BLUE DOG by Karen Hulene Bartell
Fiction, Romantic Suspense
5*****

Blurb: Finalizing her dissertation while emerging from a destructive relationship, Deirdre ‘Dare’ Doyle finds a lifeline in Clay Landry, a rugged park ranger who introduces her to the mythical–yet menacing–lore of Louisiana’s bayous. As their hormone-fueled relationship intensifies, so does the threat from her past. Kirk, her toxic ex, sabotages her academic future, forcing a choice between her love and her dreams. But when Hurricane Kirk brings both a violent storm and a dangerous confrontation, an enigmatic creature intervenes, blurring the boundary between folklore and fact.

THOUGHTS: Karen Bartell knows how to make a person live the story. In this one, she puts us in the Louisiana bayous and all the folklore that lives in that area. Deidre (aka Dare) is visiting her aunt for the summer in order to help her after shoulder surgery and to work on her doctoral thesis. It’s obvious that the author either did a ton of research, or has lived in the area as the descriptions of the settings and the terror and effects of living through a hurricane are disturbingly real. What is also real are the feelings of fear when confronting a rougarou – a “mythical”? being that inhabits the bayous. Think swampy Big Foot – with claws. Her guide to the bayous and all things mysterious in the area is her aunt’s friend, Clay, a local who is in charge of the state park – and is a hunk. In addition, her ex threatens to derail her thesis unless she does him “favors”.

Dare has to help her aunt, work on her thesis, survive a hurricane, and prove that a cursed rougarou exists while also saving a young man who has a congenital hirsute problem. Not much, right? The author does an amazing job of explaining the issues with the southern bayous and the ecological damage being done there. She also describes things so vividly that I felt the storm and the terror of the peeping tom rougarou. I also loved the ending – very satisfying. Oh, and she includes three recipes at the end: Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Cajun Eggs Benedict!!!

Definitely recommended, but be forewarned of scary situations and how much you can believe in folklore.

EVERYDAY NERVOUS SYSTEM REGULATION by Melissa Romano
Nonfiction, Self-Help, Health
5*****

Blurb: Simple nervous system regulation exercises to feel safer, calmer, and more present—for anyone, anywhere For many of us, stress is baseline. Busy schedules, trauma, and chronic pressure can keep the nervous system stuck in survival mode. In Everyday Nervous System Regulation, Melissa Romano—bestselling author of the Vagus Nerve Deck—translates neuroscience into simple practices that return the mind and body to a calm and connected state. These accessible, somatic exercises help you reset in the moment while gradually retraining your nervous system to feel more grounded, less reactive, and attuned to the world around you. Inside this book you will ACCESSIBLE Start now—no exercise clothes required. These practices are intentionally low effort while remaining effective. SCIENCE-BACKED STRESS Proven techniques to release stored tension and restore energy using the natural power of breath, movement, nature, and more. TARGETED SOMATIC Find exercises mapped to a specific experience—like anger, loneliness, or fatigue—or begin with the Emergency Toolkit that includes 10 quick resets. STRUCTURED 7- AND 30-DAY Turn simple practices into sustainable habits. Examples and templates provided.

THOUGHTS: This is an excellent book for anyone who has trouble with stress, trauma, anxiety, and more. Though the beginning is a bit of a struggle to get through, once you get into the exercises, it’s much easier to understand. And the author makes a point of saying that this isn’t a book you read straight through from beginning to end. She encourages you to skip around and do what works for you. It is not a “one size fits all” kind of book. The book is broken into three main sections: Foundations, Everyday Exercises, and Practice Plans. I like that Chapter 3 is an “emergency kit” chapter that you can go to anytime you need a reset. The book provides all kinds of tools that you can adapt to your own needs. Although I received an ebook version of this, I know I’ll be picking up a physical copy as soon as I can.

