The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted here @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up. See rules here: Sunday Post Meme
It was the last full week of summer vacation for the Royals. They start back to school this upcoming Wednesday. They are both excited. We had a heat wave hit and while the Royals are on the mend, I sadly got their crud and have been miserable. Headache, unproductive cough, clammy… just yuck. No Covid, though, so there is that. I mostly watched movies and listened to a twenty-four-hour audiobook. With no kiddos to watch over the weekend, I am cuddled up, drinking tea and hopefully writing this weeks reviews. Stay Caffeinated.
Last Week on the Blog
Nonna’s Corner: A Feast For Pleasant Beasts By J.T. Bird (book review)
The Secret Of Bow Lane By Jennifer Ashley (book review)
The Codebreaker’s Secret By Sara Ackerman (guest post, book review)
Mystic Madness By Kim Richardson (audio review)
This Week on the Blog
Sugar And Salt By Susan Wiggs (audio review)
The Law By Jim Butcher (audio review)
Cover Reveal: Grimm Consequences By Kate SeRine (spotlight, giveaway)
Sound Of Darkness By Heather Graham (book review)
The Beachside Bed And Breakfast By Hope Ramsay (book review, guest post)
New Arrivals at the Caffeinated Cafe
Learn more:
Signal Moon By Kate Quinn (Free w/Prime)
The Graveside Bar And Grill by Darynda Jones
Dance with the Devil by Kit Rocha
Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
Special thanks to Brilliance Audio, Tantor Audio, PRH Audio
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Narrated by Christine Lakin, Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs is the fourth audiobook in the standalone women’s fiction series, the Bella Vista Chronicles. Come to San Francisco as Margot Salton, a barbecue master from Texas, opens her new restaurant named Salt next to a bakery named Sugar. History, romance and a foodie lover’s dream await you…..
Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs Series: Bella Vista Chronicles #4 Narrator: Christine Lakin Length: 11 hours and 58 minutes Genres: Women’s Fiction Source: Publisher Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: Narration: 4 cups Speed: 1.3x
Jerome “Sugar” Barnes learned the art of baking in his grandma’s bakery, also called Sugar, on historic Perdita Street in San Francisco. He supplies baked goods to the Lost and Found Bookshop across the street.
When the restaurant that shares his commercial kitchen loses its longtime tenant, a newcomer moves in: Margot Salton, a barbecue master from Texas.
Margot isn’t exactly on the run, but she needs a fresh start. She’s taken care of herself her whole life, pulling herself up by her fingernails to recover from trauma, and her dream has been to open a restaurant somewhere far, far from Texas. The shared kitchen with Jerome Sugar’s bakery is the perfect setup: a state-of-the-art kitchen and a vibrant neighborhood popular with tourists and locals.
Margot instantly takes to Jerome’s grandmother, the lively, opinionated Ida, and the older woman proves to be a good mentor. Margot thinks Jerome is gorgeous, and despite their different backgrounds their attraction is powerful–even though Jerome worries that Margot will simply move on from him once she’s found some peace and stability. But just as she starts to relax into a happy new future, Margot’s past in Texas comes back to haunt her..
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I didn’t realize this was part of a series, but had in fact listened to and enjoyed The Lost and Found Bookshop (book three).
In this story, we meet a young woman with a big dream of owning her own barbecue restaurant and that dream takes her from a food truck in Texas to a shared kitchen. It’s the perfect setup: a state-of-the-art kitchen and a vibrant neighborhood popular with tourists and locals.
Wiggs writes magic blending character growth with dreams, history and love. I expected a light, feel-good novel with small-town charms, and a side of sweet romance, but Wiggs delivered more. Jerome’s grandmother and her story tugged at my heartstrings, reminding us of the injustices of the world and gave us hope of more. Her characters a real, flawed and those you want to spend time with. I love Ida, and other secondary characters.
The story was heartfelt and genuine, with some added drama from Margot’s past. Both Jerome and Margot had some growing pains along the way. The tale wrapped up nicely, leaving me with fond memories of time well spent.
Christine Lakin narrates and did a wonderful job of capturing the tone and characters of this story. I highly recommend listening and I find myself tempted to grab the first two books in these chronicles.
Fans of women’s fiction, foodie books and character growth will enjoy this and other stories from the Bella Vista Chronicles.
