A Celtic Yuletide Carol

Christmas in the Castle

by

Jennifer Ivy Walker

A satisfying holiday-set tale of love and loss, healing and redemption.

A Celtic Yuletide Carol by Jennifer Ivy Walker is an excellent addition to the ongoing Christmas in the Castle collection and even features characters from some of the author’s previous works. I enjoyed seeing familiar faces and learning how their lives had progressed since their stories were first told, and I loved getting to know the new personalities. However, the book is absolutely a standalone novel. 

Laudine, the matriarch of the de Landuc clan, is a renowned healer and knows that some members of her own family are in desperate need of her more subtle skills. Her middle son, Cardin, suffered an emotional crisis when his beloved wife died giving birth to their son, and in his anguish, he blames his own lust for Charlotte and, consequently, the child Lukaz for her death. Refusing to even look at the baby, he tries to outrun his grief by posting to far off Aquitaine in the service of his king, leaving his son to be raised by his older brother and his wife. Although in excellent and loving hands, as Lukaz grows, he’s subjected to the scorn and bullying of the older boys serving as squires in his uncle’s household, who taunt him with accusations of being a bastard or abandoned or unwanted. After six long years, Laudine knows that if she can just get father and son reunited, love will heal them both. 

With the help of her most skilled student, Ulla, she plans to fake a fatal illness and sends for Cardin and his older brother, Gaultier, to return home to Brittany, claiming it is her dying wish to see them for her final Yuletide season. Ulla, although an accomplished healer, is also suffering emotionally from the loss of her husband and young sons a couple of years earlier. Formerly a talented singer, the horror of their deaths left her mute, and she had returned to Laudine and the one place she knew she could find safety and, hopefully, solace. She spends her days preparing herbal medicines and hunting with her wolf, Vill, and falcon, Finn. However, she avoids the presence of babies and children because of the intense pain and sorrow seeing them now causes her. Still, when young Lukaz needs someone to teach him archery, Laudine asks her to take on the task in hopes their close contact will help repair the damage in Ulla’s heart. 

The author does an amazing job developing these characters’ histories and establishing their states of mind, and I was completely invested in their journeys toward healing, love, and redemption. The women are strong and capable characters despite the tragedies they’ve endured in their lives, and the sons de Landuc are the strong, responsible, yet caring products of their decent, loving parents. Cardin has a rough start initially, trying to assuage his grief with drink, dicing, and brawling. He’s become irresponsible and selfish in his pain, and Gaultier has carried him for six long years. His weak starting point makes his redemption that much more of an emotional journey for us all. 

The author employs multiple points of view to tell the story, and her writing style is compelling yet easy to read. She doesn’t waste a single sentence, though, as each one is full of atmosphere, vivid description, and action: almost full stories themselves. The settings of Aquitaine and Brittany are interesting and well-developed, and they include a subplot dealing with the political events of the time with historical figures mentioned throughout. This storyline is where much of the conflict and suspense of the book resides, as Cardin is targeted as a patsy for an evil man’s ambitious plans for his own gains. The political machinations are a fascinating part of the story and beckoned me to read more about the history involved.

I recommend A CELTIC YULETIDE CAROL to readers of historical romance, especially those who like a holiday setting in their stories. 

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

Scars of the Heart: Short Stories

by

Bob Van Laerhoven

A fascinating collection of short stories from a master storyteller.

Scars of the Heart is a collection of short stories by Bob Van Laerhoven that sweep the reader from wherever they are to a fascinating, often gut-wrenching, reality in venues around the globe, both past and present. Each tale is a gem that evokes an emotional response that will stay with readers long after the pages are turned. 

The stories, for the most part, are set in far-flung locations, the very corners of the world, many in war zones, with the conflicts being the catalysts for what is to come. In other tales, the war is in the mind of the narrator, who may be fighting a losing battle against betrayal or guilt. Diverse settings and cultures enhance the atmospheric nature of the tales as the author reveals the characters’ struggles and insights, often with surprising twists at their conclusion. His writing made each narrator come to life and solidified their situations and surroundings so concretely I felt present in the story. 

With his vividly constructed scenes and realistic portrayals of people on the edge, I recommend SCARS OF THE HEART to readers of fiction, action/adventure, thrillers, horror, and fans of short stories. 

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

Hands On Homicide

Massage and Murder Mystery, #1

by

Sarah Hualde

Nice debut for this cozy Christian mystery series with a unique paranormal twist!

Hands On Homicide is the first book in author Sarah Hualde’s new Massage and Murder Mystery series, cozy Christian mysteries with a unique paranormal twist. With its engaging main characters, intriguing murder mystery, and subtly faith-forward approach, the story was compelling and hard to set down. 

Corky Hobbs is a massage therapist, and readers are immediately aware that she has a special gift: knowing exactly how to help her clients when they come in for a massage. She doesn’t understand how she knows, but her intuition is spot-on regarding where tension and stress have settled in their muscles. When Corky interrupts a murder while working late one evening at the spa, she’s almost killed, and the near-death experience somehow enhances her healing skills to include seeing someone’s inner thoughts and memories when she touches their skin. Because she can’t control it, the new ability feels intrusive, even making her nauseous when the person’s thoughts come flooding in: a curse rather than a gift. However, when the investigation falls to the inept local deputy, Corky and her best friends know that it is up to them to find the killer before the killer tries to finish off Corky for good, and she’s going to have to use her new-found talent. 

