I took a three week break from blogging over the Christmas period and then my husband became ill and I haven’t been able to blog as much as usual. As a result, I am behind with my book review posts so I’m hitting you with four at once. They are all great reads and three of the four are short stories.

My husband is being discharged from hospital later this morning and is coming home. I’ll check comments as and when I can.

The Haunting of Chatham Hollow by Mae Clair and Staci Troilo

What Amazon says

One founding father.
One deathbed curse.
A town haunted for generations.

Ward Chatham, founder of Chatham Hollow, is infamous for two things—hidden treasure and a curse upon anyone bold enough to seek it. Since his passing in 1793, no one has discovered his riches, though his legend has only grown stronger.

In 1888, charlatan Benedict Fletcher holds a séance to determine the location of Chatham’s fortune. It’s all a hoax so he can search for the gold, but he doesn’t count on two things—Victor Rowe, a true spiritualist who sees through his ruse, and Chatham’s ghost wreaking havoc on the town.

More than a century later, the citizens of the Hollow gather for the annual Founder’s Day celebration. A paranormal research team intends to film a special at Chatham Manor, where the original séance will be reenacted. Reporter and skeptic Aiden Hale resents being assigned the story, but even he can’t deny the sudden outbreak of strange happenings. When he sets out to discover who or what is threatening the Hollow—supernatural or not—his investigation uncovers decades-old conflicts, bitter rivalries, and ruthless murders.

This time, solving the mystery isn’t about meeting his deadline. It’s about not ending up dead.

My review

This is a well written and exciting novel written on two timelines, 1888 and the present, and united by the vindictive ghost of Ward Chatham the founding father of Chatham Hollow.

Chatham Hollow is a low-profile American town with a small presence in the greater world due to the legend of the séance, conducted in 1888 by fraudulent spiritualist, Benedict Fletcher, to summon the spirit of Ward Chatham. The summoning is believed by many townspeople and outsiders to have gone horribly wrong and ended with Ward Chatham cursing the town and all of its people. The deaths of two men directly after the séance fueled the fire of belief and superstition which has been passed down from generation to generation.

Now, Chatham Hollow has an opportunity to become famous country-wide for its evil spirit through the filming of a re-enactment of the séance for airing on a well-known television show called Supernatural. The re-enactment is planned to involve various town residents and decedents of the original participants, including Aiden Hale, a descendent of the second genuine spiritualist, Victor Rowe, who attended the original event, and his grandmother. The town council, including the editor of the local newspaper, Greer Faraday, is delighted by the idea as it will result in a lot more visitors and bring prosperity to the town.

Aiden, who is a skeptic and does not believe that either he or his grandmother have any talents as spiritualists, is anti the whole idea as he does not want his town to become busier and be spoiled by tourists. He is pushed into taking part and being the lead reporting in respect of the whole event by his employer, Greer. As Aiden slowly starts to unravel the mysteries of the past, he uncovers a lot more scandal than expected. He also comes across a plot to destroy Greer, and possibly the whole town, in the present.

I enjoyed the character of Aiden who is portrayed as a determined young man with lots of grit. He is caring and respectful towards his grandmother and tries to accommodate her, even when he doesn’t agree with her and she is difficult and a bit dictatorial. I really enjoyed this appreciation of family ties and respect for elders which has become less common in literature recently. The scenes between Aiden and his grandmother were very appealing with the banter and arguments over wholesome, home-cooked meals. It felt very genuine and relatable for me.

The altercations between characters, and the darker scenes of murder, physical abuse, and ghostly apparitions were well drawn and believable. The entire novel and a fabulous atmosphere of authenticity which made this an excellent read.

Purchase links

Amazon US

Mae Clair Amazon Author Page

Staci Troilo Amazon Author Page

Mountain Laurel Christmas

What Amazon says

Country superstar, Cole Knight, has it all—fame, fortune, fast cars, and willing women. Yet, he’s dying inside, drowning in a swirling pool of self-contempt and relentless guilt.

