To the Editors: Jennifer Wilson’s fascinating article on Pushkin’s Blackness [“The First Russian,” NYR, August 18] leaves a gap in treatments of the poet’s African heritage between 1981 and 2006. In 1987 the height of glasnost coincided with the 150th anniversary of the poet’s death. Nationalist cultural voices, growing in confidence and popularity, used this […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2022/09/22/cover-ups-uncoverings/
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn was immediately on my reading list because of my love of her Veronica Speedwell series. Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked as assassins for over forty-years for an organization known as the Museum. When things go awry on their retirement cruise, the girls are going to have to work together on one last operation. Humor, suspense and a clever mystery kept me flipping the pages…..
Killers of a Certain Age
by Deanna Raybourn
Genres: Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that’s their secret weapon.
They’ve spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they’re sixty years old, four women friends can’t just retire – it’s kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller.
Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills.
When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they’ve been marked for death.
Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They’re about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman–and a killer–of a certain age.
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Raybourn knows how to weave a tale that pulls readers in and holds them to the very last page. The idea of the secret organization know only as the Museum was an element I enjoyed. The Museum works outside of government constraints to hunt down Nazis, restore stolen artifacts to their rightful owners and take down drug lords appealed.
The author skillfully delivered a story with unique, colorful characters and an engaging storyline. They are all on the cruise at the museums’ expense. A farewell retirement send off if you will. While cooling off from a hot-flash, one discovers another operative on board and that can only mean one thing. Either they are on a mission (in which case they would have been told) or there to eliminate them. Since they weren’t informed, the ladies assume the latter and devise a plan.
The story that unfolds was delightful. It’s filled with suspense and action that has us trotting around the globe. The ladies use the skills they’ve learned to work together. The mission is clear. Find out why they’ve been targeted and devise a plan to get their lives back.
Well paced and suspenseful, Raybourn spun a clever tale that kept me guessing. As the four go about getting answers and eliminating threats, we learn about their training and previous cases. I absolutely loved all the details and connected with them. Each has their own skill set, baggage and opinions on the lives they’ve led.
I highly recommend this to fans of mysteries, secret organizations, mixed with strong characters, a little humor and a lot of action.
Amazon | Audible
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn delivered a suspenseful, action-packed mystery thriller. A must read this fall. #NewRelease #bookreview
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A sixth-generation native Texan, New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a double major in English and history and an emphasis on Shakespearean studies. She taught high school English for three years in San Antonio before leaving education to pursue a career as a novelist. Deanna makes her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband and daughter.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2022/09/killers-of-a-certain-age-by-deanna-raybourn.html
Our Trees: Botanics, Beliefs, & More is a fun and creative book for families to learn together about the many uses and the history of different trees. What was the inspiration for writing this book?
I love nature, hence my book Naytre Boy, and with Julie here in Scotland with me I just had to share all the different trees. As does all our conversations, this led us down a rabbit hole of research and adventure.
Julie just loved the Ogham alphabet and I loved the connection and the ancient knowledge associated with the trees. This became the foundation of Our Trees: Botanics, Beliefs, & More.
Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?
Yes, the plethora of information surrounding these sacred trees in Celtic culture was amazing. We had to find a way to include all of this information in a clear and friendly manner. I took as many photographs as I could and Julie wove the information and images on each page.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
Nature is amazing. The knowledge our ancestors had of each tree, their properties, and how to best utilise these gifts merits respect.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
We recently published Our Planets: Moons, Myths & More as part of Our Education Series and for Halloween, we have just published Our Halloween: Mysteries, Monsters & More, Alphabites: The Alphabet One Bite at a Time, and Jaggy Little Babies. All three were so much fun to create and we are loving watching them climb the Amazon charts. As for current projects, we have many, but our next releases will for the holiday gift season and include a sequel to Honey: Words to Heal & Mend, entitled Nectar: Words Of Self Love & Care which follows in the Kintsugi tradition. Additionally, and this is the first time anyone has heard this, we are releasing a children’s inspirational book entitled With Love, the Universe this book is full of affirmations for authenticity.
Author Links Julie: Website | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube
Author Links Derek: Website | Twitter | TikTok
Our Trees takes you on a botanical exploration of various trees and their symbolic meanings. Each page fills you with the knowledge that past generations knew–what each tree symbolized, their medicinal properties, and many other uses for each.
Your children will love the games included inside, from a board game to a word search and even a puzzle. Our trees is a family-friendly book that will entertain and inform everyone who reads it.
You will adore the short story at the end of this book—“Why Trees Lose Their Leaves” is a heartwarming tale of bravery and selflessness. It is a perfect story for all, especially children.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/06/nature-is-amazing/
Daniel Simmons struggles between his work and family life. His wife, Hannah, wants more kids even after giving birth to their daughter, Lilly, which causes physical and mental trauma. Meanwhile, Simmons, an up-and-coming lawyer, is looking to make his way in the world. After receiving a call, Simmons gets the opportunity to take on his first case. Emmett Kendrick is a prisoner assigned to solitary confinement. Under constant scrutiny and harassment from the staff, Kendrick has made multiple attempts to change his circumstances through the legal system. Together Simmons and Kendrick work to make prison life more humane.
Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer by Michael Stockham is exceptionally well-written. The writing is beautiful, clear, and concise, and the author’s knowledge of medicine and legal commentary is impressive. It’s a relaxing and educational read with a storyline that slowly picks up the pace. Stockham provides much information regarding the legal and medical fields, but he does this to help the reader better understand what is going on.
The main character’s wife, Hannah, seems excessively aggressive towards her husband when the topic of children arises. She’s very stubborn and does not seem to want to explore other options, and she frustrated me as a reader. I feel sorry for Daniel because it almost feels like Hannah is driving him into a corner. It’s wonderful to have children, but at the expense of whom? Daniel’s character is one that many can relate to because he is trying his best to take care of his family while also focusing on his career. The fact that this book is inspired by actual events made this book even more intriguing.
I feel that if the medical scenes were cut shorter and simplified, the story would’ve been much more powerful. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book because once you get past the medical jargon, the tension begins to rise, and you begin to appreciate how beautifully written this book is.
Confessions of an Accidental Lawyer is a domestic and legal thriller that has been inspired by a true story. Readers will be given a look at the challenges faced by those in the medical and legal fields, as well as the prison system.
Pages: 314 | ASIN : B0B5YDHHCC
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/06/confessions-of-an-accidental-lawyer/
The Confederacy of Fenians by James D. Nealon is a compelling historical fiction novel set in the 1800’s that offers an alternate take on the American civil war. This engaging book presents itself through a series of perspectives and narratives, each chapter from the view of one of the main characters. It explores what would have happened had the British intervened on the side of the Confederacy. The Confederacy is ready to break up the north but do Lincoln and the Union army have what it takes to stop them?
The well-conceived stories and lives of each of these characters overlap and interlock, creating twists at every corner. The author’s ability to connect the character’s accounts into a cohesive storyline is well done. Nealon does a great job illustrating the true complexity of the American Civil War and simultaneously allowing for an intricate fictional journey.
This elaborate story is written from a different point of view in each chapter. It may be a little bit difficult to track who each of the characters is at first, but as readers get further along, they are able to build the complete picture. I felt this made it hard to keep up with the development of the plot at times. However, the consistency with which the characters told their versions of the stories allowed readers a better understanding of the plot and how each story connects.
I loved how this novel gave the physical perspectives of the characters as well as metaphorical perspectives that stemmed from their actions. Being privy to each character’s thoughts and narrative gave this novel strength. There are also three strong female characters in this novel, showcasing how despite living in a time when women were seen and not heard, they fought for what they believed in and strived to make a difference.
Confederacy of Fenians is an alternate reality historical fiction novel with mixed science fiction elements. This is a solid novel with exciting and shocking twists and page-turning chapters that perfectly enraptures a war within a war and what one will do for the survival of their people.
Pages: 320 | ASIN : B09MR86R58
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/06/confederacy-of-fenians/
Have you ever wondered about lesser-known dinosaurs? Do you ever wonder if there are some strange ones that you might not have ever heard of or imagined your own new and exciting ones? The Awkward Dinosaurs by Kellen Roggenbuck is a humorous and delightful picture book that children and adults will be able to laugh and giggle at. Each page introduces a previously unheard-of dinosaur with an awkward personality or physical trait. One thing these dinosaurs do not lack is self-confidence. They are all happy with who they are and how they look.
Author and illustrator Kellen Roggenbuck has created a picture book that will capture the interests of babies just learning to look at pictures to adults that want good clean humor. I genuinely laughed as I read through this children’s book. Shyladon is probably my favorite dinosaur in this collection. I love how just because he isn’t a fan of large crowds, he is fine and not ashamed of this. Children will have no trouble finding a dinosaur in this book that they can relate to and appreciate.
The awkward dinosaurs teach young children that being different is okay and something to be proud of. If you are different and stand out from a group of friends, that is not bad; everyone is unique, even if they think it is awkward at first, like glowing in the dark or being plaid.
The Awkward Dinosaurs is a magical picture book that would make a wonderful gift for young children just getting interested in books as the bright colors, and entertaining illustrations will keep them engaged. It would also be a great addition to a kindergarten or preschool classroom to help teach and celebrate diversity.
Pages: 28 | ISBN: 0578799103
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/06/the-awkward-dinosaurs/
“Even The Darkness Has A Fantasy…”
He – Lived and died by the Life that chose him.
She – Lived her Life according to the needs of the men in control of it.
Both of them on a collision course that would end with one of them in a self-imposed exile, and the other… In the clutches of the abyss. Whether real or imagined, one’s Love and Loyalty will ultimately lead to the other’s Hate and Betrayal. But even… There’s nothing more potent, or more powerful than Love, and the Darkness it contains.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/09/06/my-dark-fantasy-book-trailer/