Amazon | Audible
Sugar and Salt by Susan Wiggs delivered a heart-felt tale about food, friendship, love and small-town charm. #BellaVistaChronicles #WomensFiction #audiobook #ChristineLakin Click To Tweet
About Susan Wiggs
Susan Wiggs’s life is all about family, friends…and fiction. She lives at the water’s edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers’ group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field’s End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world’s top authors to her seaside community. She’s been featured in the national media, including NPR’s “Talk of the Nation,” and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.
Website | Twitter | Facebook
About Christine Lakin
Christine Lakin is an Earphones Award–winning narrator and acclaimed television actress, best known for her roles as Alicia “Al” Lambert on the hit family comedy Step by Step and as Joan of Arc on Showtime’s Reefer Madness.
Twitter | Instagram
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I devoured The Law as soon as it released, as I am always eager for more of the Dresden Files. Jim himself narrates I quickly settled into the story. Butcher once again proved he can tell a story regardless of the length. An intriguing case and great transitional novella….
The Law by Jim Butcher Series: The Dresden Files #17.2 Narrator: Jim Butcher Length: 3 hours and 22 minutes Genres: Urban Fantasy Source: Purchase Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: Narration: 5 cups Speed: 1.3x
Not every danger comes in the form of a mega-threat like a Titan. Some predators are a lot cozier…more personal.
When one such creature threatens an independent tutor, Harry Dresden must shake off the blood and dirt of his most recent battles and rise to the occasion, even when it turns out that the new predator is far more dangerous and connected than first appearances would suggest.
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The Law by Jim Butcher is a novella offered in Kindle Unlimited and Audible.
Events in The Law, take place about a month after Battle Ground, and Harry is mourning the loss of friends when he takes on a case involving a tutor who is being sued. It’s an old school case with some twists. It has some lightness to it that offset the overall arc development.
We meet a new character and see familiar ones, including Marcone, Paranoid Gary, Bob, and Mab. The story gives us updates on how the non-magical are dealing with the aftermath of the battle and are still suffering the heebie-jeebies. The homestead has become a bit of a refuge, but it’s not without issues. We witness first hand Harry’s mourning and the changes it has wrought. We get some Nevernever shenanigans and I loved seeing Harry in action. Bob, as always, made me laugh.
Butcher is an incredible storyteller. His character development and overall story arc pull me in again and again. These characters, and the world, have become real and isn’t that the art of true storytelling? These are audios and books I pick up again and again.
Jim narrates snd did a stellar job. He reassures listeners Masters will be back, but it was fun having this read to us by the man himself. Butcher has narrated forwards and a few anthologies, so I knew his voice was good. His tone and pacing aligns with the characters and I slipped into the world.
The Law was the perfect appetizer to get me ready for the next installment in the Dresden Files. If you haven’t joined the fandom, I encourage you to do so. This series is among my favorites and I hope Butcher does more of these short stories.
Amazon* | Audible
The Law by Jim Butcher narrated by the man himself has Harry tackling a case with plenty of twists. #audiobook #DresdenFiles #UrbanFantasy #audiobookreview Click To Tweet
About Jim Butcher
Jim Butcher is the author of the Dresden Files, the Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, the Cinder Spires. His resume includes a laundry list of skills which were useful a couple of centuries ago, and he plays guitar quite badly. An avid gamer, he plays tabletop games in varying systems, a variety of video games on PC and console, and LARPs whenever he can make time for it. Jim currently resides mostly inside his own head, but his head can generally be found in his home town of Independence, Missouri. Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990′s when he decided he would become a published author. Usually only 3 in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only 1 in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that let him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.
Website | Twitter
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
The 10-Year Anniversary Celebration of the Transplanted Tales continues! Today I am excited to share the new cover for Grimm Consequences by Kate SeRine. This is a novella that takes place after Red and gives us Nate Grimm’s story. You won’t want to miss it… and that cover, isn’t it divine?
Grimm Consequences
Transplanted Tales #1.5
Amazon | iBook | Kobo | B&N | Goodreads
The author of Red “takes urban fantasy, crime thrillers and fairy tale characters and creates magic” in this paranormal romance novella (Caffeinated Book Reviewer).
To put it lightly, Nate Grimm has a dark past. Fortunately, no one’s bothered to look too closely at the Fairytale Management Authority’s lead detective and part-time Reaper. And Nate wants to keep it that way. After centuries of torment and loneliness, he’s finally found happiness with the hot and hard-charging love of his life, Tess “Red” Little.
