Las Mañanitas: The Beautiful Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe by Ernesto Joel Rosales and Jeanette Gonzalez Seneviratus; Illustrated by Dana Sanmar 

A delightful introduction to the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Juan Diego, and her annual veneration. 

Las Mañanitas is a wonderful children’s picture book that explains the story of the appearances of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the religious observations (and the title of the book) that occur in December. It introduces and gives the background circumstances of Juan Diego, the first Catholic saint born in the New World. 

The story is told from the viewpoint of a regular family with children participating in the events for the first time, and it is delightful, straightforward, and colorfully illustrated. Grandpa recounts the inspirational and historical tale while Grandma prepares the traditional costumes her young grandchildren will wear during the celebration. Best of all, the book provides the entire story in realistic but simple dialogue in both Spanish and English, side by side or one above the other on the page. Language students could use the book for a simple and interesting reading comprehension exercise and a glimpse into this cultural aspect of Catholicism in Mexico and other Latin American countries or communities. 

I recommend LAS MAÑANITAS: THE BEAUTIFUL CELEBRATION OF OUR LADY OF GUADELUPE to young children and their families, especially those interested in Our Lady and the Saints. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy via Netgalley.

What Meets the Eye

(Kate Myles, #1)

by

Alex Kenna

Absorbing mystery featuring a female PI who was a successful LAPD detective before being sidelined by a car accident.

What Meets the Eye is the first entry in the Kate Myles private detective series and the debut novel for author Alex Kenna. When a well-known painter is found dead in a downtown loft apartment, it appears to be suicide and with her history, it’s plausible. But as PI Kate Myles digs deeper, she uncovers secrets that hint Margot Starling’s death might just be a case of murder. With an engaging and sympathetic main character and a stellar plot, the book grabbed me from the start, and I didn’t want to put it down! 

Kate Myles, the detective on the case, has a heck of a tragic backstory. Injured in an on-duty accident, she’s still not fully healed physically. Kate is still mentally working through what happened to her and coming to terms with her new future, unable to continue to work for the LAPD. She became addicted to the pain meds she was prescribed during her recovery, and her attorney husband used this during their divorce to win custody of their small daughter. 

John was not the supportive spouse he could have been during her struggle with pain and later addiction; he was already involved with a colleague at work. He’s also a controlling and petty sort who manipulates Kate by withholding or curtailing her weekends with their daughter. But I liked how Kate had dug herself out of her addiction, had gotten her PI license, and was trying to rebuild her life. Kate is strong-willed, determined, and doesn’t give up. Her investigation is top drawer, and I liked how she is able to reach out to former LAPD colleagues for assistance and reciprocate when she can. She has a good, solid reputation she can still trade on. 

The case is an intriguing one and has some unique aspects to it. The art world setting was exotic and fresh, with many big personalities involved. I liked how the author brought in several points of view in addition to Kate, and I enjoyed how the backstories were presented in flashback vignettes. The writing style was easy to read, and the story just flowed. I was swept up in Kate’s investigation and only looked up after I’d read more than half the book. 

I recommend WHAT MEETS THE EYE to mystery readers who enjoy detective fiction with a strong female protagonist or an art world setting. 

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

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.