★ Book Review ★ LIFE AFTER COFFEE by Virginia Franken + Guest Post!

LIFE AFTER COFFEE

by Virginia Franken

Publication Date: September 13, 2016

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Paperback: 267 pages

Synopsis:

Last week, high-powered coffee buyer Amy O’Hara was trekking through the Ethiopian cloud forest on the verge of a discovery that could save the coffee bean from extinction. This week, she’s unexpectedly fired.

Suddenly Amy’s days are no longer filled with meetings and upscale tastings, but with put-together PTA moms, puke-ridden playdates, and dirty dishes. Her husband has locked himself in the garage in order to write the Great American Screenplay, while both kids are steaming mad at her because she insists on dressing them like normal people and won’t give up sending them to school with healthy lunches.

It’s becoming clear that Amy may just be the world’s most incompetent mother, and she’s beginning to wonder if the only thing she’s good for is bringing home the bacon. When salvation appears in the form of a movie-mogul ex-boyfriend who wants to employ her husband and rekindle their relationship, Amy starts to find she’s sorely tempted…

One thing is certain: whatever happens, she’s going to need a lot more caffeine.

Praise:

“I laughed, I cried, I wanted to shake Amy and then I wanted to hug her. So clever, so witty and so real. What a debut!” —Georgina Dent, Goodreads Reviewer

Life After Coffee!

Amy is the primary bread winner as a coffee buyer who spends weeks, and sometimes months, away from her husband and two children, ages three and five. 

She has never really taken care of her children, and even though she loves them, she really doesn't know them; her marriage is also a little strained.

Then Amy loses her job and there are very little positions like hers around. Her husband Peter decides to rekindle his career as a screenplay writer. He is a talented writer but difficult to work with. He asks Amy to get in touch with her ex-boyfriend who runs a successful production company and he signs Peter on.

At the same time Amy has to learn how to be a full-time mother! She has no clue how to handle her children and makes many faux pas. This is a bit comical, that she has no maternal instincts.

So now Amy is playing house, Peter is working, and Amy has her ex-boyfriend chasing after her—all while she is also trying to find another job.

There are a great many things going on is this book and it's entertaining! In the end, does Amy work out her life? Is she able to maintain her family? You'll just have to read this book to find out if she does it!

I was given this book by the author for review. I would read another book by her.

*BUY LINKS*

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Casting Call for Life After Coffee! 

by Virginia Franken

If any author ever tells you they’ve never imagined their book becoming a film, you’d better jump quickly to the side before their rapidly growing nose pokes yer eye out. Very few authors ever get their novel made into a movie but still, they can’t stop us from dreaming? Right!

So just in case Hollywood comes a-calling, I thought I’d better get my dream cast all lined up in advance.

Let’s start with our heroine, Amy. The breadwinning, gritty mom who loves her job almost as much as she loves her kids - but who’s been known to make one or two low-percentage choices. Reece Witherspoon’s done a few films recently playing heroines who are messy and flawed, yet brave. I’m thinking “Strayed.” She’s also very well-suited to playing women made of strong, strong stuff – think, “Walk the Line.” But of course our beloved Reece also has the comedy chops to pull off Amy’s goofy, sassy style with complete grace. We will never forget her as Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde.” Plus, we all love Reece!

Next up, Amy’s husband, Peter, the struggling screenwriter/stay-at-home Dad who’s happy to don The Apron and fry up the bacon that Amy just bought home. We need someone smart, gorgeous, kind-hearted with a bit of an edge. A complex dude who’s up for a bit of a brooding and who also looks great with a big ole’ beard. I present to you Jay Duplass of “Transparent.”

And how about Jasmine? Amy’s beautiful, but judgmental and slightly terrifying nemesis. It’s got to be Lake Bell. I’m sure she’s a sweetie pie in real life, but this one looks like she’d be very comfortable wearing The Meany Pants when needed. Plus, did you ever see her telling off Alec Baldwin in “It’s Complicated?” Girl can throw it down.

For Matt Colburn, Amy’s super-successful ex, let’s line up Jesse Spencer. Matt’s a bit delicious, totally arrogant, super charismatic. The kind of guy who could easily lead a devoted wife-and-mother astray... I think Jesse would nail it. He’s already melted our hearts in “Chicago Fire” and “House,” but I think we’re all more than ready to see Jesse on the big screen.