Definitely recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” Thanks to NetGalley and Zeitgeist for providing this ARC.
#NetGalley #Zeitgeist #EverydayNervousSystemRegulation

STRENGTH TRAINING FOR LONGEVITY by Matt Schifferle
Nonfiction, Self-Help, Health and Longevity
5*****

Blurb: Simple strength training workouts for long-term health and independence

Strength Training for Longevity is a practical guide to building strength that supports you now—and for decades to come. Designed for adults who want to stay active, capable, and independent through every stage of life, this book offers clear, straightforward strength training routines with photos for every exercise, making it easy to train safely. Using simple, accessible equipment like dumbbells and resistance bands, the exercises are designed to fit comfortably into real life without requiring long or exhausting workouts. Rather than focusing on aesthetics or demanding workout plans, fitness coach Matt Schifferle emphasizes functional the kind that helps you carry groceries, climb stairs, maintain balance, and move confidently in daily life. Whether you’re new to strength training or getting back into it after time away, the routines are approachable, adaptable, and easy to follow. Inside, you’ll learn how to BUILD FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH with exercises chosen to support mobility, bone health, balance, and overall physical resilience. MASTER ESSENTIAL MOVEMENTS with clear form cues and full-color photos for each exercise. ADJUST EXERCISES TO YOUR LEVEL with built-in options to scale movements up or down as needed. STAY CONSISTENT with routines designed to fit into real schedules without requiring long or complicated workouts. CONNECT EXERCISE TO EVERYDAY LIFE by understanding how each movement supports real-world tasks and long-term independence. Strength Training for Longevity offers a clear, realistic approach to strength training—one that prioritizes sustainability, confidence, and the ability to keep doing the things that matter most.

THOUGHTS: I thought this was a really good book to jumpstart your journey into fitness. It’s clear, concise, has excellent color photographs to accompany each exercise and different levels so that there is a consistent progression. The author takes you through an assessment test so you can determine where the best level is for you to start. He also breaks the levels down into upper body, lower body, and core exercises. There is also information on equipment and nutrition, all of which are part of the getting healthier journey. He emphasizes that we need to stay active throughout our lives as the old adage “use it or lose it” is actually true. Although I received this ARC as an ebook, I know I will be purchasing the physical copy for myself when it is available.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” Thanks to Netgalley and Zeitgeist for providing this ARC.
#Zeitgeist #NetGalley #StrengthTrainingforLongevity

A FATAL FLOURISH:  Gilded Age diva Ella Shane returns for her most dangerous adventure ever, arriving home from a tour in February 1901 to find her unpleasant elder stepson is in town – and charged with murder in a bar fight. Soon after, Ella’s beloved physician, Dr. Edith Silver, is arrested for obscenity by a publicity-mad Assistant Police Commissioner. Now, Ella, facing her own life-changing news, is forced to unravel two nefarious plots, with help from her colorful family and friends on both sides of the law. With the series’ signature combination of rollicking fun and sharp social commentary, Ella tracks a killer, fights ignorance and prejudice, and ultimately finds herself in another catwalk duel with a villain. And this time, the stakes are the highest she’s ever faced.

Buy:  https://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Flourish-Ella-Shane-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0H6XN66TS

Kathleen Marple Kalb is an author/anchor/mom…not in that order. The Agatha and Derringer-nominated author of short stories and novels, she’s also a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award-winning anchor of New York City’s #1 weekend morning show on 1010 WINS Radio. Her work includes fourteen mysteries across four series, and short stories in top mystery magazines, anthologies, and online. Active in writers’ groups, she is a Marketing and Communications Liaison on the SinC Worldwide Board, and a past VP of the Short Mystery Fiction Society and NY/Tri-State SinC. She and her family live in a Connecticut house owned by a large calico cat.

Website: https://kathleenmarplekalb.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kathleen-Marple-Kalb-1082949845220373/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KalbMarple

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleenmarplekalb/

Threads: @kathleenmarplekalb

Bluesky: @mysterymarple.bsky.social   

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS MURDER by Leslie Meier
Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Holiday
4****

Blurb: Christmas may be 63 days away, but as the Tinker’s Cove Chamber of Commerce gears up for an elaborate Dickens-themed Christmas event, reporter Lucy Stone is already feeling a bit Grinchy—until a possible murder requires her sleuthing skills in the latest Lucy Stone Mystery from bestselling author Leslie Meier. With all four kids out of the house, Lucy Stone’s suddenly empty nest has put a damper on her usual zest for Christmas. She’s got plenty of article ideas to keep her busy though, including reports of vicious social media posts targeting several town residents. Plus, there’s the self-proclaimed “reputation changer” who promises he can clean up any negative press. It all seems a bit too convenient to Lucy, who decides an investigation is in order. On top of all that, after agreeing to play Mrs. Cratchit in “A Dickens of a Christmas,” Lucy also decides to plan a pre-Thanksgiving family weekend. Despite her juggling, it’s not a success—the kids and their partners come but the mood is tense, and Lucy is relieved to see them off. Then comes shocking bank manager Bert Cosgrove, one of the victims of the slanderous media posts, has been found dead. The police are calling it a suicide. No one, including Lucy, believes sweet, mild Bert would take his own life. While holiday preparations reach a feverish pitch, she’s determined to find his killer. And as she burrows into a surprising history of motives, longstanding secrets and family connections begin to stink like rotten plum pudding. Now, as Lucy gets closer to the truth, she finds herself in a life-threatening situation that would definitely spoil Christmas—permanently.

