Review of Middle Ageish by Shirley Goldberg

 

Dating again in middle age? It's not for the faint of heart. And it can get very interesting. Check out an excerpt and my thoughts on Middle Ageish by Shirley Goldberg. Be sure to leave questions and comments for the author as you follow the rest of the tour. And best of luck entering the giveaway at the end!

Sunny Chanel's marriage is circling the drain when her husband marks his colonoscopy on the calendar and ignores their anniversary. With divorce papers instead of roses on the horizon, she says "au revoir" Paris and croissants, and "hello" cheap New Haven apartment and ramen noodles.

With the encouragement of her friends, Sunny jumps into online dating, twenty-three years and twenty pounds after her last date. To her surprise she discovers dating might require a helmet, and occasionally armor to protect her heart, but after years of being ignored, her adventurous side craves fun and conversation. She’s middle-aged not dead. Then suddenly, on the way to reinventing herself, life takes a left turn when the one man she can't forget calls with an unexpected request.

Read an excerpt:

Of course, my goodbye party was at Chez Lulu in the Latin Quarter, Paris’ most Bohemian arrondissment. Lulu’s has that Fifties diner look—clean, spare and edgy like an Edward Hopper painting minus the feeling of isolation. It’s always packed, and the music is Buddy Holly, early Elvis, Patsy Cline, the Everly Brothers—a mix of rock and roll and country.

“Dinner’s here,” announced Dulcie, waving her beer glass before taking a long pull. “Everyone let them through!”

“Hey, ain’t this a swell party?” said Bertrand, arriving at our noisy table with an armload of gourmet burgers. “Who’s got the Marilyn Monroe with Mickey Mantles?”

Have I mentioned all the waiters are imitation James Deans, white T-shirts and jeans with rolled cuffs? Bertrand and Albert—they both speak perfect, slangy English—are our favorites. Bertrand is flirty in a sweet way and working his way through the Institute d’Etudes Politiques de Paris.

“And the Robert Mitchum with Buddy Holly fries?” Lulu’s boasts seven varieties of American fries, named for baseball players, or French and American pop stars.

“Two Jane Russells with Joe DiMaggio fries?” Albert, at Lulu’s between acting jobs, shouted, and everyone quieted for a moment, shuffling plates and passing them across the table. Movie star burgers with caramelized onions on miniature baguette buns. My mouth was so ready.

My going-away party...and I am not going to cry.

Next to me, Natalie held out The Middle-Aged Idiot’s Guide to Online Dating. “For when you start dating,” she yelled over the roar that is Lulu’s.

“Like dating is on my list of things to do?” I said around my burger. “Below sticking a rusty fork in my eye.”

Book Links:

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**My thoughts**

Oh dear God, the dating pool can be absolutely miserable, especially once you've reached a certain age. I'm not quite to Sunny's age yet, but I'm getting close enough that I can feel her pain. It's hard enough to find dates as it is, let alone trying the online thing. Plus she has just moved across the world, back to the USA, before her divorce is anywhere near finalized. She is literally starting her life all over again. And I admire her for doing so, because that could not have been easy.

I felt her annoyance at her friends as they shoved her into the online dating world. I hate it when people mess with my love life, even if they are well-meaning. Although, the 25 date challenge is intriguing. And then some of the dates that she ends up going on? Oy. Some of them seem absolutely ridiculous, but I can promise you that a lot of these simply have to be based in reality, because it really can be like that out there. And even if they are embellished, that's part of what makes this such a fun read. 

Younger women may not necessarily relate as well to this one, and that's okay. Those of us who are getting older need a book that we can better appreciate! Then again, those dating stories...If you're dating, I think you will feel her pain. And if you're lucky enough to still be married, you'll be counting your blessings!

So hop on for a wild ride and be prepared to snort out loud at some points. Thank you to the author and to Goddess Fish Promotions for providing me with a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Shirley Goldberg is a writer, novelist, and former ESL and French teacher who’s lived in Paris, Crete, and Casablanca. She writes about men and women of a certain age starting over. Her website http://midagedating.com offers a humorous look into dating in midlife, and her friends like to guess which stories are true.

Middle Ageish is her first book in the series Starting Over. Her character believes you should never leave home without your sense of humor and Shirley agrees.


https://sixtyandme.com/author/shirley-goldberg/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3916624.Shirley_Goldberg

https://www.midagedating.com/

http://www.twitter.com/mylifeasadate

https://www.facebook.com/midagedating

https://www.instagram.com/shirleygoldbergauthor/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3916624.Shirley_Goldberg

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/3531427862?list=following

https://www.amazon.com/author/shirleygoldberg

Shirley Goldberg will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

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Review of Against My Better Judgment by B.T. Polcari #AJPrism

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the book tour for Against My Better Judgment by B.T. Polcari! Today I'm sharing with you my thoughts on his quriky mystery. You can also see an interview I did with him over at Candrel's Crafts, Cooks, and Characters. Be sure to also check out the rest of the tour for even more! And best of luck entering the giveaway!

Against My Better Judgment

(Mauzzy and Me Mystery, #1)

By B.T. Polcari

New Adult Contemporary Mystery, Romantic Comedy

Paperback & ebook, 298 Pages

September 16th 2020 by The Wild Rose Press

When freshman year at the University of Alabama draws to a close, Sara Donovan finds herself grappling with the same old question—listen to her head or follow her heart. What she ends up doing is purchasing an Egyptian souvenir funerary mask, and after a mysterious phone call, she's certain a ring of antiquities smugglers are operating in Tuscaloosa.

With finals never far from her mind and her return to 'Bama hanging in the balance, she should be studying. Instead she launches her own investigation to prove her mask is indeed a stolen artifact, and not a cheap trinket. When it comes time to snoop, Sara is more than ready, or at least she was until a hot new teaching assistant moves in next door.