And of course, this casting list wouldn’t be complete without a Gen-X style shout out to Jay and Silent Bob. Jay Jones and Bob McLeod interview Amy for a new job (spoiler alert: forces beyond her control mean that the interview falls apart in the worst way possible). Jay Jones is tall and blond and Bob’s a little “on the dumpy side,” but even so these two clueless dudes have no idea what she’s talking about when she brings up their doppelgangers Jay and Silent Bob.

About the Author

Virginia Franken was born and raised in the United Kingdom. She graduated from the University of Roehampton in London with a degree in dance, and worked on cruise liners as a professional dancer before changing tracks to pursue a career in publishing.

Franken currently lives in suburban Los Angeles with two kids, a dog, an overweight goldfish, and one bearded dude, in a house that’s just a little too small to fit everyone in comfortably. She gets most of her writing done when she should be sleeping.

This is her first novel.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

THE THINGS WE WISH WERE TRUE by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen ★ Book Review ★

THE THINGS WE WISH WERE TRUE

by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

Publication Date: September 1, 2016

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Paperback: 288 pages

Synopsis:

In an idyllic small-town neighborhood, a near tragedy triggers a series of dark revelations.

From the outside, Sycamore Glen, North Carolina, might look like the perfect all-American neighborhood. But behind the white picket fences lies a web of secrets that reach from house to house.

Up and down the streets, neighbors quietly bear the weight of their own pasts—until an accident at the community pool upsets the delicate equilibrium. And when tragic circumstances compel a woman to return to Sycamore Glen after years of self-imposed banishment, the tangle of the neighbors’ intertwined lives begins to unravel.

During the course of a sweltering summer, long-buried secrets are revealed, and the neighbors learn that it’s impossible to really know those closest to us. But is it impossible to love and forgive them?


Praise:

“With skill and compassion, Marybeth Whalen digs beneath the surface of a quiet suburban neighborhood to reveal its darker secret side. Full of unexpected twists and sympathetic, relatable characters, The Things We Wish Were True is both surprising and heartwarming and it’s sure to have you examining your own peaceful neighborhood with new eyes.” —Diane Chamberlain, USA Today bestselling author of Pretending to Dance

*Cove Member Nicole Reviews*

The Things We Wish Were True!

When you take a little bit of Desperate Housewives and mix it with a little bit of Peyton Place you get a great mix of characters and some great twists and turns. The Things We Wish Were True does exactly that same thing!

This book centers around a small community and slowly unravels the stories of each family in beautiful layers that makes you keep turning the page to find out what could possibly be revealed next.

I loved the alternating narratives that this book had and how quickly it changed from each perspective. We didn't have 20 pages of backstory for each character but rather the layers of their story were laid out for the reader quickly and that kept my interest the entire way through the book!

What I also enjoyed about this book was the diversity of the narrators. We had the female and male perspective but also the perspective of a teenage girl, which was a nice change.

I enjoyed this book greatly, and the way the author told the story. I thought it was refreshing, fast moving and completely engaging! I will absolutely read another book by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen in the future. Very well done!

*BUY LINKS*

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About the Author

Marybeth Mayhew Whalen is the author of five previous novels and speaks to women’s groups around the United States. She is the cofounder of the popular women’s fiction site She Reads and is active in a local writers’ group.

Marybeth and her husband, Curt, have been married for twenty-four years and are the parents of six children, ranging from young adult to elementary age. The family lives in North Carolina.

Marybeth spends most of her time in the grocery store but occasionally escapes long enough to scribble some words. She is always at work on her next novel.

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★ Book Review ★ Sacred America, Sacred World by Stephen Dinan!

About Sacred America, Sacred World:

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Hampton Roads Publishing
• Publication Date: July 5, 2016

Synopsis:

Infused with visionary power, Sacred America, Sacred World is a manifesto for our country’s evolution that is both political and deeply spiritual. It offers profound hope that America can grow beyond our current challenges and manifest our noblest destiny, which the book shows is rooted in sacred principles that transcend left or right political views.

Filled with practical ideas and innovative strategies honed from the author’s work with over 1000 luminaries via his company, The Shift Network, Sacred America, Sacred World rings with a can-do entrepreneurial spirit and explains how America can lead the world toward peace, sustainability, health, and prosperity. This vision of the future weaves the best of today’s emergent spirituality with seasoned political wisdom, demonstrating ways America can grow beyond its current stagnation and political gridlock to become a world leader in peace and progress.

Published to coincide with the party conventions and presidential debates, this book will promote a return to the sacred principles cherished by America's forefathers in order to create a “transpartisan,” non-ideological, pragmatic approach to social reform. This uplifting discussion explores evolutions in political leadership, environmental concerns, and economic reformation.