It’s easier to lose himself in a whiskey bottle than face the hard truth—he hasn’t delivered on a sacred promise made to his father. And it rips out pieces of his heart and soul each time the memory surfaces.

It’s almost Christmas, and the sting of that failure drives him back to the tiny cabin in the Cumberland Mountains where he lost his entire family.

But has he waited too late to put the shattered pieces back together?

My review

Cole Knight, previously Albert Anderson, is famous and has achieved success beyond his wildest dreams as a singer under the tutorage of superstar, Corinna Smith. Now, Corinna is dead, killed in a car accident, and Cole is alone. Estranged from his sister and brother, the questions of a persistent journalist force his thoughts return to his childhood, the death of his father that precipitated the destruction of his family, and his eventual flight to Nashville and a career in singing.

This line of thought leads Cole back to his abandoned family home in an effort to track down what has become of his younger brother. Can Cole find happiness with his siblings, or is it to late?

I really loved this book. It is such a lovely feel-good story about the importance of family, just perfect for the Christmas season. I enjoyed the slow evolution of Cole from a heavy-drinking and lonely young man into a caring and sensitive person called Bert.

Purchase links

Amazon US

Jan Sikes Amazon Author Page

I’ll Be Right Back by Maura Beth Brennan

What Amazon says

Warren’s young wife, Iris, walked into a blizzard and didn’t come back. His journey to find her took him halfway across the country, to truths he hadn’t been able to face. Because sometimes there is no way to find what you’re looking for. Sometimes all you can find is yourself. 

My review

Warren, an older bachelor, and a misfit in his prominent family headed by his dominant mother, kicks over the traces by marrying a much younger woman. Iris is a dancer and beautiful in a brassy way which Warren’s mother does not approve of. His marriage makes him more of an outcast then ever in his family, but Warren is happy with his wife and dog, Petal.

The story starts with Iris going out to walk the dog during the early stages of a storm against her husband’s advice and wishes. She does not return and Warren later finds Petal tied up in the garage. Warren gradually realised that Iris has left him and gone to Las Vegas to dance in the clubs. She has left with another man with whom she was having an affair.

Warren decides to take Petal and go after Iris. He hopes to persuade her to return home with him.

This is an interesting story which explores the concept of marrying for money, unfulfilled dreams, and unrequited love.

Purchase links

Amazon US

Maura Beth Brennan Amazon Author Page

Cross Roads Diner #205

What Amazon says

Janie is a sweet, hard-working gal stuck in a dead-end job at a diner. Everyone relies on her; heck, everyone seems to love her. If only they knew about her past. They’d know that hiding out at the Crossroads Diner is the best thing for Janie at this point. No one seems to stay at Crossroads Diner #205 for long; so why is Janie stuck there? Surrounded by people who need her and strangers constantly coming and going, Janie is desperately alone and overworked.

Just as Janie is starting to lose hope, in walks the mysterious Cowboy. With the uncanny ability to look past Janie’s scars and into her soul, Cowboy seems too good to be true. Can he be trusted? Janie has to figure that out, for in the midst of the worst blizzard in years, no one can really prepare for what will walk in the door next.

My review

The feature of any book that I rank the highest when reading and reviewing, is the uniqueness of the storyline. Crossroads Diner #205 is oodles of different and a most interesting and thought provoking read.

Jaunita has worked at the diner for a long time. She is a veteran and has learned to comfort the new diners that arrive. They are all on their way somewhere else but some of them make a very short stop, so short that the staff of the diner can barely keep up, and others make a longer stop. It is impossible to know when they arrive, how long each visitors stay will be. Jaunita is hoping that eventually she will work her way out of the diner and move on to something better, but she has no idea how long it will take. Her stay has already been unusually long as her history is complicated.

One evening when a particularly bad blizzard has resulted in even more visitors to the diner than usual, in walks a curious man she calls The Cowboy. It is soon evident that this strange man will be staying for a while and Jaunita feels hope for the future for the first time in a long while.