Suddenly she learns things are never as they seem. Ever.

(Affiliate links included.)

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**My thoughts**

This is one of the quirkiest groups of characters I have read in a long time! Sara is a total disaster area, highly OCD with her safety rituals (although I can understand her germ phobia, especially right now), often sticking her foot in her mouth, and just plain old clumsy. I felt a sort of kinship with her because of all of that. She's also very smart with a keen interest in Egyptology, something I don't often come across in books these days.

One of her usual little mishaps gets her embroiled in a smuggling mystery, conveniently also the topic of her semester project for one of her classes. As she works to uncover what is happening around her, she encounters a group of people who are just as quirky as she is. You're not sure what to think during her interactions with some of these people. And you find yourself getting just as suspicious of them as she does. 

And then there is her dog Mauzzy, who has a quirky personality all of his own, and is also her right-hand man, so to speak. I got a kick out of reading Sara's "conversations" with her dog.

Sara also seems a lot older than her 19 years. I kept picturing her as a grad student perhaps in her early to mid-20s. It's not that many years' difference, I know, but she just seemed more advanced than her years. It will be interesting to see how she continues to age and mature.

I admit that as a B1G fan, I had slight twitches every time I had to read "Roll Tide!" lol. But I forgive the author for that. :) I do appreciate the support for one's school!

So if you're into quirky characters and Egyptian history, this is a book you may want to check out!

Thank you to the author and Prism Book Tours for fulfilling my review request. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Ever wonder what retired business executives do after they have put in years of effort for society and decide it is time to hang up their hat? Perhaps strolling along the country club’s fairway, or lounging on a 50-foot yacht?

Alas, B. T. Polcari is unlike your typical retired executive. Empty nester and Scarlett Knights alum, Polcari is still learning the meaning of “retired” while feverishly typing away on the next new book idea, smashing the fuzz off the little green tennis ball, or blasting bowling pins for a perfect game. Yes there is a boat, but not one that comes with its own crew; this retiree prefers to bustle along a serene lake in a quaint single seat Sunfish sailboat.

Perhaps the only time BTP can be found in a quiet moment is while enjoying the morning company of two family dachshunds over a newspaper and cup of coffee. B. T. Polcari currently resides in Chattanooga, TN and is thrilled to be fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming a published author.

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Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a print copy of The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

Open to US and internationally to those who receive free shipping through the Book Depository

Ends October 21, 2020

ENTER HERE

Review of A Family for Christmas (The Burlesons of Texas) by Nola Cross

 

There's nothing like a good Christmas romance to get you feeling warm and fuzzy, which is especially nice during these crazy times! Read an excerpt and my thoughts of A Family for Christmas, the second book in the series by Nola Cross. Be sure to let her know what you think as you follow the tour. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

He never thought he’d have a real family Christmas…

For the past eight years, Bill Smith has been unable to set down roots. But he never forgot the magical night he spent with an auburn-haired beauty in Last Stand, Texas. When she finally tracked him down, he was more than happy to donate a kidney to AJ, the son he never knew he had. But now that AJ is better, Bill wants more time with him and his mother. He wants a family.

Annie Burleson can’t help but be grateful to this almost-stranger for saving AJ’s life. Still, she’s a little wary. AJ has already been through so much—what if Bill leaves again? And with Christmas in full swing, it’s difficult to discern which emotions are festive and which are forever.

As Annie and Bill’s lives collide, their mutual love for AJ makes this more than a marriage of convenience. But is it enough to give them the family Christmas they all deserve?

Read an excerpt:

Her door stood ajar, and he kneed it open. Inside, her bedroom was lit by candles that glowed softly from several locations. On either side of her bed, pink lightbulbs in the delicate glass lamps shed rose-colored light on turned-down bedclothes. She had prepared the room just for this moment. An invitation meant only for him.

“I see what you’ve had up your sleeve here, Mrs. Smith.” He laid her on the bed. Her still-damp hair rippled out in an auburn fan on the white pillowcase.

“Don’t you like it?”

“I love it. What I love most is knowing you’ve been thinking about the two of us being here, about us making love.”

She gave him a sly smile. “I figured we’d end up here eventually.”

He ran his finger along the opening of her robe, from her breastbone to her waist. She gave a tiny gasp. “Can I unwrap you now?”

Available on Amazon

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**My thoughts**

I've been reading a lot of contemporary western romances lately, and I'm happy that the holiday ones are starting to come out. This is the second book in Nola Cross's Burlesons of Texas series and is designed to work as a standalone. For the most part it does, as it focuses on the current relationship between Annie and Bill. But I felt like I was missing out on a lot of the backstory, even though a lot of it was explained briefly in the beginning. 

We know that Bill and Annie had a one-night stand eight years ago, which resulted in AJ. Bill didn't know that he had a son, though Annie sort of tried to look for him. AJ was very sick and needed a kidney transplant. They finally tracked down Bill, who ended up being the donor. But then Bill disappeared again for a while, until Annie's brother encouraged him to come back around.

This is the part of the story that I want more details on, particularly why AJ needed the kidney transplant. That's the part that grabbed me with the blurb, as I've had friends who have had transplants and friends whose daughter had kidney cancer. And just I think that some of the interactions between Annie, AJ and Bill, whom he knew as only Dr. Smith around the time of the transplant, would have been filled with enough drama to warrant their own story. Perhaps there's more in the first book? I am interested in reading that one, to learn more about Clay and Jade's romance, as well as see how the interactions between this family play out back then. 

But back to the book at hand. Annie steps in it when Bill returns and says sarcastically that they should get married. Bill calls her on her bluff, and two weeks later, they are married. But they are leading somewhat separate lives, as they really don't know each other well. Bill stays out in the lodge, but comes to the house to spend time with AJ. He and Annie spar a little bit, as they are each set in their own ways, but also are slowly reigniting that attraction that got them into the predicament. This time, at least, it's a slow burn and not a raging inferno in one night. 

