When I get to heavenThe thing I know I’ll hearIs the hissing of the treesOn a heavenly day in Central Park,Trees in a breeze seen from aboveOn fire with green fireworksOf sunlight messing with their hair. When I’m up there in heaven looking downI’ll see the treetops of the treesWrithing like spaghetti on the boilAnd […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/03/09/a-giraffe-eating-a-swan-frederick-seidel/
If the name Walter de la Mare elicits any recognition at all, it’s probably because your tenth-grade English class used an ancient textbook that reprinted “The Listeners,” an eerie, tantalizing poem that begins, “‘Is there anybody there?’ said the Traveller,/Knocking on the moonlit door.” You might even have been given—by an elderly relative, no doubt—a […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/03/09/devilish-agencies-at-work-strangers-and-pilgrims-walter-de-la-mare/
In 1944 Segundo Eloy Villanueva, the smart, stuttering seventeen-year-old son of a farmer in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes, learned that his father, Álvaro, had been murdered. Álvaro, riding a horse to a neighboring town to do some business, was shot by a neighbor whom he had recently reproached for allowing cattle to run […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/03/09/an-amazonian-exodus-prophet-of-the-andes-graciela-mochkofsky/
What James Gillray found funny could be hard to predict. During the 1790s and early 1800s, as counterrevolutionary alarm swept Britain, he filled his satiric prints with guillotined bodies—not tragic bodies, limp and bloodstained, but absurd ones that managed to suggest, in their incompleteness, the half-comic madness of lopping human heads off human necks. In […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2023/03/09/cannibals-and-guillotines-james-gillray-tim-clayton/
In late January and early February, New York City temperatures hit strange highs, rain blindsided us, and snow was mostly absent. Over the course of four weeks, three friends visited, and I saw the city through their eyes. One was energized by the crowds, another was exhausted from overscheduling, and the third contemplated moving here. A […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/02/16/abstract-new-york/
The Dangerous One by Lori Foster is the first in the Osborn Brothers and has ties to her previous series, the McKenzies of Ridge Trail. You’ll want to curl up with this suspenseful romance as Foster delivers a swoon-worthy tale.
The Dangerous One
by Lori Foster
Series: Osborn Brothers #1
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Heat Level: 
Alone is good. Alone with her is…better.
Hunter Osborn left his family, his friends and his job as a park ranger after uncovering a disturbing crime scene. Haunted by nightmares and dark thoughts, Hunter relocated to a small cabin outside of Ridge Trail, Colorado, where he lives off the land (and mostly off the grid). To pay the bills, he works on classic cars, keeping his interactions with others to a minimum.
Still, Hunter can spot trouble from a mile away, and when he encounters Jodi Bentley, he knows she’s trouble of the most tempting kind—even more tempting when she moves into the run-down cabin next door. But when Jodi’s own past comes knocking, Hunter gets drawn out of his own darkness and into hers.
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Former park ranger, Hunter Osborn, left his career and family in the aftermath of a tragic event. He loves the isolation of his land and business affords him. It’s just him and his dog. That is, until Jodi Bentley buys the run down cabin next door. Jodi is running from her past too and the tale that unfolds delivers a slow-burning romance and suspenseful tale.
I loved this tale from the onset. Jodi is all spunk and attitude. Hunter sees the troubled woman beneath her snark. If you’ve read the McKenzies of Ridge Trail, then you know Jodi, but don’t let that stop you if you haven’t. Foster does a great job of giving her back history without spoiling the other series. However, I recommend you add them to your reading pile. They are one of my favorites.
The tale that unfolds was filled with sweet and sexy moments as both Hunter & Jodi let down their guard and let the other in. In between, we deal with trouble as a local criminal was using Jodi’s abandoned property to hide things… things he wants back. The suspense angle was well done and allowed Hunter to meet Jodi’s adoptive family.
We also get to meet Hunter’s brother as we learn what happened to Hunter. I adored Memphis. We get some hints about his story and I look forward to it. Turbo, Hunter’s rescue dog, was a scene stealer and you’ll want to hug him.
Foster writes characters you connect with and form bonds with. I am looking forward to the next Osborn novel and hope we see more of the McKenzies.
Amazon | Audible
Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.
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Original source: https://caffeinatedbookreviewer.com/2023/02/the-dangerous-one-by-lori-foster.html
In The Shut Out, Ron Raye weaves a compelling tale that draws readers in and keeps them hooked until the end. The story follows the lives of Ollivierra and Big D, two characters facing unique struggles. Ollivierra finds herself pregnant with twins, unsure of who the father is, while Big D is grieving the loss of a loved one and struggling to make a name for himself as a writer. This riveting book is set mostly in Japan, where Big D is seeking feedback on his work-in-progress novel set in Nazi Germany. Along the way, he encounters various obstacles and personalities, including his mother-in-law, who seems determined to sabotage his career and life.
Author Raye does an excellent job of creating a sense of tension and danger that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. One of the most interesting aspects of The Shut Out is Raye’s inclusion of a book-writing protagonist. This adds an intriguing layer to the story, as readers are able to compare the content of The Shut Out with the fictional novel that Big D is writing. The book is also unique in its structure, with a back-and-forth timeline between 1930s wartime and present-day Japan. However, despite the book’s many strengths, it can sometimes be difficult to keep up with. With over six hundred pages, the narrative flow can feel overwhelming, especially with the multitude of characters, timelines, and struggles. However, once readers get a feel for the author’s style of writing, this novel becomes an immersive experience.
The Shut Out is a complex, dynamic tale with deep emotional draws. This thrilling book is a combination of drama, crime, and speculative fiction that is sure to fascinate readers. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a compelling read, and I eagerly anticipate the next installment in Raye’s series.