A well written and entertaining short read.

Purchase links

Amazon US

Pamela Schloesser Canepa Amazon Author Page

This week’s poetry challenge is to write a senryū as per Colleen Chesebro’s commentary below:

Senryū is a Japanese form similar to haiku: three lines with a s-l-s syllable count up to 17 syllables.

Senryū are written about human foibles, while haiku are more nature related. Senryū can be cynical or humorous. This poem makes the human, not the world around them, the subject of the poem.

Senryū are easier to write than haiku. Think about the human condition: sex, family relations, love, religion, politics, and any emotions that touch on the pain we experience through sorrow, prejudice, oppression, anger, and frustration

Colleen Chesebro of Word Craft Poetry blog

You can join in the challenge here: https://wordcraftpoetry.com/2023/01/17/tankatuesday-weekly-poetry-challenge-no-303-1-17-23/

Here is my attempt:

Clandestine hands move

Silent serial killer

Everyone’s clock strikes

By Robbie Cheadle

Thanks to the inspiration provided by my good blogging friend, Harmony Kent, I have written three haiku’s for Vocal’s Quadru-Haiku Challenge. Vocal’s criteria for this Haiku challenge is simply a 5-7-5 syllable format without any of the usual rigid requirements of nature, etc. The poet can use one, any, or all of these elements.

You can read Harmony’s poems here: https://harmonykent.co.uk/harmony-is-vocal-haiku-in-vocal_creators-poetry-four-elements-challenge-writingcommunity-poetsoftwitter-poetrylovers/

You can read my poems over at Vocal. I am new to the platform so it would be lovely if you could like my poems and comment over there.

You can read Resilience here

You can read The Ending here

You can read Hell on Earth here

As my poems were all inspired my my husband’s recent, unexpected illness and his admission into intensive care in hospital last week Wednesday, 4 January, where he still remains, I have also included some pictures for CFFC. The topic is eyes and I hope these pictures lighten the mood.

You can join in Cee’s CFFC challenge here: https://ceenphotography.com/2023/01/03/cffc-eyes/

The full name of Jonathan Swift’s pamphlet is A Modest Proposal For preventing the Children of Poor People From being a Burthen to Their Parents or Country, and For making them Beneficial to the Publick. This work is a Juvenalian satire which is a type of satirical writing that uses extreme hyperbole to mock or criticize some aspect of human behaviour, society, or government. A Modest Proposal mocks heartless attitudes towards the poor, as well as British policy towards the Irish in general.

The title is itself ironic because Swift’s proposal is not at all modest but is disgusting and absurd.

The essay starts by lamenting the sad fate of the children of the poverty-stricken Irish who live in squalor because their parents are too poor to keep them fed and clothed. Swift argues that the problem of too many children could be turned into a boon if the children of the poor were fattened up and sold into a meat market at the age of one year old.

He uses hard-edged economic reasoning to support his proposal and lists six advantages to selling Irish babies as food, namely, reducing the number of Catholics, allowing the poor to pay rent, improving the menus at eating establishments, relieving poor parents of the financial burden of raising children, improving marriage and family life for the Irish by making the children assets of value and the mothers’ contributors to the financial wealth of the family, and enriching the Irish nation.

Swift goes on to cite statistics in support of his argument in the form of specific data about the number of children to be sold, their weight and price, and the projected consumption patterns of the purchasers. He also suggests recipes for the preparation and cooking of the children.

His essay concludes that his proposal would solve Ireland’s complex social, political, and economic problems.

The purpose of A Modest Proposal is to comment on England’s legal and economic exploitation of Ireland. While the essay sometimes argues that the Irish themselves are partially to blame for their country’s problems, his main viewpoint is that the English were responsible for destroying Ireland’s economy and culture.

A Modest Proposal is a shocking but excellent piece of writing that highlights political and social injustices by using logical extremes to make a ridiculous argument for solving the problem of poverty in Ireland in 1729 when the piece was published. A Modest Proposal is still relevant because extreme poverty still plagues many countries in the world.