She’s supported by her two best friends, sister and brother, Stella and Steve Michaels. Stella, who works at the same spa, finds Corky the night of the attack just in time and takes charge of the investigation, while Steve, as a student chef, provides sustenance and tries to curb his sister’s more reckless ideas. There are also some deeper feelings bubbling just below the surface between him and Corky. 

The plot sticks pretty close to only the characters who were present at the spa immediately prior to the murder, so there’s not a lot of exposition creating the small town of Deadhorse Canyon or introducing background characters. There’s a great conflict side story involving the spa’s beautiful but toxic receptionist for whom Corky’s long-time boyfriend dumped her. Melanie is a real piece of work, and Brett, the ex, is weak and shallow. Honestly, they’re perfect for each other. The murder occurs early in the book, so the rest of the story is Corky testing her new ability and narrowing down a controlled number of suspects. There are hints in plain sight as to who the killer is, so sharp-eyed armchair detectives have a good chance of figuring it all out. 

I recommend HANDS ON HOMICIDE to cozy mystery readers who enjoy a faith-forward story and a TOUCH of paranormal elements in their books. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

Burn This Night

Kate Myles, #2

by

Alex Kenna

Two fascinating cases, one current and one decades in the past, in one riveting story.

Burn This Night is the second book in author Alex Kenna’s Kate Myles detective series and features the former LAPD detective turned private investigator as she pursues two murder cases, committed decades apart, in the small tourist town of Idlewood, California. Readers new to the series should have no problem absorbing enough backstory from the current narrative to read and enjoy this latest story as a standalone. This time, Kate is helping out an old contact in the sheriff’s department working on a 20-year-old cold case of murder. 

Kate is the healing but still vulnerable main character, trying to gain control of her life after a messy divorce, which resulted in her ex-husband getting custody of their only daughter. She’s moved in with her widowed mother for a number of good reasons and inadvertently discovers the man she always knew as her father is actually no blood relation at all; her parents had used a sperm donor after years of failing to conceive. While a shock, she also feels a sense of relief because growing up, she always knew she was somehow different from the rest of her family and was treated differently than her cousins. However, her relief is quickly followed by surprise after surprise when the results of her DNA test reveal that the unknown perpetrator of a two-decades-old unsolved murder case is an, as of yet, unidentified relative. As Kate methodically investigates the more recent case that took place earlier in the year, she pursues leads to locate blood relations that may lead to the unknown killer in the cold case. She ends up meeting a kindred spirit in a local, divorced father who sparks long-suppressed romantic interests.  

The plot moves quickly as Kate works her way through the painful details of Abby Coburn’s death and her past relationship with the brother who is accused of her murder as well as that of the elderly neighbor who died in the fire that was set to cover up the crime. She develops several possible theories as she questions people in Abby’s life, resulting in a couple of good suspects who must be examined further and ruled out. Her investigation into her own origins is a great secondary storyline, and the resolutions of the murders are surprising but plausible. 

I recommend BURN THIS NIGHT to mystery readers who enjoy strong female protagonists. 

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

Perfect Girl

by

Tracy Banghart

A haunted house, a huge storm, no cell service, wifi, or electricity: the perfect setting for a sleepover!

Perfect Girl is a new young adult horror novel by author Tracy Banghart, who pulls out all the stops to create the perfect backdrop for an innocent sleepover gone wrong. Realistic teen characters dealing with authentic, real-world problems are inadvertently caught up in someone’s deadly obsession with finding the perfect girl.

As if high school isn’t hard enough already? 

The main character, Jessa Morgan, exudes cheer, charm, and kindness, but underneath, her joy is just a façade. She’s an extreme people pleaser, and her carefully curated, perfect persona is approaching its breaking point. While facing the fears the night brings, Jessa also confronts her overwhelming need to be all things to all people, which has been fueled from childhood by her mother’s hopes and high expectations. However, she’s not the only one in her circle who’s struggling. Alexis is bi, and it’s killing her that she hasn’t been able to reveal this to her parents. Another friend, Tiny, who has drifted away from their close-knit group, is secretly trapped in an abusive relationship with an older guy. Even Jessa’s brother, Josh, is dealing with issues. Long ago, he abdicated his role as the responsible firstborn to his younger sister, and he is also struggling with living up to his parents’ impossibly high expectations. With Jessa doing all the heavy lifting, he may have just given up even trying to match her successes at home and school. 

There’s a sweet mutual crush developing between Jessa and Ryan, Josh’s best friend, but she’s too embedded in adhering to the standards of behavior from a more conservative time. She won’t make the first move, and he’s being held back by something that won’t let him clearly indicate his interest in her. But eventually, the courage is mustered to speak up. 

In a concurrent storyline, six high school girls in nearby York have gone missing in as many months. The ongoing events of one such disappearance unfold through the eyes of the sixth missing girl. The storylines eventually converge, and the horrific truth is shocking. 

The author establishes a tense, suspenseful setting with Jessa’s secluded house, which is mostly jokingly said to be home to a female teenage spirit, and her parents’ overnight absence. Situated on the edge of a woods with spotty cell service, at the best of times, Jessa and her sleepover guests, her brother, and his friend, Ryan, are further isolated when major storms roll in and take out the electricity. I was quickly caught up in the story, surprised by the plot twists, and entertained from start to finish. 

I recommend PERFECT GIRL to readers of young adult horror stories and thrillers. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.