I admit that marriages of convenience often make me twitch a little bit, because they are so tricky and can easily go quite wrong. But the affection that these two have for their son, and slowly build for each other, really makes you want to root for them to work it out. They've both been hurt in the past and they really could heal each other. Naturally there's a bit of predictable, formulaic conflict. But overall, I really did enjoy reading this story. It was a quick read and started to give me hints of those warm fuzzies I like when these holiday romances start coming out. I do want to go back and read the first book and am going to be on the lookout for future installments. I think I will also enjoy those.

Thank you to the author, Tule Publishing, and Goddess Fish for providing me with a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I remember as a small girl being fascinated with the idea that people could make up stories and the stories became books. I began writing my own stories before I even started school, and won my first writing contest at the age of nine. It’s always been my dream to be a published author. The road was a long and twisting one, but I finally made it. I’m proud to be a two-time Golden Heart finalist, and several of my stories have been Amazon best sellers.

For a while I penned erotic fiction under a pseudonym. Although it was fun to explore my “darker side”, I am now answering the true call of my heart: to write bigger stories that focus on emotion, loss, spirit, and true love, stories I hope my readers will relate to and want to read more than once. Small town America is my favorite fictional setting. I’m particularly enjoying my recent foray into writing Cowboy romance.


Link to Author Website: http://www.nolacross.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nola-Cross-Author-174971689198712

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/NolaCross

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nolacross/the-everfield-series/

The author will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to 5 randomly drawn winners. Follow the tour for more chances to win! 

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The Trapped Daughter by Jay Kerk

 

Psychological thrillers are always fun to read, but I particularly crave them at this time of year. Check out an excerpt from The Trapped Daughter by Jay Kerk. Get even more as you follow the tour, leaving your questions and comments along the way. And then be sure to enter the giveaway!

Have you ever been trapped somewhere? I have.
Have you ever found that the world does not believe you? I did.

I have been betrayed by the people I trusted the most. They coil around me like snakes, lulling me with whispers about protection and safety and for your own good.

They offer up pills like sweets, promising me relief. Just take the meds and everything will be fine, Belle – the meds, Belle, the meds.

Everything will not be fine, and it never will be again. Justice is gone from the world. I have been wronged by Gabe, the man I loved most, and when I turned to others for backup, they sided with him because he’s a star. When I ran to my father for safety, he locked me up in his great big mansion and threw away the key. Now I drift like the ghost Gabe pretended I was, my bare feet tasting the coldness of rich tiles, my breath turning to ice.

Gabe isn’t real, they tell me. They insult me, they spit at me, then smile and pretend that they wish to help. Meanwhile, Gabe is out there, luxuriating in all that I won for him, and I suffer and burn.

Buy on Amazon

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Read an excerpt:

Yup and okay are the only words I have muttered since he returned home. We eat dinner in silence, and watch him as he slowly chews every bite, enjoying and wowing at the flavors. I hate how much I hate him.

A few bites into dinner and I find myself without any appetite. I turn my eyes away from my father because if I don’t, I will either become mad enough to do something nasty to annoy him, or I will burst into tears. I stare up at the glittering chandelier hanging over the dining table. I wish its warm lights could dispel the gloom that has filled my soul.

I can feel my palms sweating, my forehead prickling.

“You haven’t spoken a word all night,” my father says.

I reply with a smile, but I can’t hide the disappointment behind it. Captivity breaks your spirits. Captivity makes you cherish small things that you were not aware you valued. Finally, after everything else, captivity crushes you.

If my mother was still alive, he would not even dare speak to me like that.

My mother never had the patience for helping me with schoolwork, or setting up pink balloons for my birthday. My father was the one who sat me down for French spelling, bedtime stories, and even talked me through my trouble with boys. He was the rock. She never made much effort, but she would not have harmed me like he is doing.

They weren’t different people because of how they were brought up – they were different because of his approach to life. Any greedy businessman learns new millennial skills if they bring in more money. He controls the environment he operates in to ensure he achieves his goals. Discipline in hierarchy is a term he created to describe how an employee should have a soldier’s obedience with regards to company objectives. Without, he says there is no way to run any large company – and he had more than a thousand staff.

My mother was an artist who believed in autonomy and individual expression at any cost. Side by side, they were wolf and sheep, predator and gentle, peaceful grazer. I regret not spending more time with her before she passed. She could have warned me about the monster.

The power to converse with him about anything eludes me, and I struggle through the couple of hours that I have to endure in his presence until he retires to his room. The moment I return to mine, I lie on my bed, close my eyes, and think of Gabe.

About the author:

As a physician, I used my clinical background to keep the readers on their toes. All options are on the table. Is Gabe real? Did Gabe ever love her? What was their relationship? Was he her husband, and did she kill him? Is Gabe her brother?

My name is Jay Kerk, and I am a 33 year old. I am a medical doctor, and I use my background to illustrate unlikely but realistic situations revolving around the alterations of the mind. My first book A Predator and A Psychopath, self-published in July 2019, received five stars from Readers Favorite and 4 and a half stars from Self-Publishing Review.

www.Jaykerk.com

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJayKerk/

https://www.instagram.com/authorjaykerk/

https://twitter.com/KerkJay

https://www.goodreads.com/jaykerk

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07V8SRM47

Jay Kerk will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

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Review of Dragonflies at Night by Anne Marie Bennett #DatNPrism

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the book tour for Dragonflies at Night by Anne Marie Bennett! I was drawn to this book for many reasons, and I'm sharing my book review with you today. I also have an excerpt for you over at Candrel's Crafts, Cooks, and Characters. Enjoy the rest of the tour as well, and best of luck entering the giveaway!