Quotes from A Modest Proposal

“I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricasie, or a ragoust.”

“I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggar’s child … to be about two shillings per annum, rags included; and I believe no gentleman would repine to give ten shillings for the carcass of a good fat child, which, as I have said, will make four dishes of excellent nutritive meat.

Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may flay the carcass; the skin of which artificially dressed will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentlemen.”

“whoever could find out a fair, cheap and easy method of making these children sound and useful members of the common-wealth, would deserve so well of the public, as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation.”

Purchase A Modern Proposal by Jonathan Swift

Amazon US (also available as an audio book)

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1080/1080-h/1080-h.htm (available for free download

Happy New Year! Wishing all my blogging friends all the very best for 2023.

I have done a bit of reading during my blogging break and I’m kicking off this year with reviews for Journeys 12,13 & 14 of Teagan Riordain Geneviene’s fantastic Dead of Winter epic fantasy series.

Journey 12, Goddesses

What Amazon says

So far in previous Journeys of “Dead of Winter,” we’ve encountered villagers and city folk, religions, armies, and societies. We learned of terrifying beasts, nightwalkers, and the enigmatic Listeners. The final battle is at hand. Journey 12, brings us yet another type of extraordinary being – goddesses. Yet are they salvation? Or another complication… or even a threat.

My review

Journey 12 opens with a bang with the entrance of two goddesses who are in a conflict situation. The pair are situated above Pergesca so there is not doubt that they will influence the future of the town. Their power is also clear with descriptions such as “Strangely, the sunlight leapt from one puddle to the next, each one sparkling as the lights connected.”

Emlyn’s town is under siege by nightwalkers which continue to be revealed in all their malicious horror. The grey shadow of the ghostly realm creeps ever closer to Pergesca and the massive army of the dead continues to assemble. Winter has come.

All is not lost though as Deas Matres, the goddess who founded the movement, appears to offer help of some sort. What her help will translate into is unknown, but something is better than nothing. Boabhan’s strength is returned to her unexpectedly and that gives Emlyn courage.

I really loved the reintroduction into the story of Blodwedd as a girl. She is accompanied by her grandmother, Bronwyn, which I thought was a delightful touch.

Another imaginative and engaging episode in this enthralling tale.

Journey 13, The Harbor

What Amazon says

“Journey 13, The Harbor” is the penultimate installment of the epic fantasy series “Dead of Winter.” Action abounds as many threads are drawn together. Arawn has amassed overwhelming legions of the dead. Another unexpected but powerful foe comes into the battle. All of Emlyn’s companions and friends are in grave danger as they face insurmountable odds. Two goddesses, Coventina and Deae Matres herself, could even the odds, but gods and goddesses are known to be unreliable. Yes, Coventina is back — she was first mentioned in Journey 1, and we’ve had occasional glimpses of her throughout the Journeys. Yet her temper makes her a wildcard. Will the goddesses help?
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Meanwhile the goal of the Society of Deae Matres is to re-create the Binding to again trap Arawn and any other nightwalkers in the Realm of the Dead. Yet, what about Boabhan and Lucetius? Boabhan is at least half nightwalker. Lucetius, her son, was conceived when Arawn violated her while attempting to turn her. Will they be trapped in a new Binding along with their worst enemy? This is revealed in Journey 13.

My review

The tension really ramps up in this penultimate journey in the Dead of Winter series. Arawn has amassed an enormous army of dead loyal to him, and they are marching on the city of Pergesca and the Great Library. The goddess Deae Matres also has tricks up her sleeve, but Emlyn is concerned about the numerous lives that will be lost in the battle. She is also aware that goddesses are notoriously unreliable with their assistance to mankind. The Deae Matres are also not as united as they initially appeared and not all of the sisters think that another Binding should be enacted as it is expected to have an unpleasant consequence. Perhaps this time, Arawn should be destroyed.

