn between her natural rebellious nature and calm, principled outside demeanor. Her true expressions are behind this mask. In Alaska, the eternal wilderness evokes her spirit. She understands her true aspirations. The dilemma of choosing right and wrong is vested in one’s mind. This confusion brings out our true character. But the true craft of this story begins after that. How the author has connected this course to the life of gay commune in San Fransisco is the crux of this novel. This is like a non-ending dilemma that keeps unwinding.

I know why the author has chosen Alaska to tell this story. Only the wilderness of Alaska can match the magical realism in this story. The background supplements the thread in every way.

Medical Executioner : A Killer In Disguise by Rashawn K. Campbell | Book review

In a small town, all hell breaks loose. A serial killer is on the loose. Gruesome murder becomes the reality. An unknown past secret to all except one. Luke must race against time to unlock the reason for the senseless killing in the town of Aldershot. Four people, one identity. Luke must find a way…

Title: Medical Executioner : A Killer In Disguise

Author: Rashawn K. Campbell

Pages: 77

My review

A gruesome murder wrecks havoc in the otherwise quiet Aldershot town. A serial killer is on the loose. People are afraid to go out in the night. A constant fear is looming over their lives. Luke Gay, the smart intelligent detective is transferred to Aldershot to investigate this case. Before he arrives at the town, the serial killer strikes again at the same spot, in the same manner. Luke was warmly welcomed to his new office by colleagues, especially by the Chief Coroner Mrs.Ferguson. But the atmosphere changed quickly by the next blow of serial killer. This time the victim was the only son of Mayor Summer, a dear friend of Luke. Luke was determined to solve this case because things are getting personal from here. But this mystery was not easy to solve. His investigation hits dead ends as he came to four suspects but unable to find a connection between them. Will he able to solve this mystery?

The plot is unique and strong. The author has narrated this thriller by keeping the suspense till the end. What makes this story an engaging read is, the multi-faceted personality of the killer. This leaves the protagonist confused all the time. Often we are unable to find the missing pieces of this puzzle. The intelligence of the cold-hearted killer sometimes outsmarts the protagonist. All these mysteries are solved only in the end. The story lacks conversations and narration is monotonous at some points. Apart from that, this is a very captivating read.

Perdition: Book one The Devil Wore a Brown Suit Series by Amanda Arndt | Review

Perdition and her Brother Damnation were born to serve the garden of Eden. As babies they are hidden in the underworld. When Daniel finds out his mother is still alive he escapes from the underworld to destroy the garden. Perdition follows after escaping her own personal hell. She is lost. She has no memories of how she got out or her personal hell. Book one of the devil wore a brown suit series is a look inside Perdition as she navigates topside trying to find out who she is.

Title: Perdition: Book one The Devil Wore a Brown Suit Series

Author: Amanda Arndt

Pages: 113

My review

Perdition: Book one The Devil Wore a Brown Suit series is a fantasy thriller crafted between the worlds above and below. Perdition and Damnation, the twin children of Venus and Lucifer are destined to serve the garden of Eden. But their parents wasn’t ready to give up their children to a life with no free will. Lucifer fled to the Underworld with the twins. Venus was trapped in the Garden after losing the fight with mighty Gabriel. Everyone in the underworld believed that Venus was dead. After many years, Damnation came to know that his mother is alive. He escaped the Underworld leaving behind his sister, perdition in the void. Perdition eventually got out of her personal hell but came to know that she is now in the topside. She has no memory of how she got out. She is approached by some unholy descendants. But soon she came to know that a war is imminent. What will be her destiny? Does she able to save the world?

The story is all about the transformation of Perdition. She was unaware of her capabilities. When she was tossed to the topside without any aid, she started to uncover her unique abilities. She was clueless in the beginning. But by the end of this book, we can witness a powerful celestial being, with mighty powers and determination. Her life is not bound to the darkness of the underworld. She belongs to the topside. This is her journey to self-discovery.

The story is fast-paced, leaving little space for any emotional attachments. New characters and situations are introduced in every chapter, which drastically changes the course of the entire story. Overall, this was a unique fantasy thriller read.

The Amazon Legacy: Gods & Queens by Zenay Bekele Ben-Yochanan | Book review

An embittered wager between Zeus and Hera results in the banishment of the most powerful Amazon leader, Queen Elektra. Sent to Hades, she leaves behind the Golden Girdle, holder of mysteries and granter of the gift of immortality to its rightful owner. In Elektra’s absence, two fierce warriors rise. Teigra-a lone wolf who has suffered a life of unspeakable brutality as a slave. Forced to earn her living as a cage fighter, she endures by way of her cunning wit, quick reflexes, and lethal strikes. As a hired assassin, loyal only to the highest bidder, a chance encounter with the Girdle reframes her entire destiny. Thea-raised and trained as a Sondra. The elite warriors of the Amazon tribe and held in the highest esteem among their people, the Sondra’s’ mission is to eliminate any outside threat. But a new directive takes shape for Thea when a seer repositions her path toward finding the legendary Golden Girdle. The battle to recover the Girdle pits warrior against warrior, both unaware of each other’s existence until they are sent on a perilous quest with impossibly high stakes. In this cruel and bloody journey set deep in an ancient world of slavery, torture, and clashing kingdoms, our fated warriors fight for their core beliefs and survival. On opposite sides of a grand, savage battle, each woman is driven to dominate the other by a shared prophecy and an instinctual force to outlive and outlast.

Title: The Amazon Legacy: Gods & Queens

Author: Zenay Bekele Ben-Yochanan

Pages: 362

My review

The Amazon Legacy: Gods & Queens is a mystery thriller inspired by Greek mythology. The Greek gods are no stranger to the self-consuming ego and waging war for domination over another. But what will happen if they decide to extend their wagers by involving mortal humans? Can they live up to the expectations of God? What will be the price to pay if they couldn’t? This story is crafted around this curiosity.

From the beginning itself, I was curious to learn three things, what caused the downfall of Elektra, what is the relation between Thea and Teigra, and who will get the Golden girdle. One after another, these questions kept me hooked to the story from beginning to the end. The story is narrated smoothly, connecting the answers to the raising questions. It is one of the best thrillers I have ever read, in this sense. Even at the end, the author has opened another dimension of this fascinating story to keep the readers guessing. The idea left behind in the end has immense potential to develop into an outstanding sequel.

Throughout the story, I felt a bag of emotions. It was a rollercoaster ride through emotions like ego, domination, courage, helplessness, revenge, greed, love, independence, and freedom.

Overall, this was a beautiful story indeed.

Rating:5/5