The February art newsletter, written while we worked on the first two issues of the year, comes to you from across the high Sierras, amid the historic rainfall and flooding in California. I flew to San Francisco when the January 19 issue was published and we began piecing the February 9 issue together. The coastal […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/01/25/drenched-leanne-shapton/
Sophia Rose is here with a review of the Pride & Prejudices variation, An Excellent Walker by Lyndsay Constable. Grab a warm cuppa and enjoy her thoughts on this historical romantic fiction….
An Excellent Walker
by Lyndsay Constable
Genres: Historical Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Heat Level: 
Is Mr Darcy capable of wanting to marry just for the sake of love?
AN UNEXPECTED MEETING between Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet becomes suddenly and shockingly dangerous. Mr Darcy is determined to protect Elizabeth but his exertions leave him grievously wounded. Sheltering with him in a shepherd’s hut, Elizabeth tends to Darcy’s injuries while trying to suppress her concern about the impropriety of her circumstances, as well as the fever-induced proposal that results.
WHILE THEY SURVIVE the imminent threat, others at Rosings do not, altering the fates of their friends and relations. The connexion between them seems to have thus come to an end. Elizabeth’s emotions, enflamed by the forced intimacy in the shepherd’s hut, are aggravated when Darcy—now healing from his injuries—arrives to make good on his proposal. What woman wants an offer of marriage made in service to her reputation rather than to romantic love? Or was there love there all along?
An Excellent Walker is a Pride and Prejudice variation.
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What if the French invaded the English coast of Kent right about the time Miss Bennet and Mr. Darcy were both out for a ramble in Rosings Park grounds? In a light alternate history Pride & Prejudice variation romance, Lyndsay Constable’s sophomore effort captivates early on and reads swiftly to a satisfying end.
While I think someone utterly unfamiliar with Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice can appreciate a sweet Regency era romance about a pair who misunderstood each other, had some outside interference, and struggled with the class differences against the setting of England during the Napoleonic War, I suspect there will be the sense of landing into the middle of a story. An Excellent Walker opens with the couple already having known each other for several months and have a history of circumstances that play into their current feelings about each other. There is also the backstory of the other characters at Rosings Park that aren’t as teased out as well. All that to say, readers somewhat familiar with the P&P storyline will get more out of the story, but newcomers can enjoy it, too.
An Excellent Walker begins when Elizabeth is out on an invigorating walk to a hilly vista and her thoughts are in a little turmoil as she ponders what she thinks she knows about the events of the last few months and the people she has encountered namely charming Mr. Wickham and the arrogant Mr. Darcy who seems to have a way of confusing her by not being only what she supposed. After seeing the estate from the hill, she is annoyed when she encounters Mr. Darcy out for a ride. A surprising appearance of French soldiers. Darcy is shot. They work to escape and the focus becomes safety, though not without the surprise of a drunken confession from a feverish Darcy.
An Excellent Walker is told entirely from Elizabeth’s point of view and has two halves when it comes to setting and pacing. The first half is the suspenseful events of a French invasion of the Rosings Park estate and the immediate aftermath. The second half becomes more thoughtful as Elizabeth must sort out complicated and confusing feelings about a drunk emotional proposal, a follow up and, frankly, disastrous proposal, and the actions of a man who is so much more than Wickham’s insinuations and her own faulty judgment imagined. Even though the second half was less action-oriented, it was just as exciting when it came to the romance and character development. It all read swiftly and easily, so there wasn’t lag, but there was strong story development.
All in all, it was satisfying and an interesting twist to the original classic. It’s a sweet romance with some sensual attraction in a forced proximity situation, but has the decorum of the period and personalities of the characters. It’s a sparkling fun read for Regency or Austen romance fans.
Amazon* | Audible
*KindleUnlimited
Lyndsay Constable has been a passionate reader since her early teen years and frequently selected books that could be successfully hidden behind the person sitting in front of her in class. Originally from North Carolina, she attended both North Carolina School of the Arts and SUNY Purchase for dance. She currently lives in Virginia with her husband, child, dog, cat and a small murder of crows who refuse to become friendly with her despite all of the peanuts she has given them. Whatever, she’s not bitter.
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Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/01/an-excellent-walker-by-lyndsay-constable.html
What could possibly connect a lot boy with an inexperienced marketing executive at a public relations consultancy? A chance meeting between Jay and Horace “Horse” begins to reveal the threads that connect them, starting with Lauren, who was Horse’s former lover and Jay’s current girlfriend. But beyond Lauren, both men are fighting to find their feet in their own ways and seem stuck till Jay puts on his criminal mastermind hat and hashes up a plan that involves kidnapping for ransom. Unfortunately, this foray into crime might be two lost men biting off more than they can chew.
Peter M. Talty’s The Jackals’ Fall is a fictional tale that mirrors the inordinate pursuit of wealth, the rollercoaster ride of love, friendship, and betrayal. It’s great when a writer can take a simple plot and spin an intriguing story around it, and that’s what Peter does in this book.
The Jackals’ Fall is not your typical on-the-edge-of-your-seat or heart-racing thriller; its slow-burn approach heightens the suspense. Readers will find the situations the characters end up in entertaining, creating a compelling story in its own way. From the humorous undertone it starts with to the tragic extreme it swings to, this engaging book delivers what you might consider T.V. material. I love how Peter adopts an accessible, conversational, and free-flowing writing style that sucks you in easily and helps you get through the story quickly. Another place where I feel Peter gets it right is with his character development. This fascinating book is brimming with relatable characters whose lives spotlight particularly familiar tendencies and challenges.
I love how The Jackals’ Fall catches readers off-guard with the disturbing turn of events you wouldn’t have predicted at the start of the story. It’s a perfect reflection of how life can get really messy real quick. This suspenseful book is an entertaining read that crime thriller readers will enjoy from start to finish.
