Diary of an Average Fairy by M M Hillman

Diary of an Average Fairy by M M Hillman

Teacher’s Comments: Vervain has made satisfactory progress and has achieved an average level in most subjects.

What do you think, Diary? Yes, I know it’s not a BAD report but words like SATISFACTORY and AVERAGE just don’t feel like me. I’ve looked up ‘average’ in the dictionary. It says: a middle place between two extremes, usual, normal.

I don’t want to be NORMAL, I want to be spectacular! I feel special inside. Does everyone feel special? Maybe it’s just normal to feel special and I’m not actually special at all.

Diary, do you think I can be average and special at the same time?

Vervain isn’t the smartest, the most stylish or the best at flying and magic – she’s just an average fairy. But when the magical kingdom is threatened by evil, she finds herself central to its safety. Through her anything-but-average adventures, Vervain learns that true friendship is precious and that ordinary folk can do the most extraordinary things.

Vervain shares these exciting adventures with her diary and confides her thoughts and feelings. She struggles with difficult emotions – fear, anger, envy, sadness, grief, yet infects us with her determination, her delight of simple pleasures, and her exhilaration at overcoming obstacles.

The author M.M. Hillman is a practicing therapist. Using a language of emotion that children understand, she invites us into a world of mythical creatures who are just like you and me. Amusing and sometimes very moving – a tale that neither children nor adults will forget.

Review:

Vervain is an average fairy who is barely tall enough to make it into Fairy School, but she does. She reluctantly begins Fairy School with a squeamish stomach and all. So she takes out her piece of rainbow, her secret weapon to cheer herself up. It fills the room with color – yellow, reds, greens and blues that dazzle so much. It calms her down. She writes in her diary daily. In it she shares her innermost feelings. She loves the simple pleasures that life holds for her.  In her diary, she talks about her exciting adventures and experiences. But she is just an average fairy, although she does feel spectacular and very special.

But soon the magical kingdom is in peril, and Vervain finds herself in the middle and able to help. She engages in adventures that are anything but normal.  She learns that friends are important and that, although she is average, she can do anything she puts her mind to. She is brave and helps to free the kingdom of the tyranny of Magowr.

Diary of an Average Fairy is anything but average. It is a fabulous tale about an average normal fairy that does great things to help the fairy kingdom. It has a message to middle grade and teen kids that it’s alright to be just average. And that being average doesn’t limit them from doing great things. Vervain expresses her many feelings of fear, anger and sadness in her diary. Her diary tells of her many experiences, good and bad, at school and during her free time.

I know that children will really relate to Diary of an Average Fairy. It touches, extensively, on all the issues and problems that middle grade and teens go through. It is exciting and entertaining with creatures, fairies and foes. The way that author M M Hillman describes things like the magical kingdom, the fairies, the creatures and the surroundings, is lush and rich. A true delight for the imagination and the senses. It is a splendid, beautiful place that any child will marvel in, and want to visit in this book.

Diary of an Average Fairy by M M Hillman is engaging, even for me as an adult. I loved it and I can see how any child, young or older, will love it. They will totally relate to it. The characters will remind them of themselves and their friends and even those that give them a hard time. They will relate to the various scenarios too. It will speak to their self-consciousness and to their insecurities. It will encourage them to be brave and show them that their feelings are normal.

The characters are great. They are genuine, well developed and have fun personalities with strengths and weaknesses. Children will see themselves in and relate to the various characters.

It is written extremely well. It is smart and easy to read. It is written in the form of a diary – Vervain’s diary. It completely works and is composed with skill and creativity. I love it when I read a book that is written so well in every aspect. It’s important that kids read books that are written and edited well. This one hits a home run in that area.

Diary of an Average Fairy is unique and beautiful fantasy tale. Its premise is original and authentic.

It has a positive message that kids will glean from. It truly is splendid with gorgeous descriptions and with a very entertaining delightful storyline. I recommend that parents get a copy of this book for their kids. They will really love, and enjoy, it. They will learn from it. Parents can rest assured that it will be very appropriate and fitting for their child.

Overall, Diary of an Average Fairy is a glorious, charming and delightful story that captivates the reader and causes them to see vivid scenery and fairies, to feel various emotions and to enjoy a story well told.

Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends Diary of an Average Fairy by M M Hillman

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Murder, She Wrote: A Date with Murder by Jon Land

Murder, She Wrote: A Date with Murder by Jon Land

Synopsis:

Jessica Fletcher investigates a friend’s murder and a dangerous dating service in the latest entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series…

Jessica Fletcher takes up the cause of her good friend Barbara “Babs” Wirth after Babs’ husband Hal suffers a fatal heart attack that Jessica has reason to believe was actually murder. At the heart of her suspicions lies a sinister dating site Hal had used while he and Babs were having marital issues–a site that may be complicit in somehow swindling him out of millions.

Jessica’s investigation reveals that Hal was far from the only victim and when his former business partner is also killed, a deadly pattern emerges. Jessica teams up with a brilliant young computer hacker to follow the trail but as she gets closer to the truth, two near misses force her to realize that she may very well be the next victim.

The stakes have never been this high as Jessica finds herself being stalked by the killer she is trying to catch. She must now set the perfect trap to avoid her very own date with murder.

Review:

Babs and Hal Wirth were hosting a Labor Day party on their estate in Cabot Cove, Maine. Towards the end of the party Hal as an, apparent, heart attack and dies. Mystery writer, Jessica Fletcher, which is Hal and Babs good friend, suspects foul play. When Hal’s former business partner, Eugene Labine, is also murdered, a lethal design begins to surface. Jessica, a mystery writer and amateur sleuth begins investigating.

Meanwhile, Babs discovers that Hal’s $10 million business was nearly bankrupt. Jessica secretly finds a note from Labine threatening to sue Hal. She uncovers a dangerous dating site that Hal frequented and suspects objectionable circumstances. Jessica is sure that there is a killer on the loose. She teams up with a gifted young computer wizard and goes to work to solve Hal’s murder. But she gets a little too involved and risks her own life in making a date with murder of her own.

A Date with Murder is an exciting fresh new installment in the Murder, She Wrote series starring mystery writer Jessica Fletcher. Jon Land has done a superb job in writing this latest book in the series. It is full of intrigue, mystery and danger. Jessica Fletcher is old fashioned but sassy and spunky. She gathers up friends and camaraderie’s to help her catch the killer. She gives the cops a real challenge, as she fervently works her own investigation. But she puts herself in danger, as she herself finds herself stalked by the killer.

A Date with Murder is well written and composed. In keeping with the original series, Jon Land has put his own unique style and talent to work in this beloved, famous series. It’s full of surprises and twists and turns. It is realistic and humorous too. There is a lot going on in this story as we go from Boston to New York and back to Cabot Cove where the real action lies.

The characters are all well developed and multifaceted. I love the way Land wrote the dialog between Jessica and the rest of the characters. Readers will fall in love with Jessica and the other characters is this story. I love mysteries and A Date with Murder is hands down one of the best ones I have ever read.

The storyline, along with the plot, is engaging, spellbinding and thoroughly entertaining.  The riveting mystery aspect and narrative of the story has been written with creative skill and great imagination. I couldn’t put the book down as it is mesmerizing and absorbing. It’s original and irresistible and pulled me in right from the beginning to the satisfying, unpredictable finish.

The descriptions and portrayal of the scenery and the people are excellently written, I felt like I was there looking on as Jessica and her friends feverishly work to catch the killer. Jon Land has proven himself in numerous other books that he has authored, and A Date with Murder is up there with his best. For mystery fans and fans of the Murder, She Wrote series, A Date with Murder is a fabulous installment that you can’t miss.

Chick Lit Cafe Highly Recommends A Date with Murder by Jon Land

Purchase Murder, She Wrote: A Date with Murder by Jon Land @Amazon

The Road Ahead by Hali Broncucia

The Road Ahead by Hali Broncucia

Synopsis:

A viral epidemic has wiped out 99% of the world’s population leaving scientist Heather Morgan to fight off thieves and scrounge for food and shelter near Denver, Colorado. When Heather befriends the young, naïve Jodi, she learns that a biotech company in San Francisco is rumored to have created a vaccine. Together, the women trek by foot to find the lab. After suffering a near-fatal attack, Heather and Jodi find a safe haven on a farm with two young men, Cam and Elliot. Their security is short-lived, however, when irrevocable consequences threaten Heather’s mission. Will Heather be able to overcome loss and tragedy to find the vaccine or will she let sorrow overtake her and turn back? How many lives are worth the risk for a hope that rests in only a rumor?