It is time to forge a bold new image of America’s future. Here is a road map for getting there.

Praise:

“If, as the Bible says, ‘where there is no vision, the people perish,’ then this book is our survival manual. It provides exactly the vision we, the people, have been searching for.” ―Mark Gerzon, author of Leading Through Conflict and The Reunited States of America

Cove Member Cheryl Reviews—

Sacred America, Sacred World by Stephen Dinan

This book is a very powerful and unique read. Based on how if we as individuals open our minds and become a more spiritual nation, we could save America and maybe even the world. 

Dinan speaks of the many accomplishments of America as a whole, from our very beginnings of separating our nation from Great Britain, to the equality of African Americans and women from the 1960s until present day.

He speaks about becoming a better nation by being more of an American family as a whole instead of just being individuals chasing those materialistic dreams we may have. It is a much needed and enlightening book in a time where our political world is in such shambles. He calls this new ideal an American Evolution as opposed to the American Revolution. Pointing the way to becoming a great nation again and hopefully changing the world as well.

This book is a must read for anyone who is upset about America's political turmoil. It's very thought provoking and it personally made me feel a little better about how the world may co-exist in a more peaceful way. I myself do not watch a lot of news, political or otherwise; however, I do keep an eye on what is going on in the world and America. I just chose not to be overloaded with it all. His thoughts range from economy to being a greener world and being a leader in this evolution; and, to me, possibly a new and shiny star in the world.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I hope others will look for it as well.

Buy Links:

Amazon | B&N

About the Author:

Stephen Dinan is the CEO of The Shift Network and a member of the prestigious Transformational Leadership Council and the Evolutionary Leaders group.

As the former Director of Membership and Marketing at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, he was the driving force behind the Shift in Action program. He also directed and helped to create the Esalen Institute’s Center for Theory & Research, a think tank for leading scholars, researchers, and teachers to explore human potential frontiers. Visit: http://www.sacredamerica.net

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REMEMBER MY BEAUTIES by Lynne Hugo ★ Book Review ★

REMEMBER MY BEAUTIES

by Lynne Hugo

Publication Date: April 18, 2016

Publisher: Switchgrass Books

Paperback: 194 pages

Synopsis:

Imagine a hawk’s view of the magnificent bluegrass pastures of Kentucky horse country. Circle around the remnants of a breeding farm, four beautiful horses grazing just beyond the paddock. Inside the ramshackle house, a family is falling apart.

Hack, the patriarch breeder and trainer, is aged and blind, and his wife, Louetta, is confined by rheumatoid arthritis. Their daughter, Jewel, struggles to care for them and the horses while dealing with her own home and job—not to mention her lackluster second husband, Eddie, and Carley, her drug-addicted daughter. Many days, Jewel is only sure she loves the horses. But she holds it all together. Until her brother, Cal, shows up again. Jewel already has reason to hate Cal, and when he meets up with Carley, he throws the family into crisis—and gives Jewel reason to pick up a gun.

Every family has heartbreaks, failures, a black sheep or two. And some families end in tatters. But some stumble on the secret of survival: if the leader breaks down, others step up and step in. In this lyrical novel, when the inept, the addict, and the ex-con join to weave the family story back together, either the barn will burn to the ground or something bigger than any of them will emerge, shining with hope. Remember My Beauties grows large and wide as it reveals what may save us.

Praise:
"Lynne Hugo’s writing is beautiful and evocative, earthy and strong. The characters, the setting, and the way she handles tough issues with honesty, grit, and understanding all make for a wonderful read." —Laura Harrington, author of Alice Bliss

*Cove Member Cheryl Reviews*

REMEMBER MY BEAUTIES!

I received REMEMBER MY BEAUTIES for review. I was expecting a good sized horse-centered novel with family drama, but what I got was a lot of extremely dysfunctional family drama with a very understated inclusion of horses.

Jewel is the second born child to her parents, Hack and Louetta, who live on a once decent breeding farm in the heart of prime Kentucky horse country. Both of Jewel’s parents are disabled and can no longer take care of themselves let alone the four remaining horses they own.

So, Jewel works full-time while taking care of her own family, which includes her drug-addict daughter, her second husband with a daughter who has issues of her own and is about to get custody of his 12-year-old son as well; and then Jewel also runs to her parents’ farm twice a day to take care of them and their horses.

One day Jewel’s mother tells her that her drug-addict/alcoholic brother, Cal, is coming to live with them. Jewel wants nothing to do with him—for what we learn is very good reason. She also has a younger sister who is also like him and doesn’t help out.