Pages: 377 | ISBN : 166571199X
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/25/the-jackals-fall/
Vengeful Strike is an entertaining short story by author Jah-Femi Telewa. It is a tale of a soldier named Killsmani and how he struggles to serve his king. One day the fictional northern lands of Nottally receive visitors from their southern neighbors. Bearing gifts and riches for the king, they are welcomed with open arms. Killsmani then has a peculiar dream where his sword becomes enchanted with what may be a blessing or a curse. He goes on to fight many successful battles for his king until some unrest comes to the land. Killsmani’s decisions will impact Nottally for the years to come.
Vengeful Strike reads like a fable or fairy tale, with a moral lesson of choosing between right and wrong. The setting is medieval/fantasy, the characters are mysterious, and the feats are mighty. There are the bones of a good fairy tale here, but as it is laid out, the consequences are more matter-of-fact than cautionary, as one traditionally expects in a fable or fairy tale. Killsmani’s choices are thrust upon him, and he reactively responds to certain situations rather than thinking about the consequences. The other characters are there merely to prop up the tale of Killsmani and his plight.
The audiobook version of Vengeful Strike was quite entertaining. The production value was extremely high quality, included some pretty good sound effects, and the narration was lively. In addition, I thought the story, while predictable at times, was a pleasant tale.
Vengeful Strike will captivate fantasy readers and draw them into the kingdom of Nottaly. Readers who enjoy fables and folktales will really enjoy this short story. I also feel like this is an excellent outline of what could be a compelling full-length novel about Killsmani and his enchanted sword. I would also like to see more adventures in the kingdom of Notttally and the surrounding lands.
Pages: 26 | ASIN : B0BH36DRRJ
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/25/vengeful-strike/
A bloodthirsty and ageless alien named Eros finds himself on Earth. On his arrival, the beauty and compassion of humans make him fall in love with them. After meeting Camellia, the love of his life whom he cured of an illness, he is inspired to find a way to extend the lives of others. Eros’s venom possesses special qualities that can treat diseases, heal injuries, and cause people to fall in love. Throughout his endless existence, Eros fell in love many times, but Camellia was the one who stood out the most. Eros was not perfect; he always had a strong urge to bite women and suck their blood as his way of feeding. He had no control over it and was often referred to as a vampire.
Eros is a fascinating character and I found his abnormal actions to be intriguing. He was cold-blooded and could not stay out in the sun like a vampire, but the author imbues him with enough of a unique quality for the story to feel refreshing. Camellia is a loyal lover and the way she was completely devoted to Eros is admirable. The supporting characters are all well-rounded and have recognizable qualities that make them relatable. For example, Linda and Christine have different personalities although they work together. It seems all the women Eros meets are bound to fall for him. The author does a fantastic job of combining science fiction, fantasy, and romance into a riveting story that will feel like it can go in any direction. From Eros’s strange venom to his laboratory work, and crazy love fantasies, the story was engrossing.
The writing style of author Glenn Stevens is easy to follow, ensuring readers are always immersed in the story. The book is well written but I would have enjoyed it more if the story was a bit shorter. I would recommend Blood Relations to fans of science fiction, fantasy, and romance. The story is thrilling and captivating, and you will be glued to the pages until the end.
Pages: 507 | ASIN: B07H277BLH
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/25/blood-relations/
Odriel’s Heirs by Hayley Reese Chow follows a young girl named Kaia. As the first Born of her siblings, she inherited the fire of the dragon. She has three siblings, her twin Bram, younger brother Layf and younger sister Elani. She lives somewhat of a sheltered life because the surrounding villagers believe they are evil. As she starts exploring society, she comes close to some dangerous obstacles. Her father is away fighting a war that she believes she can assist in. Once she realizes that a necromancer has unleashed lost souls onto the humans, she believes it is her duty as the dragon heir to help keep the humans safe. She wants nothing more than to prove that she is strong and a good person to her family and the outside world.
Odriel’s Heirs is a gripping epic fantasy novel from start to finish. The flow of the story was both entertaining and exciting; I was hooked throughout the entire story. The characters are well thought through, and they bring the story alive. The main character is strong-willed and brave, someone a teen girl can look up to and admire. Kaia’s character is one reader can’t help but feel bad about at times because of how she is treated by others for the gift she inherited. However, despite her obstacles, she never losses sight of her goals and always looks for a way to persevere. The secondary characters are written just as well and add additional layers to this fantastic story.
Hayley Reese Chow has combined paranormal and fantasy genres in this adventure for young adults in Odriel’s Heirs. The journey that the author takes readers on is creative and unique. It was definitely one of those books that take you out of the real world and into a new fantasy and amazing dystopian world that you can’t help but get lost in.
Pages: 198 | ASIN : B0838R4DTB
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/25/odriels-heirs/
“Ladies, are you looking for a way to boost your bust size and your faith at the same time? Look no further! ‘Blessed Chest: A Christian Woman’s Guide to Breast Enhancement’ is the perfect book for you. This uplifting guide combines easy-to-follow exercises, specifically designed to enhance your bust, with powerful Christian affirmations to boost your confidence and faith.
You’ll learn exercises that target your chest muscles, helping to lift and firm your breasts. And with the help of our daily affirmations, you’ll be reminded of the truth of your worth and beauty as a child of God. Not only will you see physical changes in your chest, but you’ll also experience an emotional and spiritual uplift.
This book is perfect for Christian women of all ages, sizes and shapes. It’s time to embrace the woman God created you to be and feel confident in your own skin. So, grab a copy today and let’s get started on this journey of faith and breast enhancement together!”
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/01/25/blessed-chest-book-trailer/