Elmer Kelton’s The Familiar Stranger

by

Steve Kelton and John Bradshaw

A round-up of Hewey Calloway tales told as his adventures during a long trail ride to Canada.

Elmer Kelton’s The Familiar Stranger is the fifth Hewey Calloway volume, a collaboration of the unpublished writings of Kelton himself and his son, Steve Kelton, and was finally brought to completion by John Bradshaw. In this book, Hewey Calloway is at loose ends in Durango, Colorado, left there after his last wrangling job went sideways. He decides to visit a friend, a retired Texas Ranger, as he considers his next move. Along the way to Hanley’s, a chance encounter at a remote cabin with a young man with smallpox puts Hewey’s conscience and health to the test. 

Hanley Baker is living in the mountains in a cabin left to him by a fond uncle, and he is not terribly enamored of the situation: the place is too difficult to farm or do much else with. So, when Hewey gets a wild hair to check out Canada, he doesn’t have to do much convincing for Hanley to come along as well. On the trail to Canada, Hewey rubs up against a diverse range of characters. While some are just down on their luck, others are in trouble of another shape and kind, and his past kindness to the sick young man and his consideration in return come back for a second round. 

The storytelling is compelling, even when the writer is only recounting a simple day in the lives of the two old friends as they make their way north through the wild, untamed wilderness. More adventurous scenes are handled equally well and choreographed to convey the ongoing action vividly and to perfection. What results is a well-told tale of cinematic quality. 

Although the fifth book in the series, readers new to Hewey’s adventures should have no trouble reading and enjoying this one as a standalone. I recommend ELMER KELTON’S THE FAMILIAR STRANGER to readers of western action and adventure stories. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy through RABT Book Tours and PR.

With One Kiss

A Sisters Duet, #2

by

Cheryl Holt

Another nobleman's mother behaving badly!

In With One Kiss, author Cheryl Holt concludes the two-book set of A Sisters Duet, wonderful Regency romances filled with excitement, angst, love and lust, and a double dose of perfidious moms! The intertwined stories were robustly plotted with randy, confirmed bachelors who meet their matches in the Cronenworth sisters. 

Charlotte, the younger of the two Cronenworth sisters, reacted much differently to their change in fortunes on the death of their father than her older sister, Theodora. While Theo had gone with the flow and acted as the peacemaker of the surviving family members, Charlotte had burned with constant rage. She'd railed against her fate and had willfully forged her own path, escaping her stepmother's control at the earliest opportunity. She'd quarreled with Theo and taken a low-status teaching position at a boarding school, much to the toplofty family's chagrin. It was not the first, nor would it be the last scandal to beset the Cronenworths. 

Winston Wainwright, Lord Dartmouth, is the spoiled young patriarch of one of the kingdom's oldest and noblest lineages, a member of the inner circle surrounding the throne. An established roué, he's soon to give up his bachelorhood to wed the icy and conniving Lady Jasmine Clement. Win meets Charlotte Cronenworth when she shows up on his doorstep with an abandoned young pupil when their boarding school abruptly closes, the only clue to her origins being the name of his coastal estate in her file. He assumes the girl is his deceased younger brother's love child. Feeling responsible for Holden's death, he is determined to do right by the young girl, but his desire for Charlotte is anything but noble. While used to his pleasures and the adoration of every woman he meets, he has become besotted with Charlotte, who doesn't immediately succumb to his charms. 

The main romantic plot contains a couple of great secondary storylines and circles back to events left unresolved in the previous book. I enjoyed Charlotte's and Win's initial meeting; he's rude, imperious, and entitled, and she stands up to him. Her dialogue is clever, biting, and priceless. As in the previous book, the Dowager mom is a devious force to be reckoned with, but she's also met her match in Charlotte and Win's eventual determination to get what he truly wants. Jasmine is a scheming shrew without a heart, and I was shocked when Jake Boggs's true position in the Wainwright family was initially revealed. However, the resolution to the duet of tales is ultimately satisfying. 

I recommend WITH ONE KISS to romance readers who enjoy strong female protagonists, conniving noble ladies, and a touch of spice in a Regency setting. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

A Murder of Furies

Bronze Age Crete Mystery, #3

by

Eleanor Kuhns

Another top-notch historical cozy mystery set in ancient Crete!

A Murder of Furies is the third book in veteran author Eleanor Kuhns’s excellent Bronze Age Crete Mystery series, and with its riveting murder, political intrigue, and impeccably crafted, highly visual settings, historical mystery fans are sure to be absorbed by this mesmerizing tale just as I was. Martis, the young bull dancer and series sleuth, is drawn into the search for the missing daughter of her friend, Tinos, the consort of the high priestess, Potnia. Atana had stormed off after a heated argument with her father earlier in the week and had been avoiding him, but after her absence stretched to several days and several missed appearances at important religious rites, it is feared that she may have come to harm. The suspense rises when a young priestess, Tino’s younger sister, dies during a public ceremony, when she is bitten by an asp that had been secretly substituted for the sacred serpent that should have been in the basket the girl carried. To make matters worse, the young priestess had just been given Martis’s mother’s place in the ceremony and Nephele would normally have been carrying that basket. 