Of course, his love for Tess is the reason there’s a posse of Reaper judges after him, led by a sadistic bastard acquainted with Nate from once upon a time. Now, Tess will pay the price for Nate’s transgressions unless Nate severs his ties to the transplanted Tales—and Tess—forever. His enemy has the advantage in speed, malice and brutality. But the Reapers have underestimated the depth of Nate’s love. And the fury of his wrath.
Praise for Grimm Consequences
“I can’t get enough of this amazing paranormal series!” —Paranormal Cravings
“One hell of a story.” —The Romance Reviews
“Not to be missed!” —The Demon Librarian, 5 Stars
“I can’t get enough of the Transplanted Tales. . .” —The Romance Reviews
“Unique, suspenseful, tempting, and oh so much fun! Kate SeRine knows how to pack a punch!” — Donna Grant, New York Times bestselling author
Transplanted Tales
Red
Grimm Consequences
The Better to See You
Along Came A Spider
Ever After
Better Watch Out (Fall 2022)
About the Author
Kate SeRine (pronounced “serene”) is a hopeless romantic who firmly believes in true love that lasts forever. So it’s no surprise that when she began writing her own stories, Kate vowed her characters would always have a happily ever after. She’s the author of the award-winning TRANSPLANTED TALES paranormal romance series as well as two romantic suspense series: PROTECT AND SERVE and DARK ALLIANCE.
Kate lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project — probably while consuming way too much coffee.
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Newsletter
Join Kate SeRine’s newsletter for the chance to win a US Amazon eGift Card. Winner will be selected at random from her active subscriber list on December 16, 2022. Enter here https://www.subscribepage.com/w8n0q1
Giveaway
Help us celebrate the new cover and enter for a chance to win a $10 US ecard from Amazon, B&N, Kobo or Apple. Winner’s choice. Ends August 18, 2022.
Sound of Darkness by Heather Graham is the first in a three-part trilogy within the Krewe of Hunters series and pulled me in from the start and never left go. If you enjoy a good mystery with a side of romance and a dash of paranormal woo-woo, you are going to love this one….
Sound of Darkness by Heather Graham Series: Krewe of Hunters #36 Genres: Paranormal, Romantic Suspense Source: Library Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: Heat Level:
The cries of the dead are deafening
Women are being taken in Virginia, and FBI agent Mark Frampton is determined to put a stop to it. Certain he’s closing in on the killer known as The Embracer, Mark is less than thrilled when he’s partnered with rookie agent Colleen Law, worried she’s a liability when there’s so much at stake.
But like everyone in the Krewe of Hunters, Colleen has talents that extend beyond the usual investigative toolbox. She can hear the voices of the victims in her head, and they’re telling her she and Mark are near to uncovering the truth.
When Mark’s prime suspect takes a liking to Colleen, he’s surprisingly protective of his new partner, even as he admits her connection to the victims is key. But tense interrogations turn dangerously personal when someone close to Colleen goes missing, luring the agents deep into the shadows of wooded rural Virginia, where nobody can hear them scream.
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FBI agent Mark Frampton, his dog Red and partner, Ragnar Johnson, are members of the Krewe of Hunters, a special unit within the FBI. They are hot on the case of the killer known as The Embracer and think they’ve solved it when they find his latest victim alive and arrest the perpetrator….only things aren’t as they seem.
Mark is shocked when he is assigned to partner with rookie agent Colleen Law. Colleen can hear the voices of victims and it seems one needs saving. Their first meet is tense.The case that unfolds pulled me in from the tension between Mark and Colleen to the plot of the killer.
Each of the Krewe of Hunters has a unique gift and Colleen Law is no different. It was interesting seeing Mark and Colleen interact, grow to trust each other and answer the intense chemistry between them. The villains are dark and their game is complex. We meet Colleen’s sister and wow the snark and sparks between her and Mark’s partner..sizzle!
The murder-mystery/kidnapping will span the next two books as well as they work to capture the Embracer. Some aspects are closed so that the reader feels satisfied and each book has its own romance. We also have the ghost officer and his unfinished business. Graham kept me engaged and while I figured out some things, others were a surprise.
I cannot wait to dive into Aura of Night, the next book in this series featuring Colleen’s sister. Fans of romantic suspense with murder-mysteries and paranormal aspects will enjoy Sound of Darkness.