Pages: 686 | ASIN : B0BRJX8VKN
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/16/the-shut-out/
In 1764, a young Jewish girl named Hannah lived in the bustling port city of Charleston, South Carolina. Ruled by the British, Hannah’s town became accustomed to the practices of the West, particularly with regard to slavery. In one auction, Hannah meets Bintu, an African girl notable for her blue eyes. Intrigued by the distinct feature, the Reverend buys the slave, who becomes a helper to his household. Despite strong opposition from their owners, slaves were educated to read and write in a school operated by Harry, a literate slave. Hannah grows interested in assisting the teacher, becoming one herself. This is where she grows closer to Bintu, forming a bond between the two and also leading to dangerous consequences that will test their principles and beliefs about the life each girl knew.
Blue-Eyed Slave, by Marshall Highet and Bird Jones, is an inspiring story of sisterhood in a world where relationships between people of different backgrounds are frowned upon and forbidden. The story opens with an 80-year-old Hannah, who recounts her journey to Rachel, her young granddaughter, who was the same age she was in 1764. Telling the story as a sort of flashback was a nice touch, for it gently introduces the heavy themes of slavery, corruption, and the like. Moreover, it subconsciously reminds its readers that there is a hopeful ending in store, with Hannah living as an octogenarian.
As the story plunges to the past, picturing Charleston is easy due to the articulate description of the setting and the fact that the city itself was able to preserve its rich history even up to this date. The number of characters in the novel is not overwhelming, making sure that readers can get invested in each character, something integral in inspiring stories such as this one. The language is also easy to understand, explaining the scenes in a straightforward manner.
I am fascinated with period pieces for their depiction of how our ancestors lived, and shining a light on their social issues makes Blue-Eyed Slave more appealing to me. Many novels and films have already followed this road, where a historical narrative focused on a real person or group of people. Still, experiences vary, making this unique and all the more interesting. We can only imagine the hardships Hannah, Bintu, and so many more people went through, but to be able to intricately look at their lives even after centuries since their existence is a privilege readers will be able to get when they read this novel.
Blue-Eyed Slave is a historical fiction novel written in a way that teens and young adults will be able to connect to the Revolutionary War period. I would recommend this to anyone interested in knowing more about slavery during this critical time period. This novel is appropriate for middle grades and up. Hannah and Bintu, while young, are able to comprehend the world they live in and the challenges they face head-on without diminishing the reality of things.
Pages: 228 | ASIN : B09Q64WS68
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/16/blue-eyed-slave/
Private investigator James Hurts, who prides himself on not being bested by any other man, is happy when his former partner Tom Taylor decides to work with him again. Tom’s mother, Amanda, and the vampire Mr. Williams are a happy family, except Hurts does not like Mr. Williams much. Together, after dealing with leprechauns who love nothing more than gold and repairing shoes, they embark on the adventure of saving The Chosen One from vampire children who want to increase their power after sacrificing her on her birthday, Halloween. However, it is the start of coming events that involve vampires, leprechauns, and Satan himself. Can they stop Satan from impregnating a child, or is he too powerful for them?
The 13th Hour, Again, by Alan Zacher is a chilling story that combines mystery, suspense, occult fantasy, and an eerie plot. The author’s writing is smooth, and the dark suspense kept me on edge. From the intelligent and headstrong Amanda to the lonely but goodhearted Hurts, the characters are well-written. Zacher provided great detail so that I was able to clearly imagine what was going on. I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Mr. Williams and would have loved for him to have a bigger presence in the book.
Zacher takes readers on a roller coaster ride with the battles and fights. Just when you think there is no hope, something will happen that changes the course of things in the blink of an eye. These characters are survivors and will not go down without a fight.
The 13th Hour, Again, is a gripping fantasy horror novel that young adults and adults interested in mystery and detective genres would find interesting. The writing style, character development, and the air of mystery maintained throughout the book will keep readers hooked.
Pages: 191 | ASIN : B088JNVKBY
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/16/the-13th-hour-again/
Former SAS Sergeant Rick Fernscale is shown in the opening pages of Four Minutes to Zero enjoying a luxurious life and expecting a child with his beautiful wife years after the events of 24 Hours to Doomsday. Unfortunately, his wife is abducted by terrorists, who tell him that he must fulfill a perilous assignment or risk losing her. When he discovers that the terrorists’ main goal is to drastically reduce the world’s population, he is forced to choose between saving the rest of the world and saving his wife. Four Minutes to Zero by Colin M Barron follows Rick in his action-packed, fast-paced race to save his wife and the world from the nefarious machinations of the rich and powerful.
Like Mission: Impossible and the Jason Bourne film series, Four Minutes to Zero keeps its audience on the edge of their seats with its high-risk missions and highly competent and trained protagonist. It was interesting to see Rick attempting to infiltrate a foreign nation with a strong military and surveillance system. Fans of espionage stories will like the scenes in which he attempts to blend in and hopes that the foreign soldiers do not discover his actual identity.
Colin’s tale is certainly complicated and exhaustive since it offers specific information about the firearms and other instruments used in the characters’ attacks. However, I appreciated learning that the Milan, a guided anti-tank missile, was utilized in both the Falklands War and the first Gulf War. Furthermore, the protagonist’s intricate, game-like attack strategies are clearly spelled out for readers, making the missions highly intriguing and exciting.
Four Minutes to Zero is a complete, dexterous combination of heart-pounding action and suspense, complex international missions and attack plans, extremely high stakes involving the most cutting-edge weapons, extremely powerful villains who want to rule the world, and well-developed characters with engrossing backstories. It’s the kind of book that makes you remember why you initially fell in love with action novels.
Pages: 266 | ASIN : B0BQMRNBK8
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/02/16/four-minutes-to-zero/