The advent of another goddess, Coventina, is unexpected and Emlyn is not sure whether her arrival is a good or bad thing. Even more than the goddess Deae Matres, Coventina has her own agenda and a vendetta against Arawn. Things are not always as they appear, however, and Emlyn may be surprised at how these interventions pan out.

I enjoyed the introduction of Coventina very much. She is feisty and quick tempered, but despite these character flaws, Coventina is more genuine and trustworthy than her fellow goddess. The description of Coventina as a tiny firecracker of a woman with long white hair streaked with pastel green and blue also caught my fancy.

Thyrus, the Listener, is also back in this Journey, but he is hamstrung by the rules that govern mystical creatures and is unable to provide the help he desperately wants too. He does manage to find a way around the restrictions and make an important move in the ultimate game plan.

As always, the writing is beautiful and vivid. This is a delightful example:

“As the Listener sat nonchalantly, Emlyn thought it was no wonder he usually chose to take the form of a dragon. He was splendid! She gazed at the sunlight playing upon his amazing skin. It had varied colors and halos, which merged in random spots. At one moment his hide was golden with red and green halos, then bronze and blue, and then silver rippled with purple and orange.”

Journey 14, The Veil

What Amazon says

From the very beginning, a prophecy from a creepy voice threaded throughout this story. “Winter is coming!” it warned. As the Journeys progressed, we became aware of additional related prophesies like one of the “lost white brother” and “the frozen sands.” Both of those are touched on in this concluding novella.
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Other threads from the previous thirteen Journeys also come together in this volume, which concludes Dead of Winter.
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As many readers said they don’t want these Journeys to end, in the final chapter, I added hints about potential future adventures for many of the characters. These are food for the imagination of readers, so that the story can continue in the mind.
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This has been as much of a “journey” for me as it was for Emlyn. I’ve seen truths about myself along the way. Perhaps the same applies to you.
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“Who can say? What is true for us? That with which we are born? Or that which is the manifestation of our heart and soul? I like who and what I am, as well as the way I see the world I see around me, when I am a dragon.”
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Thank you for being an important part of the Journeys of Dead of Winter.
Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

My review

This last journey was an excellent conclusion to the Dead of Winter fantasy epic. Emlyn comes into her own and exhibits great strength of mind and character, however, she makes a few minor judgement errors and demonstrates doubts and anxieties which made her role and character realistic and relatable.

I enjoyed seeing Gethin, the horse whisperer, stepping out of his supporting role and taking a bigger piece of the action, along with long-time favourite characters Lucetius, Hallgeir, and Tajin. It felt fitting that they took centre stage for a part of this final chapter.

I don’t want to say too much about the final plot twisters other than they are exciting, unexpected, and momentous, a truly fitting Grande finale to an incredible story. I am left feeling quite saddened that I have reach the end of the series despite the conclusion being perfect and satisfying which is rare in my experience of fantasy books which often seem to disappoint with their endings.

I cannot resist ending my reviews of this series with a final example of the authors incredibly descriptive writing:

“The rancid odor was heavy in the air. It was a stench similar to rendered port fat that had gone bad. The odor emanated from a dozen puddles of fatty goo that dotted the ground. Nothing else was left of the nest of nightwalkers that attacked the men. Gethin was thankful for the light breeze that carried some of the vile small away.”