THOUGHTS: I found myself thoroughly relating to Lucy in this story. With all four of her kids grown and scattered not just across the country, but even in other countries, she is experiencing the type of empty-nesting that goes with the holidays. She’s missing the whole “big family” gathering vibe.

Lucy is a reporter for the local newspaper looking into a story on vicious social media bullying that leads to the death of a beloved member of the community. Although the police rule his death a suicide, Lucy and several other people don’t believe he did this. But when she starts to investigate what caused the online bullying, she finds out more than she thought. And another reporter is working on the same story, just from a different angle, so they share information when necessary. In the meantime, she’s also playing Mrs. Cratchit for the town’s “A Dicken’s Christmas” production. The young teen playing Tiny Tim seems to be obsessed with doing searches on his computer and when Lucy finds out he’s looking into the social media problems, she warns him that it could lead to dangerous situations.

Then he goes missing and it’s up to Lucy to figure out what happened to him and where he is.

I enjoyed the story, but there didn’t seem to be a lot of sleuthing on Lucy’s part. Yes, she’s delving into issues for her articles, but most cozies have friends helping and murder boards and more. In this one, “Tiny Tim” actually discovers what’s happening. Also, there was a lot of stress put on the back issues of the newspaper being damaged so she couldn’t find information. I’m surprised that neither the local library nor the historical society has back issues, even if just on film or fiche (yes, some libraries still use that) or even online. And then there’s the outcome of the plum pudding contest – I really had a problem with how that turned out. Finally, there’s Penny, Lucy’s son-in-law’s mother. That’s one woman I would have kicked out of my house! I don’t care if she’s the most wonderful decorator/cook in the world – you don’t take over someone’s home like that. And her son is a coward. Sorry, but that’s my opinion.

Still, it was a good story overall, so recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for providing this ARC.

STEELE SECRETS by Andi Cumbo-Floyd
Fiction, YA, Paranormal Mystery
5*****

Blurb: Ghosts just don’t show up for anybody. So when I meet the spirit of a former slave named Moses, I know he needs my help. But I didn’t expect to be taking on half of my town, or the powerful men who seem to run everything and have done so for years. Secrets are being uncovered, and some people would do anything to keep them buried, no matter who gets hurt. I’ll need the help of history and friends I can trust if I want to save Moses’ graveyard and protect his legacy. If only everyone believed it was one worth protecting…

THOUGHTS: This is a story about a teenage girl (17) who is transported from her home garden one evening to an old graveyard not far from her home where she meets a ghost. At first, I thought it a bit odd that she wouldn’t be freaked out about this, but as you read on and learn about Mary, you’ll come to understand her better and it makes sense. The ghost she meets is a man named Moses, who she discovers after time, was a slave. There’s also a real man, Isaiah, who had the same transport thing happen to him. Mary and Isaiah meet one Friday night but just as they’re getting to know each other and what happened to them, a man driving a bulldozer comes along, ready to “bury” the cemetery. And this is where we get the first hints of the story behind the story.

As Mary goes forward to fight the man who wants to destroy the cemetery, she learns that there are many secrets in the town that some people want to keep “buried”. As she digs into the history of the cemetery, she is confronted with racism and social injustice. Rather than fight evil with anger, she turns the tables and fights it with good – and with the power of the community (most of it) behind her.

I will say one thing about this story and that’s about the ending. It’s not your usual HEA style ending. It’s rough and not at all happy, but it is realistic. And that’s even better.

Recommended.

WAVE: BREAKING TRUE by Natalie J. Damschroder
Fiction, Action Adventure Romance

Blurb: Greer McCutcheon has had to rebuild her life twice: once when her parents died, and once when Kirby Delacroix left her. She’s not going to do it again. Not even when Kirby suddenly reappears ten years later and flips things upside down while somehow validating everything she’d ever believed about them.