Review:

Heather Morgan is a biological engineer working on a vaccine to treat a deadly virus. She wakes up due to a nightmare at three in the morning. Readers quickly discover that the virus has wiped out 99% of the human population. Alone, Heather must survive. She searches and scrounges for food and shelter. Her survival skills are tested. Soon she meets a young inexperienced woman named Jodi. Heather learns that there is a “rumor” that a San Francisco biotech company has created a vaccine.

Together, Heather and Jodi, begin the long journey on foot from Colorado to San Francisco. Along the way they are attacked, but survive. They soon find shelter on a farm with two young men that they meet, Cam and Elliott. However, tragedy strikes and Heather’s mission is threatened. Will Heather have the strength to carry on to find the vaccine that is only rumored to exist?

The Road Ahead by Hali Broncucia, is a compelling post-apocalypse story that will keep readers engaged from start to finish. Heather is a refreshing, strong female, lead character that readers will love. She is tough and capable without seeming too powerful and unrealistic.

The diminishing population of infected humans that are forced to survive is engrossing and intensely intriguing. The scientific aspects are exceptionally interesting without being too intellectual; that it goes over reader’s heads. It is acutely obvious that much research was put into this novel. The survival details are particularly thought-provoking.

In The Road Ahead, the characters are few, which I found to be refreshing. Their motivations, personalities and temperaments are driven home in this engaging story. They are well developed and multifaceted. They are all realistic and down-to-earth. There is a character for every reader to love.

The Road Ahead is unpredictable with twists at every turn. Heather and her friends must journey a desolate, dying dark land while facing danger at every step. I loved this dystopian story. It is filled with love, loss, danger, scientific intrigue and the feat of survival in a post-apocalyptic, uninhabitable world. The emotions invoked upon the reader will not be soon forgotten. This story left me wanting more and I am hoping for a sequel or a trilogy.

I totally recommend The Road Ahead to all post-apocalypse fans and to those who crave a great read by an exceptional writer, Hali Broncucia.

Reviewed by Chick Lit Cafe

Can’t Stand the Heat by Peggy Jaeger

Can’t Stand the Heat (Will Cook for Love #3) by Peggy Jaeger

Synopsis:

With three successful TV series under her belt, including her cousin Kandy’s, executive producer Stacy Peters is ready to helm her own show. But to make that happen, she has to do her network boss one favor first—spend two months on a ranch in Montana wrangling the notoriously difficult director of Beef Battles. Apparently, he eats producers for breakfast. Yet all Stacy can think when she meets the lean, rugged man is how hungry he makes her . . .

Dominic Stamp—Nikko to his very few friends—has had enough interference from TV newbies. And when Stacy climbs out of the car in Montana, he’s not convinced she’s even old enough to drive, much less produce his show. But he can’t deny that the long-legged blonde with the stubborn will and the dazzling smile whets his appetite. And as Stacy proves her talent with the crew and the budget alike, Nikko vows to prove to her that love is on the menu for both of them . . .

Look for exclusive recipes in each book!

Review:

Peggy Jaeger’s book Can’t Stand the Heat is the third book in her “Will Cook for Love” series. The witty writing style is what captured my attention right away. It is a remarkable story filled with emotion and warmth.

Executive producer, Stacy Peters is ready to helm her own TV reality cooking series. But she must first prove herself by spending two months on a ranch in Montana with director Dominic Stamp. His friends call him Nikko.

While Stacy is charismatic and likeable, Nikko is arrogant, stubborn and difficult. At first it is hard to understand why these two are attracted to each other, but as the story progresses it becomes very clear and readers will find themselves rooting for this couple and enjoying their love story.

On the set and off, the couple bump heads and the tension is thick. Stacey knows her way around the set and is extremely likable. While Nikko is the opposite, he is demanding and pushy. As we come to understand more about Nikko and his past, we learn to love him as well and can see why Stacy falls so hard for him. I loved the way author Peggy Jaeger wrote the dialog between Stacy and Nikko. It is witty, natural and humorous. Nikko has a teenage daughter that is snarky and somewhat unruly. She is a great secondary character that is well developed and has an essential position in the storyline. She brings with her a lot of emotion and sentiment. The interaction between her and her father Nikko will cause readers to feel things that are familiar and touching.

The setting, being in Montana on a ranch, made this story very interesting and enjoyable. The descriptions of the surroundings, the people and the food made this story wonderful.