Dragonflies at Night:

More Than a Love Story

By Anne Marie Bennett

Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 365 Pages

September 22, 2020 by KaleidoSoul Media

A dragonfly brings a mother’s love to a grieving daughter.

Meet Savannah, the thirty-something owner of Life Celebrations, a party planning business. Despite losing both parents as a teenager, Savannah is creating a positive life for herself, surrounded by friends and co-workers who are now her family. But she also has a secret—as much as she wants to settle down and have children, she is afraid to, for fear of getting cancer and having to leave them without their mother, as she herself was left behind years ago.

Meet Deirdre Rose, Savannah’s mother. She continues to watch over Savannah, who feels deeply connected to her mother whenever she sees a dragonfly.

Now meet Ben, a thirty-something recording artist who is good-looking, talented, and a household name. Despite his fame, Ben is lonely. He trusts few people because it seems everyone wants something from him instead of getting to know who he really is.

Savannah and Ben cross paths when they meet at a yoga retreat in the Massachusetts Berkshires. They are drawn to each other’s creativity and outlook on life. She sees beyond his celebrity and he admires her strength in what she’s had to overcome.

What happens when the retreat ends and they go their separate ways? Will they be able to make a long distance relationship work? Can Savannah put aside her fears, and will Ben allow himself to be truly vulnerable?

Above all . . . what message do Deirdre Rose and Dragonfly have for both of them?

(Affiliate link included.)

Goodreads | Amazon

**My thoughts**

I was drawn to this book for many reasons. First, the cover is stunning. I love that color combination. And then the dragonfly, both on the cover and in the title. Dragonflies have long been one of my "spirit animals," ever since I was a young child. They often dance around me and often bring me peace. I have noticed them even more since losing my grandmother and parents. (Quick aside, the colors on this cover are me and my grandma's favorite colors.) Also, I had a friend pass away unexpectedly earlier this year and am pretty sure he came back to us many times as a dragonfly. But I digress...

Then there is also the story blurb. I am a sucker for rock star romances. I have almost always dated musicians. And how many of us have that dream of finding someone to love for whom we can be a muse? I just had a really good feeling about this story.

The opening part gutted me, though, and I had to pause. It's told from Savannah's mother's point of view. She is dying of cancer and is essentially my age. It was gut wrenching. But I also loved her explanation of the power and meaning of dragonflies, most of which I had already know from my own fascination.

But then we fast forward into Savannah's life in her 30s, an independent woman with her own business. (And of course, I love that her best friend is named Andi.) Savannah encounters Ben while on a yoga retreat. Of course, he is a famous musician. The two of them are just naturally drawn to each other. And I love watching them build up their friendship as they are learning how to trust and heal from previous failed relationships, while also just being real with each other. Definitely for Ben, that is a breath of fresh air in his chaotic public life.

That's not to say that it's an easy road for the two of them, especially while in the limelight. But you just instinctively know that they are right for each other. Plus you have a bit of help from the other side. I truly believe in guardian angels, and Savannah has plenty.

This really was a feel-good romance that warmed my heart after a long and crazy week. 

Thank you to the author and Prism Book Tours for the requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Anne Marie Bennett was touched by a dragonfly once and has never forgotten its message. She has published books about her cancer journeys and the process of SoulCollage®. This is her first women’s novel.

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Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive an ebook of All You Need is Love and Lilacs, a dragonfly suncatcher, and a $25 Amazon eGift Card (dragonfly suncatcher to US winner only, international winner will receive ebook and gift card only)

Ends October 14, 2020

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Review of Wired by the FBI by Glenn Painter

 

Welcome to the book tour for Wired by the FBI by Glenn Painter! Today you're going to get a bit of background about the book, plus an excerpt and my own thoughts about it. Be sure to follow the tour for even more! And please leave the author questions and comments along the way. Best of luck entering the amazing giveaway at the end!

Christian Romano lives his life as a con-artist, burglar, drug dealer, and a ladies' man, using his good looks to con wealthy women out of jewels and money. When he is arrested and jailed in one of the most violent jails in the U.S. (Cook County in Chicago), a steamy affair begins with a nympho female jail guard. When he loses control of the romance, Christian must end the affair by reporting her to Internal Affairs. It turns out that she is already under suspicion for supplying drugs to various gang members inside the jail. He has to decide if he is "rogue" enough to help set her up for arrest. Meanwhile, the FBI wants to recruit Christian to gather information against a sadist ex-cop, Scott Mason, who has been arrested for murder. The risk? Christian must wear a wire and testify. The reward? Witness protection for Christian and his girlfriend and a modification of his prison sentence. Will Christian risk his life for a chance at freedom? Will the female sheriff "get even" with him? Or will his life end at the hands of the jail's drug lords or a lunatic former cop?

Read an excerpt:

Something’s wrong, my intuition told me, as I stepped out of the stairwell and into the chaotic frenzy of the main hallway running under Division One of the Cook County jail.

Sergeant Ricky Walsh opened the heavy, rusted steel door leading to the death trap—that is A-B stairwell—then turned to me. “Romano, take the stairs down four flights to the bottom, I will meet you there.”

There are four sets of stairs that lead to the main boulevard on the first floor. They are legendary for the infamous men who have been butchered there, the bloodstained walls are a testament to the violence that is the norm in this building. As I begin my descent down the narrow and poorly lit stairwell, the thought hits me: At least half a dozen men have been stabbed in this exact place. The words taunt me as I step slowly down the stairs so that Walsh will have time to beat me to the first floor in the old, decrepit elevator.

When I finally make it down, I breathe a sigh of relief. But it is not Walsh waiting at the huge, steel door I am to exit. Instead of the old mick—who looked and walked like a bulldog with his perfectly groomed hair and mustache—it was one of the lackey guards. They would often hang out on the main floor waiting to proposition some poor woman coming to visit her man. I open the door and step through quickly, not wanting to arouse suspicion. But my heart hangs in my throat.