With her brother back in the picture, Jewel decides she can no longer continue helping her parents, particularly once she finds her brother continuing his old ways and compromising the well being of Jewel’s own troubled daughter. The only thing Jewel can concentrate on is getting her daughter into rehab and cleaned up. However, she does truly miss the horses, a love she shares with her father.

The story goes on for a few months with Jewel staying away from her parents’ home while many things go on behind her back, involving her husband, daughter and brother. However, when tragedy strikes, the deeply rooted family dysfunction suddenly gets better, which some may find feels a bit hollow and forced.

While I did sense a love and passion for horses at times (one briefly shares his POV in the story), and enjoyed the lyrical prose, some readers may find the narrative very contrived. The painful, dysfunctional themes of sexual abuse and drug addiction in Jewel’s family can feel shallow, needing to be explored in greater dimension than is likely possible in under 200 pages.

I would recommend this story to readers who enjoy reading about extreme and disturbing family dysfunction. Unfortunately, passionate horse-lovers may well be disappointed.

*BUY LINKS*

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About the Author

Lynne is a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship recipient who has also received grants from the Ohio Arts Council and the Kentucky Foundation for Women.

Her memoir, Where The Trail Grows Faint, won the Riverteeth Literary Nonfiction Book Prize and her novel, A Matter of Mercy, received the 2015 Independent Publishers Silver Medal for Best North-East Fiction. She has published seven novels, one of which became a Lifetime Original Movie of the Month. Through the Ohio Arts Council’s renowned Arts in Education program, Lynne has taught creative writing to hundreds of schoolchildren.

Born and educated in New England, Lynne and her husband live in Ohio with a yellow Lab feared by squirrels in a three state area.

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SAVING ABBY by Steena Holmes ★ Book Review ★

SAVING ABBEY

by Steena Holmes

Publication Date: May 31, 2016

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Paperback: 272 pages

Synopsis:

All children’s book illustrator Claire Turner ever wanted was to be a mother. After six years of trying to conceive, she and her husband, Josh, have finally accepted that she will never be pregnant with a child of their own.

Yet once they give up hope, the couple gets the miracle they’ve been waiting for. For the first few months of her pregnancy, Claire and Josh are living on cloud nine. But when she begins to experience debilitating headaches, blurred vision, and even fainting spells, the soon-to-be mother goes to the doctor and receives a terrifying diagnosis. Since any treatment could put their unborn baby’s life at risk, the Turners must carefully weigh their limited options. And as her symptoms worsen, Claire will have to make an impossible decision: Save her own life, or save her child’s?

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Steena Holmes brings us an unforgettable story of one woman’s courage and love.

Praise:
"What a wonderful read! The characters are so lovable and the plot with its twist and turns keeps you guessing." —Joyful, Amazon Reviewer

*Cove Member Nicole Reviews*

SAVING ABBY!

Claire and Josh have an incredible marriage, a joint career writing and illustrating children's books and a passion for travel that unfolds throughout the book. 

The one thing they are missing, that they believe would make their lives complete, is a baby. 

Many months and frustrating cycles later they are rewarded with a pregnancy that starts off rocky and creates some health questions for Claire that unfold and test all of the relationships in the book. 

To protect her unborn baby, Claire is forced to make some very trying decisions that will affect their lives from there on out. 

I thought Ms. Holmes writing was fantastic, but the story was a little slow going in the beginning. As we learn about Claire's medical issues and the discussions around how to proceed for the sake of all involved, it picks up. 

The ending was not a surprise at all but the story is told well and wraps up with a warm feeling, even though you might not like how it ends. 

I can recommend this novel and I'll definitely be looking for more from this author in the future!

*BUY LINKS*

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About the Author

After writing her first novel while working as a receptionist, Steena Holmes made her dream of being a full-time writer a reality. She won the National Indie Excellence Book Award in 2012 for her bestselling novel Finding Emma.

Now both a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Steena continues to write stories that touch every parent’s heart in one way or another.

To find out more about her books and her love for traveling, you can visit her website at www.steenaholmes.com or follow her journeys over on Instagram @steenaholmes.

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OUT RIDER by Lindsay McKenna! ★ Book Review ★

OUT RIDER

(Jackson Hole, #11)

by Lindsay McKenna

Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages

Release Date: April 26, 2016

Publisher: HQN Books

Synopsis:

With her return to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, New York Times bestselling author Lindsay McKenna shows how love can find a way out of the darkness…

A fresh start—that's all Devorah McGuire wants. As a former Marine and current Ranger with the US Forest Service, she's grown accustomed to keeping others safe. But when the unthinkable happens, she can only hope that a transfer to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, will allow her to put the past behind her for good.