Amazon | Audible
Sound of Darkness by Heather Graham delivered a suspenseful case, cute pets, sizzling chemistry and a little paranormal woo-woo. #KreweOfHunters #LoveMyLibrary #bookreview Click To Tweet
About Heather Graham
Also published as Heather Graham Pozzessere and Shannon Drake. New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell’s Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette’s Shadows, and for Harlequin’s mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Website | Twitter | Facebook
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I’ve Been Waiting follows a narcotics detective who, at the request of a beautiful woman, investigates an unsolved mystery and encounters paranormal activities. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Well, this is a good question. I guess I was going through some difficult times personally. With the loss of family members, Grand Parents, Aunts, Uncles, and Parents passing away, I guess you begin to question our very existence. You begin to wonder, is there something out there beyond this life, or is this it? So, with each passing of a loved one, a deep sadness begins to fill your heart. I feel that this was the place I was in at the time, and then I started having this reoccurring dream. It was the same dream, over and over, becoming more vivid each time. So, I started telling people about the dream.
The dream was about this guy walking down the street in an older part of Boston. The street was dark with high buildings on each side. It was a dark night with a slight fog that had rolled in. I had a feeling that the guy was aimlessly walking down the street, heading toward his favorite bar. As he got closer to the bar, he noticed this very attractive woman standing on the street corner under the lights. For whatever the reason, he was drawn toward the girl, and as he approached, he asked her if she was lost or needed help. She looked back at the guy and said, No…I’m waiting for you.
So, that was the dream. What exactly it meant, I didn’t know, but I finally decided to write it down. Writing it down made me realize that this guy, who became John O’Roark in the book, was lost. He had lost everything, his family, his self-worth, his career, and everything he ever believed in. However, I knew that this woman, who mysteriously came into his life at just the right time, would help him find his way back.
John is an interesting and unique character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Once I wrote down the dream, I had to go back and determine just what happened to this individual. So, I asked myself what tragedy could occur in a person’s life to make him feel the way he feels and put him in this situation of feeling totally lost. The most important thing in this world is your family, and if anything were to happen to them, you would be devastated. In knowing that, then you ask yourself, how would you respond and what would you do if something happened to your family like what happened to John’s family in the book? So, this is the direction I went within the book.
What was strange was when I started creating the different characters in the story. For instance, Dex, the stutterer came out of thin air, but he’s a big part of the story. Once I had the characters in place, the story just took off. It was as if I was just along for the ride, typing away as I saw the scenes play out.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I would say that the overall theme of this book is about hope. It’s about an individual who is in complete despair, lost, and alone in his grief with no sense of purpose due to his circumstances. Yet, on an unexpected meeting with a mysterious woman, his life begins to turn around as he embarks on an incredible journey that allows him to overcome his hardships and find a new purpose in life. It’s about the hope and the belief that he will be together again with his family someday and that, for now, he has much more to do in this world as he realizes that his new purpose is to help others.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I have several books in mind and have written the outlines for each. Obviously, this book has an ending that leads to another journey for John’s character. So, I’m in the process of outlining his next adventure.
Two other books that I am working on are: “Frantic Panic” and “The Family Secret”
These books have no release date and are in the early stages of development.
Haunted by his own guilt, John O’Roark, an undercover Boston narcotics agent, and his stuttering partner, Dex, embark on a ghostly journey as they pursue an old unsolved mystery that will ultimately change their lives forever.
John, a dedicated family man with two kids and a beautiful wife, blames himself for the senseless assault on his family. After which, John’s only intent in life was hunting down those responsible for the attack and seeking revenge. In doing so, he becomes lost and alone as he begins to question and doubt all that he believes to be true.
Until he meets a young and mysterious woman named Angelica, who begins telling him a compelling story about her friend who has been missing for years. Reluctant to take on a missing person’s case, he simply can’t resist being pulled into her captivating plea for help. With the aid of his old partner, Dex, the three set out for the mountains of Colorado to uncover the truth about the missing girl, only to discover that Angelica isn’t who or what she seems to be.
Bike Riding in Kabul is the story of Jamie Bowman, a woman who works as foreign aid in several post-war countries. The author’s story is a unique take on the travel memoir genre. We don’t just read countless stories of an individual eating world-class dishes and laying on the beach; we watch someone help entire countries find their own peace. Through it all, we learn about the invaluable pieces of wisdom she learned along the way. From learning how to truly help people and understanding how many of these countries found themselves in their situations, there is so much wisdom to devour.