The characters are all well developed and fleshed out. They are interesting and very realistic. They have strengths and flaws that are relatable.

Peggy Jaeger has written an especially essential message within the pages of this story. The characters joys, sadness’s and difficulties really moved me.

Can’t Stand the Heat is an engaging, compelling and moving love story with a lot going on. It is unique and different. I found the idea of having the storyline revolve around a television reality series to be fresh and unique. We get to learn about the makings of such shows and get a keen insight into that particular industry.

This is the third book in Peggy Jaeger’s series “Will Cook for Love” but it is also an exciting standalone book. I’m looking forward to reading the first two instalments of the series. And I highly recommend this one, Can’t Stand the Heat.

Reviewed by Chick Lit Cafe

Purchase Can’t Stand the Heat by Peggy Jaeger @Amazon Today

Minnie’s Antique & Curiosity Shoppe by Lucinda Stein

Minnie’s Antique & Curiosity Shoppe by Lucinda Stein

Synopsis:

When you least expect it, life can turn upside down! With a suitcase in each hand, Liza Murphy stares at the display window that touts Minnie’s Antique and Curiosity Shoppe. After growing up in the back of a secondhand store—where her graduation reception was advertised to the public, Liza swore she’d never return. But twenty-three-year-old Liza has lost all sense of direction after her divorce. Her mother, Minnie, a product of the hippie era, now resides in an antique store, her eccentricity known to all in the small Midwestern town. To Liza’s chagrin, she’s once again living in a store. When a toddler is abandoned among the antiques, Liza takes in the child she calls Sweetie, hoping the young woman who left her will return. Liza soon finds her priorities change. She falls in love with the child and refuses to report Sweetie to the authorities. When the young woman who abandoned the child returns a year later, Liza is forced to make a decision—give up Sweetie or go on the run.

Review:

Heartwarming, engaging and compelling!

Liza Murphy is excited to leave home and leave her eccentric dominating mother. Her mother owns and lives in her antique shop called Minnie’s Antique and Curiosity Shoppe. Liza moves to the city with determination to make it and never to return to the small town where she grew up. There she meets a man and falls in love and marries. But her marriage to cheating Taylor, doesn’t last long and Liza finds herself broke and busted. She is forced to move right back to where she started…Minnie’s Antique and Curiosity Shoppe. There Liza must face up to her past, learn to forgive and plan a new future.

But then a surprise comes knocking at her doorstep in the form of an abandoned toddler. Lisa takes it upon herself to become a mother to the child, for a while. After sometime, Liza falls in love with the child and on purpose fails to report the missing child to the authorities. After about a year, a young woman returns to claim her child. Liza, unwilling to give the child up, must make a decision whether to break the law and run for it, or turn the child over to the young woman. But it isn’t such an easy choice because she feels she must do what’s best for the child too. Liza feels she has a second chance with this young child. What will she do?

Lucinda Stein has written a beautiful story of one woman’s struggles in life, only to find that there is hope in having a good life no matter how unexpected. It’s a story of second chances and salvation.

Minnie’s Antique and Curiosity Shoppe by Lucinda Stein is a heartwarming story filled with many of life’s trials but also life’s celebrations. The storyline is definitely unique and different in such a good way. I couldn’t put it down and turned the pages quickly to find out what would happen next. There are many surprises that are unexpected, which keeps the reader’s interest peaked.

The eccentric characters have unique personalities and are extremely well developed. They are all well fleshed out and detailed. Readers will love the characters as there is much persona put into them. They are very relatable. Although, the plot is somewhat unexpected and different, it is very relatable and enjoyable. It is engaging, captivating and absorbing.

Lucinda Stein is a magnificent, superb writer with words that flow off the page. Minnie’s Antique and Curiosity Shoppe is a creative story and beautifully written. It is a real page turner and a book that I recommend to all women readers. It is very enjoyable, moving and touching. Readers will be cheering for Liza as she struggles to keep the toddler she calls “Sweetie.” You must pick up a copy of this book to find out what transpires and to find out if Liza gets to keep the child in the end. The ending is very good and satisfying, you won’t be let down.

Chick Lit Cafe gives Minnie’s Antique and Curiosity Shoppe a big 5 stars!

