Media attention to war-torn countries follows a pattern. At first outrage and the pursuit of justice drive a twenty-four-hour cycle of coverage. Journalistic principle promises to keep it going until the war subsides, yet inevitably it recedes long before. Only occasionally do humanitarian tragedies prompt reminders of the ongoing hardship. The body of a three-year-old […]
Original source: https://www.nybooks.com/online/2023/05/09/stories-adrift-the-swimmers/
I was glad to revisit the town of Cemetery, Indiana, in Lori Foster’s newest Indiana Summers standalone contemporary romance. Come along and meet #TheFlowerShopGirl and fall in love along the way.
The Little Flower Shop
by Lori Foster
Series: Indiana Summers Series #2
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating: 
Heat Level: 
How did her love life become a community affair?
Since her divorce, Emily Lucretia—affectionately known as the flower lady to the people of Cemetery, Indiana—has been focused on her flower shop and taking care of her aging aunt and uncle. Her love life is hardly the centerpiece of her busy days.
Saul Culver, the town’s favorite bachelor and owner of the local barbecue joint, has been interested in Emily for a while. But as much as Emily knows about flowers, she can be a little oblivious to her own appeal. Saul is determined to show her just how special she is.
Saul isn’t the only one trying to get Emily out of her shell. Well-meaning locals have started tagging photos of Emily with #theflowerlady on social media—and now the entire town is involved in finding her Mr. Right. Saul won’t give up easily. He’s finally caught her attention, and he’s determined to convince Emily—and the town—that this is the real deal and not just some passing trend.
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With a name like Cemetery you’d expect a dark, morbid town with a giant cemetery… instead you’ll find a sweet lakeside tourist town with plenty of great shops and a touch of whimsy.
Emily Lucretia returned to Cemetery where she opened a flower shop. She loves the shop and being close to the Aunt and Uncle who raised her. The story opens with the wedding of the previous couple where Saul Culver, owner of the local barbecue joint and town’s favorite bachelor, makes his move. Well, truth be told, he has hinted for a while, but Emily has been oblivious. I adored Emily. I am sure you will too.
Saul is an all around good guy and steps up to help Emily when her Uncle takes a spill. Emily’s co-workers and family were wonderful and page time with them made me laugh and tugged at my heartstrings.
The romance had a slow-burn feel to it until Emily began taking charge. The relationship was sweet with a sizzling undercurrent. Both characters show growth and you’ll root for them. The drama was low key and had more unexpected turns and compromises.
We have side threads regarding wards, family, co-workers and, of course, the local mannequin. The story is rounded out with cats, dogs and meddling townsfolk. Foster delivers characters and situations that felt genuine. She’ll have you packing your bags and wanting to move to this small-town with all of its charm.
If you are looking for a feel-good read to curl up with, I highly recommend you take a trip to Cemetery and lose yourself within the pages of The Little Flower Shop. I for one, cannot wait to return.
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/2023/05/the-little-flower-shop-by-lori-foster.html
In Mothers Vol. 1, Ben Burgess Jr. masterfully weaves a poignant, multi-layered urban narrative that delves deep into the heart-wrenching struggles of a single mother, Juanita, raising two boys in a crime-infested neighborhood. Tragedy strikes when Juanita’s son is diagnosed with cancer just two years after the devastating loss of her spouse to a stray bullet. As she grapples with financial woes and the constant worry about her older son’s brushes with the law, Juanita’s job as a senior executive assistant and administrative manager at the prestigious New York law firm, Wayne, Rothstein, and Lincoln, hangs in the balance.
Enthralling and thought-provoking, Mothers Vol. 1 captivates readers with its intricate plot twists, memorable characters, and a potent exploration of the challenges faced by resilient, independent single mothers in today’s world. The workplace antagonist who schemes to oust Juanita in favor of his illicit lover adds a layer of tension and frustration to the story.
Though the novel features some violent episodes and explicit intimate scenes, making it most suitable for mature readers, its emotional core shines through. The narrative switches between the perspectives of Juanita and her son, offering a comprehensive view of their internal struggles. While Jalen spirals into a life of crime, resentful of his mother’s perceived inadequacies, Juanita strives to provide for her children and maintain a semblance of normalcy amidst chaos. The engaging storyline is further enriched by powerful lessons on empathy, bridging racial divides, and embracing tolerance.
This compelling novel is sure to resonate with fans of urban literature and stories that celebrate the fortitude of single mothers. Upon turning the final page, readers will not only gain a newfound admiration for the heroic efforts of single mothers but also develop a deeper understanding of the hardships faced by children raised in crime-ridden communities. Mothers Vol. 1 is an unputdownable, eye-opening literary gem that leaves a lasting impression.
Pages: 499 | ASIN : B0C1MN2NW3
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/09/mothers-vol-1/
Career day is a special day that children look forward to when in school. On this day, they get to meet people and learn about their jobs. It gives them a chance to learn about careers they may never have even thought of. This is what happened to one little girl named Charlie. She is assigned the task of writing a report on a career in sales. What are sales even? What kind of a job is that, and why would anyone want to do it? These are some of the questions Charlie is tasked with answering.