Purchase links for the Dead of Winter series of books

Universal Purchase Links for Dead of Winter: Journey 14, The Veil

Journey 14, The Veil

Kindle:  relinks.me/B0B41FF3FX

Paperback:  relinks.me/B0B3RVHG1S

♦♦♦

Dead of Winter — the Previous Journeys

Universal Purchase Links

Journey 13, The Harbor

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09TN3NDX1

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09TN1F58B

Journey 12, Goddesses

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09P5LJY13

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09NTTZ9J8

Journey 11, the Sumelazon Escarpment

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09M7Q19XT

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09M4QWDYK

Journey 10, Pergesca

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09J6TH8TD

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09J7GFWYV

Journey 9, Doors of Attunement

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09F8Y5DML

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09F1BB9RW

Journey 8, The Lost Library

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09C6MPTYT

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09C34XR7P

Journey 7, Revenant Pass

Kindle:  relinks.me/B098MS8P48

Paperback:  relinks.me/B098GV1G5V

Journey 6, The Fluting Fell

Kindle:  relinks.me/B096CPJNSX

Paperback: relinks.me/B096CPJNSX

Journey 5, Llyn Pistyll Falls

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09431TD6G

Paperback:  relinks.me/B0942KC471

Journey 4, The Old Road

Kindle:  relinks.me/B092G5LB7R

Paperback:  relinks.me/B092M51Y88

Journey 3, the Fever Field

Kindle: elinks.me/B08XTNZ9M8 

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08XXY3JXF

Kobo:  Dead of Winter: Journey 3, the Fever Field eBook by Teagan Riordain Geneviene – 1230004609599 | Rakuten Kobo United States

Journey 2, Penllyn

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08VMNSF97

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08VLMR2KD

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dead-of-winter-journey-2-penllyn

Journey 1, Forlorn Peak

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08RBBVRGX

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08R7RH4F5

Kobo:  Dead of Winter: Journey 1, Forlorn Peak eBook by Teagan Geneviene – 1230004446033 | Rakuten Kobo United States

Read more about Dead of Winter here: https://teagansbooks.com/home/

Welcome to Thursday Doors, a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time). You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2022/12/08/doors-of-christmas-past/

Other than my scheduled Dark Origins post, this is my last post for 2022. I have shared my gingerbread bakery project called The Great Mince Pie Escape and one of my Covid projects: Young Mother Hubbard survives lockdown and home schooling.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and the very best for 2023.

Today, I am delighted to host Day 4 of the WordCrafter Book Blog Tour featuring Resurrection Mixtape by Jeff Bowles.

Giveaway

For this tour we’re giving away 3 signed print copies of Resurrection mixtape and a $25 Amazon gift card. To enter, just tell 

us the top three songs on your mixtape in the comments. Come on now. We really want to know.

Winners will be chosen in a random drawing.

Unrequited Love: The Music of Resurrection Mixtape

I’ve been a musician since I was ten years old. To my mind, I’ve been a writer just as long, though it wasn’t until I was in my early twenties that I found the dedication to pursue adult storytelling with everything I had. It’s funny that the eagerness to do one superseded the eagerness to do the other, but as a creative writing professor once told me, novel-length work is often not a game for the young.

That’s because, as we all know, writing takes discipline and patience, the measure of which even the joy of making music pales in comparison. Long nights staring at a computer screen, typing away, as I’m doing now. Months of revisions and edits and making everything just so.

I gave up music once the writing bug bit me. That’s no joke. One day, round about the age of twenty-two, I was out playing bars and coffee houses and open-mic nights, and the next I was composing my very first stab at a novel, my first few short stories, and let me tell you, they were nothing special.

When the opportunity came to write a book about pop music I didn’t hesitate. In recent years, I’ve picked up my guitar again, started singing and writing songs again, performing them on YouTube for the whole world to see. Music has become a major part of my life, just as it once was, only this time, I find I have the discipline to balance it with my love of and dedication to storytelling.

Resurrection Mixtape is a dark and humorous adventure. I wrote the initial draft by the seat of my pants, in a whirlwind of good songs and fun, twisted ideas, and yes, during a time in which the global atmosphere had become serious and sometimes frightening. To keep it entertaining was always my first goal, and for me, there’s nothing more entertaining than listening to some favorite hits from bygone years. A few notable selections from the Resurrection Mixtape itself include:

Billy Joel, Only The Good Die Young—this was a fun choice for the first song in the novel. Our main character, Jason Halifax, opens the door one evening to find his eternal crush and former best friend standing at his doorstep, despite the fact she died in a terrible house fire a year prior. Only the good die young indeed, as we shall soon see. I love this song because it’s so bouncy and light, a juxtaposition I couldn’t ignore.