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The Ex Chronicles – A Short Story by Maura Beth Brennan

The Ex Chronicles – A Short Story by Maura Beth Brennan

Angie thinks she has found the love of her life. All goes well until she starts getting phone calls from a sultry woman and realizes her man is cheating. She decides to take matters into her own hands and confront the two lovers. After all, what could possibly go wrong?

Review:

Angie likes to daydream about movie stars and films. She is a movie buff and is constantly comparing her life to those in the limelight. One day as she is having car trouble, she meets a handsome hunk named Bryce. They hit it off and begin dating. They even move in together.

Everything is wonderful, and she thinks he is the love of her life and that it will last forever. Or so she thinks. But then the unthinkable begins to happen. She begins to receive phone calls from a sultry voiced woman and fears that Bryce may be cheating on her.

What ensues is a hilarious, yet sad, turn of events. Is Bryce cheating on her? And if so, will she catch him in the act? Will her mother say, “I told you so?”

In  the short story, The Ex Chronicles by Maura Beth Brennan is a short story filled with humor and crazy antics. It is a lighthearted romantic comedy. Angie is a fun and humorous character that is always thinking about romantic movies and comparing herself to movie starlets. She dreams of meeting and loving men like Jude Law, Ryan Reynolds and Channing Tatum. When she meets the extremely handsome and muscular Bryce, she is over her head with excitement and falls hard for him. Her mother is always giving her advice and tells her that she shouldn’t be giving it away so easily. Angie thinks her mother is old fashioned, until she realizes that she may be right.

I loved The Ex Chronicles- A Short Story by Maura Beth Brennan. It is the story of a typical short love affair gone wrong. It is very relatable and Angie is a character that many women will see themselves in. I certainly did. This book is so funny and amusing. It is decidedly entertaining and easy to read. I was initially attracted to the book cover. It’s flirty, enticing and artistic. And, the book did not disappoint, as it is flirty, enticing and creative too.

Maura Beth Brennan has done an extraordinary job of putting a lot of action and hilarity into one short story. The characters are fabulous and well established. They are certainly relatable and likable. I was impressed by how she was able to create multifaceted characters with such few words. The plot is engaging and absorbing. Readers will love the quick scenario and the satisfying fun ending. The Ex Chronicles is a perfect short chick lit style read. I read it through quickly and loved every word and the entire storyline. If you love short romance stories and chick lit reads, you will love The Ex Chronicles. It is fulfilling, gratifying and hilarious.

Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends The Ex Chronicles, a short fun romantic story.

Purchase The Short Story The Ex Chronicles by Maura Beth Brennan @Amazon Today

Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster

Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster

New to YA! A warm-hearted, whimsical fantasy tale, with lashings of mystery, magic, and mythology, and prose that ‘flows like water.’ Prepare to fall in love with Esperance!

“A fresh new fantasy, of an enchanting world.” – Wendy Orr, author of Nim’s Island and Dragonfly Song

When fifteen-year-old Esme Silver objects at her father’s wedding, her protest is dismissed as the action of a stubborn, selfish teenager. Everyone else has accepted the loss of Esme’s mother, Ariane – so why can’t she?

But Esme is suspicious. She is sure that others are covering up the real reason for her mother’s disappearance – that ‘lost at sea’ is code for something more terrible, something she has a right to know.

After Esme is accidentally swept into the enchanted world of Aeolia, the truth begins to unfold. With her newfound friends, Daniel and Lillian, Esme retraces her mother’s steps in the glittering canal city of Esperance, untangling the threads of Ariane’s double life. But the more Esme discovers about Ariane, the more she questions whether she really knew her at all.

“It’s that kind of book that keeps you furiously carrying on with bated breath while the mystery unfolds, yet ‘wishing’ it would never end.”  – Romi Sharp, Just Write For Kids.

Review:

Fifteen year old Esme Silver’s mother has been missing for several years. Everyone around Esme, including her father, say that her mother, Ariane, was lost at sea. But Esme begs to differ. She knows how careful her mother was and what a strong swimmer she was also. Something doesn’t add up. Esme protests her father’s remarriage and she is perceived as being a spoiled, rebellious teenager. But for Esme, it’s because she can’t accept or believe her mother is dead. She knows that there is more to it.

While her father is on his honeymoon Esme sets out to look for her mother. That is when her grand adventure begins. Esme is transported to a beautiful enchanting city where the blue water sparkles and the orange dragons lurk. Esme makes a couple of good friends along the way and together they are determined to find Esme’s mother. Esme’s love for her mother compels her and keeps her determined to be strong and forge ahead to find her.