Dev's mentor at Grand Tetons National Park is fellow canine handler and horseman Sloan Rankin. He shows Dev the spectacular trails, never knowing the terror that stalks her every move. Despite her lingering fear, Dev feels an attraction for Sloan as wild as their surroundings.

With Sloan, Dev can envision a new life—a real home. Unless a vengeful man fresh out of prison succeeds in finishing what he started…

Praise:

"Bringing two military veterans together, this compassionate love story explores the path to healing. Set in the Wyoming wilderness, the Forest Service is the perfect refuge for these wounded souls. Danger still follows the heroine, but she has found a partner who will add his strength to her considerable perseverance." —RT Book Reviews on Out Rider

Cove Member Miriam Reviews—

OUT RIDER by Lindsay McKenna!

On her way to her new job as a Ranger at Grand Tetons National Park, Devorah McGuire gets a flat tire. 

It is then that she meets Sloan Rankin, who stops to assist her on the road. Coincidentally, Sloan is also a Ranger and a farrier, and will happen to be her mentor at the Tetons while she becomes familiar with the area. 

As they get to know each other, a relationship that started merely as a physical attraction actually develops into a nice friendship. However, although they both like each other, they are wary for different reasons. Sloan comes from a bad marriage that ended in a bitter divorce, making him distrustful of women. On the other hand, Dev has just gotten away from a terrifying experience with a stalker at her previous job, which ended not only in a physical assault, but in her actual moving to the Grand Tetons. 

Things get complicated when Devorah starts sensing she is being observed although she has no proof of it. 

As they investigate, they find out that her stalker has missed his appointment with his probation officer and is on the loose. Will Sloan’s willingness to protect her be enough to keep her safe? How will they prevent the stalker from getting his revenge after losing his job and going to jail because of her reporting the assault? 

The plot of the book has great potential, but the romance itself does not develop as naturally as the reader would expect. In my opinion, the relationship between Dev and Sloan is developed merely on clichés that somewhat disrupt the credibility of it. 

There are many instances in which the characters’ thoughts tend to be unbelievable, not what a normal person would be thinking. Just to mention one example, right after their first encounter, Sloan is already thinking he would like Dev to be the mother of his children. This is completely contradictory since he had been portrayed as a distrustful man, and to be honest, not even trustful men in their right minds would have these thoughts after such a first casual encounter with a stranger. 

It is nice that the author wants to fulfill every reader’s dream of love at first sight; but in her eagerness to accomplish this, her characters lost realism. 

Having said that, still, if you are a fan of Western Romances, and you are willing to compromise a little on the authenticity of the characters’ development, and the natural flow of a growing relationship, you will enjoy this novel. 

The setting described is magnificent, with the Grand Tetons as the breathtaking background to a suspenseful and romantic story. After all, who wouldn’t enjoy living a love story surrounded by some of the most beautiful displays of natural wonders in America?

*BUY LINKS*

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About the Author:

A U.S. Navy veteran, Lindsay McKenna was a meteorologist while serving her country. She pioneered the military romance in 1993 with Captive of Fate, Silhouette Special edition. Her heart and focus is on honoring and showing our military men and women.

Creator of the Wyoming Series and Shadow Warriors series for HQN, she writes emotionally and romantically intense suspense stories.

Visit her online at: www.LindsayMcKenna.com | Facebook | Twitter

ONCE UPON A LIE by Michael French! ★ Book Review ★

About the Book:

ONCE UPON A LIE 
by Michael French

• Paperback: 388 pages
• Publisher: Terra Nova Books
• Publication Date: March 15, 2016

Synopsis:

Once Upon A Lie is about two strangers who become unlikely friends, only to unintentionally put each other’s life in jeopardy.

Jaleel Robeson, a gifted, eighteen year-old black man, falsely accused of murdering his father in a small Texas town, is on the run. He assumes a new identity in 1980s Los Angeles as a successful student on his way to college.

Alexandra Baten, a restless sixteen year old white girl, lives in a privileged Toluca Lake family but feels trapped by her parents’ values. One weekend, she rides her bike into a run down neighborhood, meeting a young black man selling lemonade. Thus begins a friendship between opposites, at least on the surface, but they learn they have more in common than they imagine.

Told from each character’s point of view in alternating chapters, we become involved in a gripping tale of two Americas, where discontent and violence always lurk under the surface. When they erupt, no one is safe.