During my trip down the stairwell, the heavy steel recorder slid down my pant leg, stopping on top of my right foot. The ACE bandage, meant to hold it in place, was also dangling and ready to pop out for everyone to see. Panic set in as my mind processed a million thoughts, but I couldn’t break my stride.

It was common knowledge that this is where inmates often came out stabbing when sent to attack a guard by one of the gang bosses. Looking past the guard, I saw Sergeant Walsh bearing down on us as fast as his stubby legs would carry him.

“Hey Walsh,” I said, “the food poisoning is getting worse, I’m gonna puke all over this guy.”ng around to see what was going on. These guards tolerated zero bull, especially from a smart-ass like me.

I decided that it was quicker and easier to shove the recorder under the waistband of my jail pants and pray it would stay. After splashing water on my face, I poked my head out.

Walsh fell right in line with my cover. “We’re going to the hospital, come with me!” he bellowed.

I exited the closet, pushing the recorder into my torso as we walked past another guard. We traveled down the long hallway. Once we were far enough out of earshot, Walsh found an unoccupied attorney visiting room. As he opened the door, I scurried to the far corner.

“The hallway is clear!” Walsh yelled.

I pulled the recorder from my waistband and looked at it with disdain. Then I wrapped it tight with the ACE bandage. Although the long recording wires had to be reconnected and it only took a few moments, it felt like forever.

Then it hit me: I’m wearing a wire against one of the most violent hitmen Chicago has ever known, and this prick had been a Chicago cop. He probably knows every person who works in this jail. Getting whacked in a place like this costs less than a carton of cigarettes. What the hell have I gotten myself into? But there was no backing out, and I still had to get back to my tier.

Walsh looked at me, his brow furrowed. He quietly asked, “You alright, kid?”

“I better be. I signed a deal with the devil, and it’s time to pay up.”

I drew in a deep breath as we headed to the hospital, so we could sign in and make it look legit.

How did my life get to this point? I wondered as I followed Walsh. Growing up in Chicago, I was exposed to police corruption, murder, drugs, gangsters, and sex, oh yes, lots and lots of sex.

I had no clue of what awaited me, but my unsavory legacy was about to go down in history like crap down a toilet.

Available on Amazon

(affiliate link)

**My thoughts**

I was somewhat attracted to this book because it is based on a true story. I grew up along the 80/90 corridor, so these mobster-type stories were famous while I was growing up. I was curious to get more of a first-person perspective than a textbook history lesson, even though I know this is fiction based on a true story.

It was interesting being inside of his head to get that point of view. It reminded me a bit of a dark noir kind of story and at the same time, a historical play-by-play of what the life was back then. It didn't quite read like a novel to me, more like a memoir.

He's not a character that you're going to like. He is a despicable criminal and deserved to get in trouble. But it was also incredible to read about how he got involved and got others involved and was able to expose some of the corruption.

I think you have to be into this kind of story in order to really appreciate this book. But definite kudos to the author for all of his research and work that you can tell he put into this. It was a labor of love.

Thank you to the author and Goddess Fish Promotions for a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Background of the book.

This book is written in fiction, because we all know that the human memory cannot possibly recall any conversation ‘word for word’. Even though the writings were obtained from ‘unedited rants’ by the man who lived the experience, this version is better than the original.

There are certain people who may think they recognize themselves, or someone they know in the book and they may even try (just for kicks) to give me a hard time. They may get grumpy and steamed up over it. They need to remember that if I really wanted to be a jerk, I would have named them directly. So any jokes, references or descriptions anyone might find offensive are only meant to be harmless and funny.

My book depicts ‘actual events’ which took place in Chicago in the late 90’s and can be verified by research. It covers the life of a ‘protagonist’ con man who is arrested for burglary and incarcerated in one of the most violent places in the United States, the ‘Cook County Jail’. While there, the FBI recruit’s him to ‘wear a wire’ in order to get more evidence against a ‘crooked cop’ who has been arrested for the murder of a Chicago businessman. In return for this ‘protagonist’s’ help, he is given a reduction in sentence and put into the ‘witness protection program.

That’s when the fun really begins! There are a lot of swear words, (and I apologize in advance to people of strong faith who might be offended) however, this is the way they talk in the ‘world of crime’. You will also read a ‘lot of sexual encounters’ which might also be offensive, but you will be educated in the way our justice system works, which can be both good and bad.

Trust me, you will not want to put this book down. You will want to know what is going to happen next in the life of this ‘protagonist’. This book will keep you turning the pages from beginning to end.

Glenn Painter is single and lives in Central Florida. He became interested in writing at an early age but did not make it his career until 2014 when he published his first book, Beyond the Sentence.

Glenn has written this story from the notes by the man who actually lived it. However, extensive research was also require in order to make the story factual.

Glenn has also founded a company, ‘Prisoner Civil Right Services.’ He is an advocate for incarcerated individuals who have had their rights violated. He is in constant contact with these individuals, their families and the council. Most of his stories are inspired by ‘factual events’ that have happened to these individuals. This makes his stories both fiction and non-fiction.

Glenn says that writing is very challenging, and you must love the trials and tribulations that come with it. He believes that patience, perseverance and determination are required essentials to see a book through to being published. The journey is just as important as the destination.

Website: http://www.gapainter.com

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Glenn-Painter/e/B00NETNKU6%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9875593.Glenn_Painter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/author2663

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 or $100 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Follow the tour for more chances to win! 

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Music Playlist for Fly Twice Backward by David S. McCracken

 

I love my music as much as I love to read. And I love it when authors are able to put the two together. What do you think of this list that David S. McCracken has put together for his book Fly Twice Backward? Let him know what you think in the comments. Follow the tour for more. And best of luck entering the giveaway!