Esme’s Wish is a true gem. It is an enchanting fantasy story full of adventure, excitement and danger. Author Elizabeth Foster has constructed a beautiful tale for young readers as well as adults. I was caught up from the very beginning and read continuously to the satisfying and conclusive end.

Esme’s Wish is likened unto J.R.R. Tolkien with a dash of Harry Potter. It is written extremely well and the creativity that went into this story is fabulous. The world that Elizabeth Foster has created is a wondrous, captivating and mysterious place filled with magic, creatures and boundless beauty.

In Esme’s Wish, there are countless descriptions that excite and delight the imaginary senses. The theme of familial love flows throughout the storyline. You won’t find any sappy romance in this story, which was a breath of fresh air to me. Only good friends working, surviving and enjoying an enchanted land in search for Esme’s beloved mother.

I have read many fantasy stories but Esme’s Wish is one of the best. The characters are likable and realistic. They are multi layered and well developed. They evolve and are woven within the storyline with creative care. There is plenty of feeling to keep the reader emotionally engaged and plenty of adventure to keep the reader exhilarated and enthralled.

Esme’s Wish is a tender and mesmerizing fantasy that readers of all ages will love. I couldn’t put the book down. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would read it again. That’s how good it is. Esme’s Wish is Elizabeth Foster’s first novel. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series by this excellent writer.

Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends Esme’s Wish

            Purchase Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster @Amazon Today

In a Time Never Known by Kat Michels

In a Time Never Known by Kat Michels

Synopsis:

Wife, mother, spy. Anna is hiding a dangerous secret from her family, especially her Confederate General husband. However, it is not her covert work for the Union that she finds the most daunting, it is dealing with her spoiled Southern belle daughter. When Kady discovers that her mother has been leading a carefully constructed double life, she must choose whether to work by her mother’s side in the shadows or return to the pampered life of a Southern planter’s daughter.

Cast into the bloody fray of one of the deadliest wars in our history, In a Time Never Known is the story of women who courageously defy the expectations of the era to do unprecedented things, altering the course of American history and their own lives.

Review:

Anna has volunteered to be a spy during the time of the Civil War. She is keeping the secret from her husband and daughter. When her daughter, Kady, a true Southern belle, finds out about her mother’s life of espionage, she must make a decision whether to stay by her mother’s side or return to her coddled life as a Southern planter’s daughter. She must choose sides between her Confederate general father and her mother with whom she has trouble getting along with.

In a time when women were unable to have a voice, this is the story of how many of them were cast into a world of war and espionage and bravely went forth to do revolutionary things which changed the course of their lives and the course of American history. In a Time Never Knownis a fabulous, engaging, heart moving read.

Set in the time of the Civil War, In a Time never Known, is a work of exquisite art. Combining many plot lines Kat Michels has penned an interesting, enthralling read. There is excitement and tension with the many characters that all have a defined place in this exciting story. There is a lot going on in this narrative; war, espionage, romance, slavery, rape, murder, and sex. Combined it makes for one engaging, page turning read.

In a Time Never Known has been thoroughly and completely researched by author Kat Michels. Readers will get a history lesson while being completely entertained.

It’s a captivating, rather long, novel that I couldn’t put down. I read fast from start to finish to see what was going to happen next. The words flow off the page as Kat Michels has constructed a marvelous and dangerous spy story. She shows what women did in the time of the war era and their importance in altering the course of history. It’s a really phenomenal novel with all the components that a great history, war, espionage, and romance genre book needs.

The major characters are well developed and multidimensional with interesting and captivating personalities. The minor characters add to the story nicely and give it more fullness and interest.

In a Time Never Known readers will be cast into an arena of emotion, from, happiness to sadness, rage, hope and more. I loved this book and felt I was a part of the story because the descriptions are wonderful and vivid. A real delight for the senses and imaginary sight.

Kat Michels is an exceptional writer and I am looking forward to reading more by her.

Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends In a Time Never Known by Kat Michels.