Conversational and thorough is one of the best ways to describe Bowman’s writing style. As she walks readers through her time in each country, she shares descriptions of the surrounding buildings and scenery. Without being long and drawn out, you gain a sense of the exotic locations as if you were there.
I enjoyed reading about Bowman’s adventures navigating the different cities she was in and how she made the best out of some of the most gloomy situations. It was easy to gather how passionate she was about the work she was doing. Even when the air quality in her broom closet-style office was so bad that she had to work on a staircase and stay in some not-so-great dwellings.
One of my favorite parts of this invigorating book is its unique twist on the classic travel memoir. Unlike many travel memoirs, there is a heavy focus on helping others through the author’s travels instead of personal enlightenment. Of course, there were enlightening moments for Bowman as she learns about the world outside of the United States, but that wasn’t the focal point. It was a nice change and made me feel like I wasn’t reading the same stories from memoirs past.
Bike Riding in Kabul by Jamie Bowman was a delightful read with much wisdom amongst its pages. This was a quick and engaging book that I highly recommend. If you’re looking for a unique travel memoir or just a profound story, then this is a book you must pick up.
Honor in Concord by Cathryn McIntyre is a combination of memoir and fiction. The book takes place in Concord, Massachusetts, and is a story about history, love, reincarnation, and living our lives with truth and honor. While retelling the actual events in the author’s life, there are some fictionalized elements in the story. For example, the scenes that show famous writers from Concord’s literary past are fiction based on historical facts. There is also a third storyline, focused on honor, interspersed with scenes of Concord’s historical and literary figures.
This was an exciting and enjoyable book to read. I liked the inclusion of writings from historical, literary individuals from the 19th century at the beginning of the book. The author writes about their daily lives and families and the descriptions of the homes where they resided, which were shown through house tours of the historic sites taken by the author or fictional present-day characters. I enjoyed reading the scenes of life from the perspective of historical, literary figures.
The past and present are woven together in an interesting way in this book. One example is when the author imagines the historical figures in places found in present-day Concord that they had visited during their own lives in the 1800s. I enjoyed all the bits of history that were included throughout the book, especially the places where parallels were shown between what historical Concord residents were feelings contrasted against people living in the present time who were feeling the same kind of emotions or thinking similar thoughts. In addition, I found the scene where the author tries to reason with Dr. Roland’s ghost rather humorous.
My favorite parts of this book were the pieces of the author’s own life and the historical information. The story’s subplot with Richard Hazzard and Sarah Simon was an interesting addition to this novel. However, I felt that these sections sometimes took away from the most exciting aspect of the story, which was the author’s spiritual and writer’s life in Concord and the everyday lives of Concord’s famous historical writers.
Honor in Concord: Seeking Spirit in Literary Concord is a unique combination of historical fiction and memoir that will enchant readers with personal stories and interesting historical facts. The author’s ability to combine these different writing elements into a cohesive and entertaining storyline makes this a must-read for those interested in authors like Hawthorne, Emerson, Thoreau, Fuller, and Alcott.
Danger Peak by Michael Thomas Perone is a feel-good coming-of-age story that follows 13-year-old Robert and his best friends Chris and Rinnie. We follow this group of friends who are part of the motorbike racing club known as the Wild Boars. Readers are taken on an adventure filled with nostalgia, courage, and determination as Robert sets out to conquer Danger Peak.
Author Perone transports the reader back into the 80s, filled with references to Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones, and good times like getting into mischief with friends. This nostalgic book reminded me of The Sandlot, but instead of tackling “The Beast,” it is Danger Peak this time.
The characters are well developed, and the author perfectly portrays the teenage attitude where all kids want to do is hang out with friends and have a good time making this a relatable read to young readers. Robert’s determination is inspiring, and there are times when you feel sad for him, especially when he has flashbacks of his older brother Danny. I also enjoyed the fact that Robert’s family didn’t come off as the perfect family, and they were going through real problems. The author’s writing is not elaborate or detailed and is perfect for middle-aged readers.
Danger Peak is an entertaining, page-turning read that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. I highly recommend this book to middle-grade readers and even those who want to reminisce about the good old days of growing up in the 80s.
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Mystic Madness By Kim Richardson (audio review)
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