I Want to Be in Sales When I Grow Up! by John Barrows is an educational children’s book that looks into the career path of sales. While this sounds underwhelming at first, the author does a fantastic job teaching children how important this job is. How the things in our home are acquired through sales, and someone has to be in charge of getting it from the manufacturer to the user. This is an important job and not as easy as it sounds. Charlie plans to sell cookies to learn about sales; on her first try at selling them, she learns some valuable lessons about pitching her product, knowing who her customers are, and knowing what her customers need or want. She also learns a valuable lesson about empathy, compassion, and kindness and how these qualities make an excellent salesperson.
When children think about what jobs they want to have when they grow up, they need to be exposed to all kinds of work, not just the ones that sound exciting and prestigious. But unfortunately, sales representatives often get a bad reputation in the media, and this picture book, I Want to Be in Sales When I Grow Up!, shares the beautiful experience that a sales career can bring people. So for any family that makes their living off a career in sales, this is a magnificent children’s book to help kids get excited about sales and see just how important this job is to everyone.
Pages: 38 | ISBN: 1643072382
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/09/i-want-to-be-in-sales-when-i-grow-up/
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead follows a divorced widow who questions if her ex-husband is actually dead and becomes the prime murder suspect. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Having read more than my fair share of crime novels and murder mysteries, I know it usually is the spouse who is the prime suspect. Using that idea, I morphed it into a story where the spouse appears to be an unlikely suspect, yet appearances are not always what they seem. I then introduced a few other characters to add to the mystery and keep the reader guessing just “Who done it?”
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
I feel most comfortable writing what I know, so I tend to take things I’ve experienced and embellish them to fit into the story. Such was the case with the incident of Kate’s mother’s ashes getting lost in Ireland. My friend and I also lost someone’s ashes we promised to spread in Ireland. Fortunately, it wasn’t our own mother’s remains!!
As for the characters themselves, all are based on people I’ve met or that have been part of my life. I pick out certain nuances, enhance them and add to them into the story.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I’m not sure there were any themes I consciously tried to develop. It was more a case of writing a story that would appear to be headed one way, turn around the other way and then end up in a place one might not expect.
Where do you see your characters after the book ends?
I see my characters reappearing in a third book. I hope to use their past trials and tribulations as background for a new successful mystery.
Author Links: GoodReads
Kate O’Brien’s ex-husband Harry Johnson died while she was in Ireland spreading her mother’s ashes. No one—not even Harry’s lifelong friend Bishop George—will give her details of his death and burial. Why all the secrecy? When a series of Harry sightings occurs, Kate begins to believe Harry isn’t really dead.
What happened to Harry? Could Kate’s newfound friend Ettie have a role in this mystery? Is she somehow connected to Harry? As Kate struggles to find answers, the police confirm Harry’s death and she becomes the number one suspect in his murder.
In Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead, Eleanor Kelley weaves a tale of intrigue where first appearances deceive many as the truth has been carefully hidden.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/09/i-like-to-keep-readers-guessing/
Baby, MD: Neurology in the Park makes science fun for infants, toddlers and young children. It describes Joe’s great day at the park and playground with his aunt. He plays exciting games, while readers learn about the brain and so much more. Neurologist, Julia Grant uses popular preschool activities to explain basic brain functions. She also highlights early childhood concepts. Vivid illustrations engage readers who may prefer vehicles or animals, flowers or towers. With Baby, MD: Neurology in the Park, families can enjoy entertaining and educational storytimes from infancy to early childhood.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/09/baby-md-neurology-in-the-park/
Inspirations: My Vivid Imagination Has Been Transformed into Reality seems like a very personal story for you.
How much research did you undertake for this book, and how much time did it take to put it all together?
I conducted extensive research for this book. I had to make sure all the information I was going to share with my readers in the book was accurate and precise. The book really took me several months before all chapters could be classified accordingly. Identifying which types of quotes I had to include in a specific chapter was very challenging. I was so fortunate to find incredible assistance from my dad, Audieu Francois, my sister, Jessica Rebecca, and my wonderful friends, Thomas Duguaran and Jordany Jean.
What is one thing about achieving life balance that you think is misrepresented in other self-help books?
There are many authors who guaranteed their readers they could teach them how to become financially stable by applying the financial information they have shared with them in their books. Unfortunately, they had never helped those readers know how they could acquire strong financial literacy and achieve financial success.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
One piece of advice someone gave me that changed my life was to be grateful. I believe those who embrace gratefulness will always be excelling in life. There is hope for those who remain grateful in this world. Ungrateful people never go higher because no one would like to give a helping hand to individuals who have forgotten the people who were there for them during their hard times.
Author Links: GoodReads
A collection of quotes that offer valuable lessons Francois has learned from his experiences in America, Inspirations is arranged by topic. From “Sticking to Your Principles” to “Flexibility and Change Are Necessary for Growth,” his goal is to see all people around the world live as happy and productive individuals.
Francois has provided a great deal of stirring, useful information designed to enable to everyone to make better lives for themselves and to better position themselves for success in today’s society. His ultimate goal is to help people gain knowledge, achieve their goals, resolve their problems, and enable their success in today’s fast-paced world.
Inspirations: My Vivid Imagination Has Been Transformed into Reality fulfills Francois’s vision of enabling everyone to make their future success a reality.
Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2023/05/09/remain-grateful/