You wake back in early adolescence, adult memories intact, including ones that could make you very wealthy now. Your birth family is here, alive again, but your later families are gone, perhaps forever. What has happened, what should you do about coming problems like violence, ignorance, pollution, and global warming? You realize one key connects most, the fundamentalist strains of all the major religions, disdaining science, equality, and social welfare. You see that there are some things you can change, some you can’t, and one you don’t dare to.

Fellow idealists help you spend your growing fortune well--such as an artistic Zoroastrian prince in the Iranian oil industry, a rising officer in the Soviet army working to find a way to destroy his corrupt government, a Bahai woman struggling against Islamic brutality, a Peruvian leader working for a liberal future, and a snake-handling Christian minister, grappling with doubts, sexuality, and destiny. They are supported by an ally who develops essential psychic powers. The group faces familiar-looking corrupt politicians, religious leaders, and corporate czars, but there is an ancient force in the background, promoting greed, violence, hate, and fear.

This exciting, emotional, thoughtful, humorous, and even romantic sci-fi novel weaves progressivism, music, movies, and literature into a struggle spanning the globe. Vivid characters propel the action back up through an alternative history toward an uncertain destination. Experience the unique story and its novel telling.

Read an excerpt:

When she gets home from school, Mom surprises me with a borrowed newspaper, El Mundo: “I thought you might want to catch up on Latin American news. You can read this OK, can’t you?”

Ah, a test. Thank goodness I’ve been brushing up scanning her upper-level texts. I take in her sly, wolfish grin, restrain one of my own, and say,” Oh, good here’s an article on the coming Venezuelan election, Mom. Have you read it?”

“Um, no, not yet.”

I proceed to summarize the article and mention that the junta had called the elections confident of solidifying their mandate. I go on to add they would lose—and turn power back over to the military. Who’d have thought that my Latin American studies focus would come in so handy, so long before I pursued it!

Mom slinks off to putter in the kitchen, but soon our doorbell rings. She seems to run to answer it.

“David, there’s a man here, Mr. Walker, I’d like you to talk with.” Looks like trouble.

“Oh, about what?” I ask.

“Well, just to get acquainted, for now,” Mom says. “Um, we’re thinking you might be able to use a special teacher.”

Walker is a serious-looking tall man of middle age, conservatively suited.

“Are you a math teacher? I’d love to learn advanced stuff, like algebra.”

“Oh, do you already know about it?”

“No, not past the name. Can you teach me algebra?”

Mom puts in, “Maybe history, David?”

“That’d be nice. I don’t know much, except some about the Second World War. I was amazed a friend of mine didn’t know who General Rommel was, though.”

“Mrs. McCracken, is there something in particular you have in mind?”

“Well, he says he came back from the future.”

“Mom, if I’d done that, I wouldn’t have been so surprised by this. You’re worrying me. You don’t want to do electroshock again, I know. You were really confused after the last time.”

“This is nonsense! I’ve never had electroshock.”

“Oh, Mom, are you back in that state? Don’t you remember? You denied it then, but . . . well, you know you wet your pants whenever you’d think about it. She was doing so well, Doctor . . ..”

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Playlist for Fly Twice Backward

Do I ever have a playlist for you, and much more. Since my experience of the novel’s uniquely emotional events was often enhanced by the movies, music, reading, and poetry I love, when I put out a paperback version, I posted a list of live links on the book’s blog, https://flytwicebackward.blogspot.com/. The music is made available through Amazon Music, which lets you play practically any song ever recorded, inexpensively. There are also links for the other mentioned media.


I’ll mention just a few of the songs specifically.

• “Try to Remember,” from The Fantastics, sets the mood of remembrance combined with fantasy.
• “Any Dream Will Do”, from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, brings in the ongoing importance of dreams and imagination.
• “Sunrise, Sunset,” from Fiddler on the Roof, emphasizes the importance of family and love in the novel.
• “To Dream the Impossible Dream,” injects the hope and fear of the central quest.
• “Another Opn’in, Another Show,” from Kiss Me, Kate supports the mood of starting over.
• “I Still See Elisa,” from Paint Your Wagon, presents one character’s motivating longing over the years for Alessa, who felt obliged to leave him.
• “Beyond the Sunrise,” from Marco Polo, expresses the longing for worlds unseen.
• While you’re playing “Beyond the Sunrise”, go to the bottom of the list of tracks for “Epilogue” which isn’t in the story, but it could have been the epilogue to it, if I hadn’t needed a different epilogue. I wanted to use it.
• “Let It Be a Dance (We Do)”, reflects an important part of the attitude of the story, with dancing often entering it.
• “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever”, from the movie by that name, reflects another part of the attitude of the story, in a time travel context.

No wonder my book is long, a saga, as two reviewers called it!

David McCracken was born in Louisville, KY, in 1940. Raised mostly in Winchester, KY, he now lives in Northern Virginia, with his third and final wife. He has three children, two stepchildren, and six grandchildren.

After three years in the U.S. Navy following a lackluster academic start, he graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1963, in Diplomacy and International Commerce. He then worked as a Latin American country desk officer in the U.S. Department of Commerce until he returned to school to earn an M.A. in Elementary Education in 1970 from Murray State University, having always been intending to teach. Eventually realizing his children qualified for reduced-price lunches based on his own teaching salary, he studied computer programming at Northern Virginia Community College and worked as a programmer until shifting back into elementary teaching.

He began working on what became Fly Twice Backward in 1983 and finally finished it in 2019! At 79, David strongly doubts he'll be doing another novel of such scope and complexity, but is preparing to work on a children's science fiction novel with a progressive bent, being a devout progressive in politics and religion, as well as a lover of learning.

https://flytwicebackward.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Fly-Twice-Backward-102547317844345

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Review of Threads by Charlotte Whitney

 

I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction, but I was drawn to this novel and had to read it. Why? I explain more in my book review. You'll also get to read an excerpt, plus an interview between the youngest narrator, Nellie, and author Charlotte. Let Charlotte know what you think in the comments section as you follow the tour for more. And best of luck entering the giveaway!