The Temptations, Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)—track two off the Resurrection Mixtape, and one of the loveliest songs I’ve ever heard. I remember my Mom singing it softly whenever it was on the radio. My mother is quite a vocalist herself, though I don’t think she’d ever admit it. Just My Imagination is, to my mind, the greatest unrequited love song ever recorded. So many of us can relate, I think, wanting someone or something we can’t have. That’s the position Jason has been in for many years, and now Emily (that’d be our formerly dead heroine) has come back to him, giving Jason another opportunity for his ultimate love.

The Weeknd, Blinding Lights—a much newer pop tune that took the charts by storm just a couple years ago. It’s a highly romantic song, in my opinion. I don’t discriminate between old and new. Some of my all time favorite music was recorded many decades ago, but The Weeknd (A.K.A. Abel Tesfaye) is one of those recording artists who makes modern sounds feel timeless. Desire and longing, I can’t sleep until I feel your touch. Sounds like the kind of prolonged separation only a resurrection mixtape can fix.

The Cars, Drive—Years ago, when Emily was still alive, she drove Jason home when he was blind drunk. She told him everything she ever wanted to say, about her love and admiration for him, but he didn’t hear any of it. His loss, right? In the present, he glances at the spent liquor bottles on his end table. “Nothing ever changes for you, Jason,” she says. Only things have changed, and perhaps not for the better. Emily is alive again, but soon enough, it becomes clear to Jason she’s brought something dark and sinister back from the netherworld.

Those are just a few of the songs appearing in Resurrection Mixtape, and there are plenty more where they came from. Music is the primary driver of the narrative, but it’s not the entire point. I’ve produced for you a story about desire and revenge, great humor, life and death, superpowers, the supernatural, and incredible physical transformation.

I wish I could say I knew what I was doing when I first picked up the guitar at the age of ten, but you know I’d be lying if I did. I’m not sure I’m any less of a novice when it comes to writing, though I’ve been doing it now for fifteen years or so. Truth is, I love to entertain, to enlighten, to make people feel something, anything.

Or maybe not. Maybe all I want to do with Resurrection Mixtape is remind you of the love you’ve found, and the music that’s shaped you, made you more human, more vulnerable. And in such vulnerability, who knows what strength you might find?

Blurb

Emily has been dead a year, but that doesn’t stop her from crashing in on her former best friend’s life in a whirlwind of mayhem, dark magic, and music. She’s been resurrected by a supernatural mixtape full of excellent but probably evil pop tunes. Amazing powers of transformation flow through her, piece-by-piece endowing her with abilities beyond anyone’s understanding. Within and without, a dark presence dwells, ready to express itself in all sorts of colorful and destructive ways. It’s all in the music, man. Press “PLAY” at your own risk.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Resurrection-Mixtape-Jeff-Bowles-ebook/dp/B0BKYG2JJQ/

About Jeff Bowles

Jeff Bowles is a science fiction and horror writer from the mountains of Colorado. The best of his outrageous and imaginative work can be found in God’s Body: Book One – The Fall, Love/Madness/Demon, Godling and Other Paint Stories, Fear and Loathing in Las Cruces, and Brave New Multiverse. He has published work in magazines and anthologies like PodCastle, Tales from the Canyons of the Damned, the Threepenny Review, and Dark Moon Digest. Jeff earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing at Western State Colorado University. He currently lives in the high-altitude Pikes Peak region, where he dreams strange dreams and spends far too much time under the stars.

Stops on the tour

Monday – December 5 – Interview – Writing to be Read

Tuesday – December 6 – Guest Post – Robbie’s Inspiration

Wednesday – December 7 – Review – Writing to be Read

Thursday – December 8 – Guest Post – Roberta Writes

Friday – December 9 – Guest Post & Review – Carla Loves to Read

What Amazon says

A coming-of-age novel about the pain of misconceptions and learning from them.