Once Upon A Lie is both a family drama and a crime drama, as well as an exploration of interracial love, mother-daughter relationships, and redemption through courage.

Praise:

"A well-observed portrait of two lives' trajectories. French shows a skillful hand with characters’ voices and dialogue, effectively capturing very different perspectives in both third person and first. The scenes of tension and suspense work well."—Kirkus Reviews

Cove Member Nicole Reviews—

ONCE UPON A LIE!

Engrossing, shocking and riveting. These are the key elements of a book that keep you turning the pages of a book at lightening speed and these are the qualities that I look for in a GOOD book. Once Upon A Lie had all of that and more!! 

I fell in love with Jaleel from the get go. My heart broke for him and I was his cheerleader from the very beginning. Alex was a compelling character that I saw many good qualities in. Their chance meeting one afternoon on the side of the road and the way their relationship grew had me engaged and interested the whole book through.

The twists and turns of this story had me shocked and frustrated at times and also left me feeling proud for the characters with some of the decisions they made. They really came alive for me through the author's writing.

This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last. The fast paced story mixed with compelling dialogue was what I look for in a good book! I'm anxious to try my hand at other French books. I hope they are all as good as Once Upon A Lie!

BUY LINKS:

Amazon | B&N | Books-A-Million

Connect with the Characters!

Alex: Facebook | Twitter

Jaleel: Facebook | Twitter

About the Author

Michael R. French graduated from Stanford University where he was an English major, focusing on creative writing, and studied under Wallace Stegner. He received a Master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. He later served in the United States Army before marrying Patricia Goodkind, an educator and entrepreneur, and starting a family.

In addition to publishing over twenty titles, including award-winning young adult fiction, adult fiction, biographies ad self-help books, he has written or co-written a half-dozen screenplays, including Intersection, which has won awards in over twenty film festivals. He has also had a long business career in real estate, living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His passions include travel, collecting rare books, and hanging with friends and family. He describes his worst traits as impatience and saying “no” too quickly; his best are curiosity, taking risks, and learning from failure.

Connect with Michael:

Official Website | Facebook | Twitter

★ Book Review ★ GLORY OVER EVERYTHING: Beyond the Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom!

About Glory over Everything:

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication Date: April 5, 2016

Synopsis:

The author of the New York Times bestseller and beloved book club favorite The Kitchen House continues the story of Jamie Pyke, son of both a slave and master of Tall Oakes, whose deadly secret compels him to take a treacherous journey through the Underground Railroad.

Praise:

"Grissom’s lyrical storytelling is rich with period details, and the novel can be read as either a memorable standalone or a captivating sequel to The Kitchen House."— Publishers Weekly

Cove Review of—

GLORY OVER EVERYTHING by Kathleen Grissom

Kathleen Grissom's sophomore novel, a spin off of her debut, THE KITCHEN HOUSE, opens with silversmith Jamie Pyke in 1830s Philadelphia. 

Now "passing" and living as a white man named James Burton, the first half of GLORY OVER EVERYTHING is dedicated to Jamie's travails following his near-deadly fleeing of the South at just thirteen years old. 

We also meet and follow a host of new characters, including Jamie's love interest, Caroline—a woman who fills his adult life with complication; the Burtons—a loving couple who gives Jamie much more than just a new name; and Henry and Pan—a father/son duo that puts Jamie's deepest loyalties to the test. 

The story also features the sad life and times of Sukey, a slave sold from Jamie's intricate past in the previous novel, who happens to be in the right place at the right time to enable a dramatic and tricky reunion in this one. 

While the idea of following Jamie as he "passes" is a marvelous one, some readers may find the intrigue somewhat diluted by an ill-timed flashback. Once the narrative stops and flashes back to thirteen-year-old Jamie and his elevation in Philadelphia society, the reader already has so much information about his future that tension and conflict are essentially neutralized. As a result, the first half of the story may feel somewhat tedious and poorly paced where it could've been engaging and suspenseful if the reader knew far less about how things turn out for Jamie by 1830. The plot also relies quite heavily on coincidence to heighten its tension, which delicately undermines the plausibility of things to come. 

Despite these observations, fans of THE KITCHEN HOUSE should definitely experience GLORY OVER EVERYTHING for its wonderfully researched historical ambiance, the notable insight to the grossly inhuman slave trade, the ravages of plantation life, the courage of the Underground Railroad and the sheer endurance of the human spirit!