It's a boring, hardscrabble life for three sisters growing up on a Michigan farm during the throes of the Great Depression. But when young Nellie, digging for pirate treasure, discovers the tiny hand of a dead baby, rumors begin to fly. Narrated by Nellie and her two older sisters, the story follows the girls as they encounter a patchwork of threatening circumstances and decide to solve the mystery.

Read an excerpt:

When I got home from high school today, Jeepers, I knew immediately that something wasn’t right. Aunt Hazel and Ma were sitting out by the milk house on a couple of turned-over pails, and Irene and Nellie were sitting on the ground close by. All of them were looking towards the lane that goes down to the two meadows and onto the woods and crick. The county sheriff’s car sat empty near the silo. No one was talking.

Worried, I raced across the yard. Could Pa have gotten hurt? As I ran toward Ma I looked over at the west field and saw Ace and King hitched up to the wagon piled with brush. Rover was sleeping near the wagon.

It looked like Pa had finished about half of the field, but he was nowhere in sight. Pa never leaves the horses hitched up when he isn’t working. When he comes up for noontime dinner he always puts them in the barnyard so they can rest, too. Naturally, I panicked.

When Ma saw me running over she jumped up and walked over to me, a strange look on her face.

“Is Pa all right?” I blurted out.

“Yes, yes,” Ma answered. “He and Elmer are down in the woods with Sheriff Devlon.” Nellie pushed me aside and threw her arms around Ma’s legs.

“Nellie thinks there’s a dead baby in the woods,” Irene piped up, all knowingly. “The Sheriff’s gone with them to look at it. Who in their right mind would bury a baby in that woods? Nellie musta gotten it all mixed up.”

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**My thoughts**

I don't usually read historical fiction. But I was drawn to this book. My mother grew up on a farm in Michigan, actually not dreadfully far from where this story takes place. She was born a few years after this story takes place, so a lot of the activities that the girls describe sound familiar to me after listening to her stories. She even attended a one-room schoolhouse until she went to high school. I still go back to visit that family farm on occasion, as I still have family there, and I felt like I could picture a lot happening right there. 

My paternal grandmother was actually in a suburb of Toledo, mentioned a few times in the story. (For those who don't know, Toledo sits in Ohio on the Michigan-Ohio line.) And while she was in a merchant family and not a farm, she often told me many stories about the Great Depression. So I ended up having a bit of a familial connection to this story. (Plus there are some familiar situations in the epilogue.)

The author specifically mentions trying to keep true to the vernacular of the Michigan farmer. Each of the girls telling the story has her own cadence and vocabulary, and yet again, that is all familiar, down to both of my parents talking about playing in the crick when they were kids.

Now, we didn't have any family lore about the body of an infant being discovered in the woods near the farm. This story revolves around young Nellie's discovery and the fallout and mystery surrounding the baby's identity. In fact, the young girls form a special Sisters Club where they regularly meet and discuss the results of any sleuthing that they have done. 

At first, it could seem tedious to have the different parts of the story told three times in three different ways. But that's a important part of the story itself. Each of the girls has a different interpretation of everything that unfolds in the story. My sister and I often talk about how interesting it is that the two of us had the same upbringing and yet interpret our shared memories differently. That's a huge part of what is going on here. And the only way to put together a clearer picture is to fit together these three pieces.

It's also a great historical lesson about how tough times were during the Great Depression. This story felt more real to me than a lot of other stories I have read from this time period.

I really enjoyed this story and unexpected connection to my past. The slow rolling mystery and farm life just fascinated me. Thank you to the author and Goddess Fish Promotions for providing me with a requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

***********************

Howdy do, I’m Nellie, the youngest girl in Ms. Charlotte’s book THREADS. Today I’m gonna be interviewing her about her writing and why she created me in that book. First, a little ‘bout me. I’m seven-years-old and it’s 1934 and I live with Ma and Pa, my sister Flora (17) and my sister Irene (11) on a farm near Marshall, in a place called Michigan. We’re having “hard times” and I’ve never had a new dress; I always wear hand-me-downs. I go barefoot all summer and most of the time I love it unless I step on a frog or into a cow pie.


Q. So Ms. Charlotte, was it difficult figuring out me as a character?

A. No, it wasn’t difficult at all. You were the first of all the characters that I sketched out. But originally you were only four, not seven. I had wanted you to be a precocious child with a wild imagination, and so young you hadn’t been exposed to school or much life at all beyond the farm. I wanted a tender, unsocialized girl, cuter than all get out, who was also smart as a whip. So I wrote the whole first draft with you at age four.


Q. Why did you make me older?

A. That happened when I realized that you as a four-year-old focused on too much fantasy for the adult historical novel that I wanted to create. The younger you flew around with ZeeZee, a boy from outer space in an old school bus that your uncle had given Pa. You had a bunch of adventures and one day ZeeZee was careless and hit an old Model T with young people in it. One of them was killed. While all of this made for an interesting adventure, it didn’t move the mystery ahead, and it created a lot of dissonance in the book. It was okay for you to have imaginary friends but I had written scenes that would have worked much better in a children’s story book. So I kept the creative, imaginative part of you, but made you older with more logical abilities. You still saw dancers in the sky, and talked to ZeeZee and your Pottawatomi Indian friends, and had conversations with farm animals, but you also became part of the Sisters’ Club, attempting to unravel the mystery of the dead baby you discovered in the back woods.