Purchase In a Time Never Known @Amazon Today

Connect with Kat Michels
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Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson

Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson

Synopsis:

In this 1935 historical suspense thriller, praised as “riveting and gripping” (Robert Dugoni, NY Times Best Seller of My Sister’s Grave), Ed Bowman, small town reporter for the Casey Clarion in Virginia, is unjustly convicted for the murder of his wife, committed by an escaped prisoner whose murder trial he just covered with an exclusive article that virtually guaranteed a guilty verdict.

Sentenced to life in the State Penitentiary, and losing faith in God to right his situation, he determines to redeem his shattered life and makes a daring escape to track down the killer in a high-risk chase across six states to the salt flats of Wendover, Utah. But an unexpected betrayal by a befriended Mormon leader brings his plans to a sudden stop, leaving him with no hope short of a miracle.

Review:

Unfinished Justice is a novel set in 1935 and based on the true story of Ed Bowman, a reporter for a small town newspaper in Virginia. When Ed covers the murder trial of Gunther Buford, he writes an exclusive article after overhearing a confidential conversation between Buford’s defense attorneys that virtually guarantees a guilty verdict. The man is convicted and sentenced to die in the electric chair.

Buford breaks out of prison, intent on seeking revenge by killing the reporter who wrote the story. But in the ensuing violence, Ed’s wife is killed instead and Buford flees. In an ironic twist Ed is convicted of his wife’s murder and sentenced to life on a chain gang. For years Ed labors while being viciously abused. Finally, after four long years of planning his escape, Ed manages to gain his freedom.

Determined to locate Gunther Buford and bring him to justice, Ed tracks Buford to the small town of Wendover, Utah where the man has a new identity and occupation, and has also changed his appearance. Ed now has to determine who Buford really is, find evidence to prove he killed his wife, then clear his own name by bringing him to justice.

Unfinished Justice is a fast paced, riveting story filled with injustice, danger and even some romance. Extensive research by Janis Hutchinsonwent into this hard core novel that depicts life on chain gangs back in the 30’s. The descriptions are vivid and shocking to read, yet very engaging and enthralling.

The characters are well developed and fleshed out. Ed evolves throughout the story and comes to realize that God was with him the whole time. He is a strong, likeable character who is relatable. The author did a great job with all the characters and descriptions, and I felt like I knew them and was there with them.

Unfinished Justice is a fascinating read which features a time in the past that rarely gets portrayed in historical fiction novels. It reminds me of the fugitive, but slightly different. The harshness of chain gang life is depicted accurately and brilliantly.

This is one of the best suspense, thriller and fugitive type stories I have ever read. It is a gripping page-turner. I couldn’t put it down and kept reading faster and faster to find out what was going to happen next. Janis Hutchinson is an excellent writer and has done a beautiful job with Unfinished Justice. The storyline is full and exciting. The ending is intense and satisfying. I would read this one again―it’s that good.

Chick Lit Cafe highly recommends Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson.

Purchase Unfinished Justice by Janis Hutchinson @Amazon

Lost by Priscilla Audette

Lost by Priscilla Audette

Synopsis:

After suffering a blow to the head that robs her of herself, the aptly named Faith struggles against almost insurmountable odds to reclaim herself and her life as she knew it.

First, a disclaimer: although the protagonist in this novel suffers an injury, Lost is not a medical or health book. Rather, it is a testimony to the resilience of the human spirit that can rise like the proverbial phoenix after suffering a nearly lethal trauma. Faith is a character who finds herself in a situation that will be identifiable to many readers. Who hasn’t known someone who has suffered a concussion or worse? To find oneself lost in the labyrinth of the mind because the brain has been injured is taking the hero’s journey to a new and challenging level. The hero’s journey resonates in all our psyches and that is why stories like The Wizard of Ozor Star Warsgrab at us on a visceral level. Faith’s “Call to Adventure” is a car accident. She doesn’t have the choice of refusal; instead, she is sucked into a new and scary world when life as she knows it disappears. She finds mentors, is tested, and ultimately fights her way back not to her old self, but evolves into someone who has gained knowledge and is better for it. To come to know Faith is to become her cheerleader. Readers will keep reading not only because the writing is compelling but because they want her to succeed. On some level, her successes will be their successes no matter what different and challenging paths their own lives follow. Just like Faith, we all deal with the trials and tribulations life tosses our way, and we are usually better for the experiences. Faith is every woman.