When life gives you lemons…

Izzy

Mom is barely in the grave and the prodigal child is here to pick the bones clean.

I don’t want her here. My sister’s defection is a wound that won’t heal, and her return simply rubs at the scabs covering my heart.

I’ve managed just fine without her. She can go back to her fancy college and forget about us- that’s what she does best anyway.

If only I didn’t need her help. Or miss her so much.

Renee

The day my dad committed suicide I ran. I’ve been running ever since.

Going home is supposed to be the answer. Instead, it makes me question every thoughtless decision I’ve made.

My sister hates me. My little brother barely knows me. And Simon… is engaged.

None of it matters- or so I tell myself. I’m here to make amends and face a past haunted by regret.

As long as I can convince myself to stay.

Letting Go is a young adult romance dealing with tragedy, restitution, and love in all its aspects. The story relates to sensitive topics that may be triggering for some readers.

My review

I reviewed this book in my capacity as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team. If you would like your book reviewed, you can contact Rosie Amber here: http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/.

Renee Thomas escaped her dysfunctional family after the suicide of her father on the same evening as the betrayal of her long time boyfriend, Simon. Unable to cope, she just upped and left, with no regard for the effect on younger sister, Izzy, who bore the brunt of the subsequent collapse of the Thomas family. Renee has done well and earned herself a Master of science in Physical Therapy with a minor in physiotherapy. She has made peace with her past and has plans to open her own physiotherapy clinic when she learns of the death of her mother. Renee is compelled to return home and try and help her younger sister and brother overcome their loss and move forward.

Life has a way of surprising us, and Renee comes across her ex-boyfriend, the minute she enters town. He has moved on, training as a paramedic and getting engaged. In her distraction over seeing Simon, she doesn’t notice an elderly lady jay-walking across the street and accidentally knocks her down. The elderly lady turns out to be Simon’s grandmother.

Renee soon finds herself the object of Izzy’s anger and condemnation and the caregiver of Simon’s grandmother while she recovers. Worst of all, Renee discovers she still has feelings for Simon.

Izzy’s job is under threat, and her younger brother might be taken from her by the state, and this brings out the worst in Izzy. For me, Izzy was a most interesting character. She stepped up after the death of her father and disappearance of her sister, and cared for her mother, who became seriously ill, and her younger brother. Renee’s disappearing act was a bitter pill for Izzy who has subsequently built up walls of indifference to protect her damaged heart. Underneath her anger and resentment, Izzy is a caring and loving woman who has made the best of the cards she was dealt in life. I liked Izzy very much and kept hoping she would get an opportunity to uplift herself and have a bit of freedom from the responsibility and drudgery she’d assumed prior and subsequent to her mother’s death.

Renee needs to manage her feelings and interactions with Simon, help his grandmother, and deal with Izzy’s rejection. Renee was a little immature at the start of the book and didn’t seem to really understand the impact her impetuous flight had on her brother and sister. She did have some guilt and a need to make good on the situation, but she wasn’t able to prevent conflict with Izzy through understanding. As the story progresses, Renee acknowledges the errors of her past, although I didn’t think she should have stayed as she had really achieved in her personal capacity in the intervening period, she could have offered her siblings some support, even from a distance. Renee’s character experiences a lot of growth over the course of the story.

This book is exciting and compelling as Renee sets about trying to take her share of the responsibility of raising her brother and helping her sister, as well as and unravelling her feelings about Simon. Renee must also confront the demons from her past that initiated her flight on that fateful night.

Purchase Letting Go: The Defiant Sisters Duet

Amazon US

Jacquie Biggar Amazon Author Page

Welcome to Thursday Doors, a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time). You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2022/12/01/barns-and-news/

Last week I went to Olives and Plates Wits Cub and Conference Centre to celebrate the promotions of a few colleagues. Wits (University of the Witwatersrand) is the university my son attends and is also where my husband studied.

The restaurant and campus are beautiful and these are a few pictures.

I don’t know what this building is but it had a curious wall design

I liked this statue