Martis is such a fun, relatable character, and I love coming back to this series just for her. She’s young and chafes at the restrictions and expectations placed on her by her mother and society for girls of her age and status. She just attained marriageable age, but marriage doesn’t interest her. However, she feels guilty about wanting to follow her own path for her mother’s sake, as she’s lost all three of her other daughters. Martis’s infatuation with Tinos is still causing her some heartache, but she’s perhaps beginning to feel less enamored as she matures. She continues to do all she can to avoid household chores and being stuck at home, though. 

Martis is diligent in her search for the missing Atana, and at the same time, she conducts a pretty logical investigation into the death of Phytia, Tinos’s sister, which includes sneaking into the House of the Priestesses and down to the docks and visiting with Tetis, in a complete disregard of her mother’s admonitions. She does a good job covering all the bases and chasing down any avenue of inquiry she can in pursuit of the truth, even when the stakes become so much higher. 

I loved the colorful and detailed descriptions of the Cretan settings, on land or in the harbor. The choreography of all the different religious and community ceremonies was fascinating and cinematic. The author really puts her readers smack in the middle of every scene. 

As the political intrigue enters the picture, the suspense intensifies, with the looming threats of betrayal, hunger for power, and jealousy. I was on the edge of my seat, wondering whether Martis would be able to get the answers she needed and if she would even be in a position to thwart the shocking plans that would change everything in her world. 

I recommend A MURDER OF FURIES to readers of historical cozy mysteries. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

See Me

Dark Sides, #3

by

Lynn Crandall

Light and dark battle for control.

See Me is the third book in author Lynn Crandall's absorbing urban fantasy series, Dark Sides, and features the classic battle of light vs. dark and good vs. evil as modern-day descendants of the people of Atlantis, Aeons, strive to save this world from those who've chosen the Dark Side. With its action-filled story and achingly right romance, it's a definite page-turner. While a standalone novel, the backstory and magic elements would be better enjoyed if one first read the previous books in the series. 

The story picks up immediately after the events of the previous novel, with the Aeons gathering to review and celebrate their recent success of repelling the actions of the Dark Aspects, those the Dark Sides employ, who had teamed up with Irish mobsters to take over the city of Auralia, and destroy the quaint downtown where the Aeons had their businesses. However, their respite is short-lived, as a major figure on the side of the Dark Sides returns with the intent and means to take up the fight once again. 

This book focuses on the relationship between the two friends, Cooper Munson and Skye Stone, both of whom are still working through the trauma of a tragic childhood. It was heartbreaking reading about Cooper's treatment at the hands of his maternal grandparents, who believed his father and, consequently, Cooper, weren't good enough for their family. Skye's parents had escaped one bad situation only to jump into the middle of a cult where their daughter had been brainwashed into believing their harsh patriarchal precepts. With Cooper being an empath and Slye a Highly Sensitive Person, their eventual romance felt natural and long overdue. 

The plot is fast-paced, and the story opens with a bang as the celebrating Aeons are attacked at the home of one of their members. Each of the Aeons has an unusual ability or gift that they use for the good of all, and they are experiencing changes in these traits, with some doubts and confusion about this unexpected upgrade. However, a unique element of the series' magic system is the ability of the Aeons to project their inner love and light to those lacking in goodness, such as the Dark Aspects, and effect change in their actions. As before, I enjoyed the evildoers' various reactions when they were positively affected. 

I recommend SEE ME to readers of romantic urban fantasies. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

Half Baked Women: The Reheat

by

Bobbie Candas

Strong memories, stronger friendships!

Half Baked Women: The Reheat by author Bobbie Candas is a warm and enlightening trip glimpse into the past of a group of four long-time friends: Carney, Breeze, Margo, and Nicki. Meeting as freshmen at the University of Texas at Austin in 1971, the four women had kept in touch over the ensuing years, even as they had pursued divergent lives. Twenty years later, the four reunite for a weekend in San Antonio and reconnect as a group, catching up and comparing lives, reliving their past triumphs and trials, and perhaps, gaining strength from one another to face their futures. 

Carney is a never-been-married, love ‘em and leave ‘em party girl who’s never quite grown up. Margo, a former model, but now married with a young daughter, has been feeling like she’s lost herself in her life, a bit stagnant and a little trapped. Breeze is taking a breather as she starts proceedings for her fourth divorce. And Nicki, an EM doctor and single mom in need of a break from her demanding schedule and, hopefully, a recharge. All made questionable life choices as they navigated their early college days, but they survived with a little help from their friends, or in spite of them. I loved the look back at being a college student in the 70s in Texas and could relate to many of their experiences, both at school and in social settings. It is the first time the girls have been out from under the scrutiny of parents, and the temptations and freedoms college life offered made some choices particularly dangerous, and the naïveté of some of the girls was spot on. 

I enjoyed the colorful and vivid descriptions of the various settings, especially of Austin, with mentions of many familiar and fun places from the past and present. With Spring Break just around the corner, the girls’ road trips gave me a desire to drop everything and head out somewhere, too, at least for a brief moment. 

I recommend HALF BAKED WOMEN: THE REHEAT to readers of women’s fiction. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.