Review:

After a car accident and a severe blow to her head, Faith is highly challenged and must relearn many things that were lost due to her brain trauma. She faces many trials and tribulations and suffers much during her recovery. Her old life has disappeared and she must now regain her mind and learn all over again. She has the help of friends and mentors to make her way back to who she was. However, she doesn’t fully regain her old self, but learns and evolves into a whole new person with new knowledge and experiences. Perhaps a better self.

Lost by Priscilla Audette is a compelling engrossing read. Although most of us have not had a brain injury, Faith is still a very relatable character. Her journey is one of strength and hope. Many women will relate to Faith as she charges ahead to recovery and acceptance.

Readers will fall in love with Faith and the other characters in this engaging, heartwarming read. Priscilla Audette has done a fabulous job creating a story that is unlike many. This is a tough topic to tackle and she has done a beautiful job showing readers what it is like for the brain injured person. A lot of research had to have been put into this story. The characters are all likable, relatable and fully developed. Faith’s personality is multidimensional and lovable.

The storyline flows beautifully and is captivating and enthralling. I was held spellbound from the very beginning and couldn’t put the book down, turning the pages quickly, rooting for Faith. Her struggles and triumphs are universal to every woman’s struggles and triumphs. Life is challenging for women. That’s why I found this book so good and relatable.

Lost is also a good story about relationships and the interactions between friends and people. I found that the author has much insight and experience in that area of life, the complexities of relationships.

Gently woven within the storyline are the descriptions, and they are fabulous, vivid and visual. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about Lost by Priscilla Audette. She is a phenomenal writer and I’m looking forward to reading more of her books.
Lost by Priscilla Audette is highly recommended by Chick Lit Cafe.

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Nate: The Search by Dorothy May Mercer

Synopsis:

A surrogate pregnancy goes horribly wrong. Terrorists concoct a weird scheme to take down a passenger plane. What happened to Sally Miller? Caught. In trouble with the FBI. Trapped. In love with the wrong man?

It has been more than twenty years since his newborn daughter was kidnapped out of the hospital nursery. Nate’s first wife never recovered from that disaster. Even though Nate healed and made a life for himself with a new family, he has never stopped looking for his firstborn.

Since then, life has treated him well. He has no reason to complain; he works hard at a very interesting, sometimes exciting and dangerous job, and takes pride in his family. Still, he sometimes wonders what happened to Sally Miller. Where is she, and what does she look like? Is she in trouble?

As the saying goes, “Be careful what you wish for.”

Review:

Nate Goodrich and his wife Ethel use a surrogate to have a baby. When that baby is born, she is kidnapped. Her name is Sally Miller. Nate and Ethel grieve her loss wholeheartedly. Ethel takes it harder than Nate and she begins to fall apart and weaken. But, little do they know that Ethel also has cancer and she eventually dies.

Twenty years later, Nate is remarried with two beautiful teenage children and a wonderful wife.

Life is good for Nate, but he can never forget his first born daughter, Sally. His search for her is endless. Nate’s job is interesting and dangerous. He is a Federal Air Marshal. He works hard and is flying often for days on end.

Across the country Sally, lives her dream life as a flight attendant. But she is more than just a stewardess, she has a part time job collecting information and pictures of certain passengers. She doesn’t really like her part time job, but it pays well and it isn’t dangerous or illegal, so she thinks.

Will fate bring Nate and his kidnapped biological daughter, Sally, together?

Nate: The Search is a fast paced exciting read filled with drama, intrigue and action. The theme has to do with terrorism and it is well researched and written. Each chapter goes back and forth between the main characters and what is going on with them. Eventually their lives all collide in an incredible, devastating and climatic way.

Dorothy May Mercer has crafted an exhilarating, action packed story. The plot is well thought out and fully researched. The scenario is married with the characters flawlessly. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader excited and flipping the pages quickly. Overall, it is powerful, emotional and gripping.

The characters are multidimensional and well developed. The interaction and dialog between the characters is well written, natural and realistic. The story itself is also very convincing. I loved it from beginning to end. It starts off fast and kept my attention intently throughout the whole book.

There is plenty of sentimentality, tenderness and nostalgia.

Nate: The Search has it all. It is fun, emotional and filled with elements of danger.

The ending is satisfying and fulfilling. I cried at the finish and smiled as well.

Dorothy May Mercer is an excellent writer and should be noted as so.

I’m looking forward to reading more by this very creative, credible and exceptional author, Dorothy May Mercer

Purchase Nate: The Search @ Amazon