Q. Tell me about how you created my parents, Ma and Pa.

A. It was 1934 during the height of the Great Depression and many farmers were losing their farms. No one know if and when the economy would get better, so I knew that Ma and Pa had to be hard-working, self-sacrificing, and dedicated to raising morally upright daughters. I also wanted them to have a strong religious faith, and impart that to you and your sisters. However, I didn’t want them to be unidimensional, so I added several quirks to your mother’s personality. First, because she lost her own mother at an early age, she didn’t quite have parenting down pat. She was superstitious and wouldn’t allow thirteen at a dinner table (one of my own grandmother’s superstitions). She was scared of Gypsies and worried that they stole children, and she thought that rumors should not be confronted—that they simply would go away. That didn’t work so well when you sister Flora was rumored to be the mother of the dead baby you discovered. You girls decided to take steps to figure out the mystery and clear your sister’s name.


Q. What part of the adventures did you enjoy most after you’d written it?

A. Well, I loved the barn fire scene. I rewrote that a few times. I also loved the scene where the train riders came and helped your sister Irene catch the food thief. I was so happy that Ma and Pa invited the train riders for Sunday dinner and shared stories under the shade of the maple tree after dinner. The scene where Irene sneaks away to the Camp Meeting is another one I enjoyed.


Q. Why did you write an Epilogue forty years later?

A. All three of you girls were so interesting in totally different ways. I wanted to depict how some elements of your personalities carried through to adult life. I also wanted to include some surprise twists. Just as in real life, events don’t always turn out like you expect. I’ll leave it at that, as I don’t want to include any spoilers.


Q. Was I your favorite character? Please, please say yes.

A. Of course you were, Nellie. Just don’t tell your sisters. It’s our secret.

Charlotte Whitney grew up in Michigan and spent much of her career at the University of Michigan directing internship and living-learning programs. She started out writing non-fiction while at the University and switched to romance with I DREAM IN WHITE. A passion for history inspired her to write THREADS A Depression Era Tale chronicling the stories of three sisters on a farm during the throes of the Great Depression. She lives in Arizona, where she loves hiking, bicycling, swimming, and practicing yoga.


Author’s Website:
http://www.charlottewhitney.com

Facebook Author Page:
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=charlotte%20whitney%20author

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/charlottewhitney65/

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-whitney-8235463a/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/CWhitneyAuthor

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Review of Whispers in Washington by Jennifer Wilck

 

Welcome to the blog tour for Whispers in Washington by Jennifer Wilck! Today you get to enjoy an excerpt and my thoughts on the story. You can share your thoughts with the author in the comments section. And then be sure to follow the tour for even more! Best of luck in the giveaway!

Naomi's life has been destroyed…

When Naomi Adelman’s crooked politician husband was arrested, her life, and that of her daughters, was destroyed. Divorced and rebuilding her life, Naomi is wiser, stronger, and determined not to let anyone hurt her or her family again. Her new life doesn’t include falling for her charming and good-looking neighbor.

Max bet everything and lost...

Max Bruder bet his entire career on the Adelman story and lost everything. So, he figures that karma has smiled down on him when Naomi moves in next door. This is his chance to revitalize his career. Except the closer he gets to her, the deeper he falls for her. And soon, the line between interview subject and lover blurs.

If they fall for each other, they may jeopardize their chance at a future.

When Max’s true motive is revealed, will Naomi be able to forgive him? And will Max be able to stop the whispers to protect her before it’s too late?

Read an excerpt:

“I liked getting to know you better,” Max whispered, leaning his free hand against the wall next to her head.

She was boxed in between the wall and Max, in her own little cocoon. He’d said there were limits to how far a reporter should go. For some reason, she felt safe. She trusted him not to take advantage of her. Her body warmed at his proximity. His eyes were dark—more mahogany than walnut, his forehead touched hers, and his breath was warm and minty. Her mind drifted to when exactly he’d taken a breath mint, and why, and should she. She opened her mouth to tell him how much she’d enjoyed it too, and to ask for a mint, but he didn’t let her utter any words.

Instead, he brought his mouth to hers and kissed her. Warm, commanding, yet soft, lips claimed her own. Her knees buckled and she grabbed his biceps, loving the solid feel of him beneath her fingers. Max wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He exuded strength and she felt more protected than she could remember. His body was hard, his arousal pressing against her, but he didn’t force her or move fast. Instead, he moved with delicious slowness, as if he memorized everything about her lips and mouth. She wanted more. More kissing, more touching, more Max. She whimpered as she pressed against him and his lips stretched into a smile, before he sucked on her tongue and the last of her coherent thoughts fizzled.

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**My thoughts**

It's a story of second chances with perhaps a smidge of magic thrown in. Naomi's mom insists that she takes a drink of magic water that is famous for helping people find true love. See, Naomi is moving back to the DC area to start her life over after her embezzling husband got himself into trouble. She was tainted by association and left him in the dust, but wants to quietly reestablish her life.

Enter Max, her new neighbor. But he has a secret. He is a journalist who is hungry for her side of the story. It could be his meal ticket to give him the time to work on his novel and seek more assignments of his own choice. Only he ends up falling for her.

The water works its magic as Naomi also falls for Max. Only she isn't going to be happy when she finds out his secret. And I have to admit that it would be hard for me to trust anyone again if my husband pulled what Malcolm did, let alone having a second betrayal. He's going to have to do something pretty special. And I also have to admit that I felt sorry for him because when he tries to do the right thing, uncontrollable forces interfere. I feel sorry for her having to live with such a horrible past with her ex. And I want them to work it out because somehow, they work together.

Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.

In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.

She writes contemporary romance, many of which feature Jewish characters in non-religious settings (#ownvoices). She’s published with The Wild Rose Press and all her books are available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/

Newsletter: https://www.jenniferwilck.com/contact.html#newsletter

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-wilck

Jennifer Wilck will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

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