Buy Links:

Amazon | B&N

About the Author:

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Kathleen Grissom is now happily rooted in south-side Virginia, where she and her husband live in the plantation tavern they renovated. In addition to The Kitchen House, she is also the author of Glory over Everything.

Official Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

★ Book Review ★ MY SWEET VIDALIA by Deborah Mantella!

About the Book:

MY SWEET VIDALIA

by Deborah Mantella

• Paperback: 272 pages

• Publisher: Turner

• Publication Date: October 6, 2015

Synopsis:

On July 4, 1955, in rural Georgia, an act of violence threatens the life of Vidalia Lee Kandal Jackson’s pre-born daughter. Despite the direst of circumstances, the spirit of the lost child refuses to leave her ill-equipped young mother’s side.

For as long as she is needed–through troubled pregnancies, through poverty, through spousal abuse and agonizing betrayals–Cieli Mae, the determined spirit child, narrates their journey. Serving as a safe place and sounding board for Vidalia’s innermost thoughts and confusions, lending a strength to her momma’s emerging voice, Cieli Mae provides her own special brand of comfort and encouragement, all the while honoring the restrictions imposed by her otherworldly status.

My Sweet Vidalia is a rare, wonderful, and complex look at hope, strength, the unparalleled power of unconditional love, and a young mother’s refusal to give up.

Praise:

“My Sweet Vidalia is a unique, enchanting read. Exquisite language, a cast of robust characters, and a solid and compelling plot keeps readers captivated as Mantella straddles the thin line between poetry and prose, reality and ether, fragility and strength. With a deft and gentle hand, she navigates us through the travails of an impoverished young mother guided by her intrepid spirit child.”– Susan Crawford,  Author of The Pocket Wife

Cove Member Cheryl Reviews—
MY SWEET VIDALIA!

This book was interesting taking place in the late 50s, early 60s in the Deep South. A woman, Vidalia, has a shotgun wedding to JB and her life becomes a mess. JB doesn't want children and he's very abusive. After he beat her, she has a still born child, a baby girl. Vidalia continues to become pregnant and loses her children because of JB's abuse, but eventually she does have two sets of twins, both boys. 

She still has to tolerate JB's drinking problems, his inability to hold a job and his abuse. What makes this story different is it's told by her first still born baby girl, who is with Vidalia in spirit form. 

There are a few turns in the book, which were not foreseen. The book is told through the Old South dialect; it makes the story more folksy and original.  

In the end, the book has a hopeful ending for Vidalia, and her still born daughter eventually goes forward to her rightful place in heaven.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon | B&N | Books-A-Million

About the Author:

A transplant to the South, Deborah Mantella has lived and taught in various cities in the Northeast and the Midwest. Now a resident of Georgia she lives outside Atlanta with her husband. Mantella is a member of the Atlanta Writers Club, the Authors Guild, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. This is her first novel.

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★ Book Review ★ LIFE AND OTHER NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES by Camille Pagán!

About the Book:

• Paperback: 242 pages

• Publisher: Lake Union Publishing 

• Publication Date: November 1, 2015

Synopsis:

Libby Miller has always been an unwavering optimist—but when her husband drops a bomb on their marriage the same day a doctor delivers devastating news, she realizes her rose-colored glasses have actually been blinding her.

With nothing left to lose, she abandons her life in Chicago for the clear waters and bright beaches of the Caribbean for what might be her last hurrah. Despite her new sunny locale, her plans go awry when she finds that she can’t quite outrun the past or bring herself to face an unknowable future. Every day of tropical bliss may be an invitation to disaster, but with her twin brother on her trail and a new relationship on the horizon, Libby is determined to forget about fate. Will she risk it all to live—and love—a little longer?

From critically acclaimed author Camille Pagán comes a hilarious and hopeful story about a woman choosing between a “perfect” life and actually living.

Praise:

“Camille Pagan's Life and Other Near-Death Experiences is anything but formulaic: it's unceasingly delightful, and Libby Miller is a sensitive, super-smart Everywoman hero you'll come to adore.” —Bustle

Cove Member Roberta Reviews—

LIFE AND OTHER NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES!

No one wants to get bad news from their doctor. 

Libby gets the very worst news: a diagnosis of a rare form of cancer. Libby is an intelligent, thirty-something woman, but she does not want to go through the same struggles as her late mother when the prognosis seems so bleak.

When she gets home she tries to break the news gently to her husband, but he drops his own life-altering bombshell on her. She and her husband Tom were high school sweethearts and she thought they were true soulmates, but her marriage seems to have been different from what she always thought it was. 

Libby is totally stunned by all this horrible news, but truly leaves it all behind as she quits the job she has come to hate, sells enough things to finance her escape, and flies off to Puerto Rico. 

On a small plane that takes her to her final destination, she almost dies in a clash, but the pilot, Shiloh, saves the day. While he is waiting for his plane to be repaired, he visits Libby. After Libby shares the news with them that she has not even told her twin brother, Shiloh and her landlady, Milagros, help her to see that there may still be hope for her.

The vivid descriptions of the tropics make me yearn to visit such a place of beauty and relaxation. 

Author Camille Pagan has written a novel that has both heart wrenching emotions and humor. 

The storyline flows smoothly and is well paced. There is an excellent blend of dialog and narrative. The book is also very thought provoking. 

We all know we will die someday, but what would you do if you were still in the prime of your life? 

The author has a background in journalism which helps her shine as an excellent wordsmith. I will be looking forward to more of her novels in the future.

Purchase Links:

Amazon | B&N

On Goodreads

About Camille Pagán: 

Camille Pagán's work has appeared in Fast Company, Forbes, Men's Health, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parade, Real Simple, and many others. 

When she's not at her computer, you'll find her with her nose in a book, running after her two kids and their nutty dog, or planning her next trip (most likely to Puerto Rico, where her husband was born and raised). 

A graduate of the University of Michigan, Pagán lives in Ann Arbor. 

Visit her at www.camillepagan.com.

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★ Book Review ★ THE RAVEN ROOM by Ana Madeiros!

About The Raven Room

• Paperback: 250 pages 

• Publisher: Diversion Publishing (November 3, 2015)

Synopsis:

A searing erotic thriller perfect for those tantalized by A.R. Torre's Deanna Madden series... 

Anything you can imagine. Everything you crave. For the members of The Raven Room, it’s every fantasy fulfilled. But for some, that desire is a matter of life and death. 

Drawn by needs he cannot control, Julian ventures to The Raven Room, a secret and exclusive sex club in the underbelly of Chicago. It goes beyond sex. It goes beyond kink. The Raven Room is the only place where Julian finds release from the dangerous urges that threaten to destroy the successful life he’s worked so hard to build. 

When the police link the Raven Room to the death of a young woman, it threatens to expose a number of powerful people—people who would kill to stay anonymous... Meredith’s body can’t get enough of Julian. He has opened her sexual horizons to tempting new possibilities. But out of bed she’s an aspiring journalist, and The Raven Room is the story she’s been looking for. By writing an exposé on the club and its elite clientele, she plans to launch her career. 

As Meredith embarks on a sexual journey into the forbidden world that Julian inhabits, questions emerge, and dark appetites threaten to swallow her whole.  How much can she trust the man who has laid bare her erotic nature and how much will she sacrifice in order to protect him?

Praise:

"If you’re looking for an exciting novel that can balance erotic sections with a thrilling who-done-it, look no further; The Raven Room will have everything you could possibly want and more." —San Francisco Book Review

"Readers who enjoy complex stories with strong characterization and psychological depth will find The Raven Room a satisfyingly story of emotional turbulence…” —D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Cove Member Nicole Reviews—

THE RAVEN ROOM!

Julian is a child psychologist with secrets and a past that he keeps very close to the vest. He's closed off and doesn't open himself up to anyone. 

Meredith is a student and aspiring journalist who is having a casual yet exciting sexual relationship with Julian. 

Julian has a membership to an exclusive and extremely private underground sex club called The Raven Room. It's a place that Meredith has been dying to get an invitation to and she secretly wants to write an exposé on the meeting place to skyrocket herself to fame...at Julian's expense. 

Julian takes Meredith to the club where they meet a seductive young woman. Julian begins a relationship with her and she has many secrets herself. 

The book is filled with twists and turns and layered with secrets. Julian is a very likable character and you just want to hug him and make everything okay from his past and into his future. 

The writing held my interest, but at times I felt it was a bit redundant. However, the action kept me on the edge of my seat and I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. I'll definitely be reading!

Purchase Links:

Amazon | IndieBound

About Ana Medeiros

Photo by: Garfield L. Miller

Born in the Azores islands, Portugal, Ana Medeiros has a background in Photography, Sociology and Psychology. For the last seven years she has worked in the magazine industry. She currently lives in Toronto, Canada, with her boyfriend and two cats. The Raven Room, book one of a trilogy, is Ana’s first novel and is published by Diversion Books.

Visit Ana at her website and connect with her on Facebook.