For five years, every word out of Kirby’s mouth was a lie. Not just to Greer—to everyone. She always thought he was undercover, but after he disappeared, nothing happened to the criminal organization they both worked for. She moved on, went to school, and clawed her way into a career spent helping people who needed to escape from dire circumstances. If she’s been too focused on that and not on having a full, balanced life, well, she hasn’t noticed.

Kirby did lie to Greer, and everyone else, but his biggest lie was to himself after he was pulled from his undercover role. Circumstance and his job at WAVE have brought him back into her life, but in the worst way: WAVE is investigating a trafficking program linked to Greer and her company.

None of the feelings they’d had for each other ten years ago are gone. But Kirby is here to disrupt everything Greer has built, and then he’s going to be gone again. She’ll deal with having to start over professionally, but she will not open herself up to the kind of pain that loss brings. As if her heart will give her a choice.

Buy Link: https://books2read.com/BT

HAUNTED HULA-WEEN by Sally J. Smith
Fiction, cozy mystery, Aloha Lagoon Series
4****

Blurb: One bogus ticket fiasco. One scammer taking a deep dive in the bobbing for apples tub. One very exasperated travel agent who knew she was getting too old for rock concerts.It’s the spookiest time of year at Aloha Lagoon, and travel agent turned reluctant sleuth Gabby LeClair is up to her pixie cut in trouble! Global pop superstar Echo Celeste has descended on Kauai to debut her My Haunted Heart album. But the concert of the decade goes south when it’s discovered that hundreds of furious fans bought bogus tickets, and it was Julie, Gabby’s guy Rick’s “little sister,” who sold those tickets. Megastar Echo is devastated for her fans and wants to make things right. To do it, Gabby pulls off a Halloween a private Apology Shindig for the defrauded fans to take place at a crumbling, legend-haunted sugar mill and plantation. But before Echo can even perform, a scream cuts through the night—and the woman found floating in the apple-bobbing tub is none other than the con artist behind the ticket scam. Now Detective Ray is circling Julie like a shark, and Gabby finds herself in the middle of yet another murder to solve. With her team at her side, she digs into a tale of fraud, grief, and revenge that stretches far beyond the islands. It’s Halloween in the islands, and the fire goddess Pele may be wandering the cane fields where one very determined sleuth is all that stands between a killer and his next victim. But if Gabby isn’t careful, she might just be the next one bobbing for trouble!

THOUGHTS: I love the Aloha Lagoon series. Set on Kauai, the settings take us to the islands and the aromas and plants and ocean… In addition, this story uses the legend of Pele in all her aspects.

Gabby is a travel agent who arranges tours for visitors to the islands. Her boyfriend, Rick, flies helicopter tours around the island. Rick’s little sister, Julie, is an event planner who books a huge star, but she gets conned into buying bogus tickets. With angry fans chasing her and facing not just fraud charges, but a murder charge, Gabby and Rick have to figure out who really killed the con artist before Gabby ends up in jail.

A fun story with lots of suspects and a wonderful setting. And a satisfying ending that solves all. Oh, and some great recipes at the end!

Recommended.

NO BONES ABOUT IT by Annie McEwen
Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Northwoods Mysteries #5
5*****

Blurb: While Emmy Cooper is happy to have settled back in her hometown in the Wisconsin Northwoods, leaving her life as an interior designer in Chicago behind, her skills come in handy when her good friends need help restoring a rundown Victorian mansion into a B&B on the shores of Lake Superior. But things take a turn for the sinister when Emmy uncovers a hidden tunnel on the property—and a skeleton that’s been keeping its secrets for over a century! The discovery points to a possible Prohibition past and a mystery that spans decades. While trying to uncover the skeleton’s long-dead secrets, Emmy is also helping at her family’s Cooper’s Cove Resort, where her grandparents’ high school reunion fills the lodge with laughter, memories, and familiar faces. The stories shared begin to reveal more than anyone expects, and as the gossip mill spins, new clues surface…along with another dead body! Emmy—alongside her closest friends—must uncover a killer in the present while untangling a century-old mystery, before Emmy herself becomes history!

THOUGHTS: I love this series! I’d love to visit Cooper’s Cove in person–stay at one of the cabins (or the lodge), meet the family, everything! The characters and setting are what make this series come alive. Unfortunately, alive is not something that happens to some people in these stories (come on, it’s a cozy mystery – you have to have a body or two). In this one Emma is in the process of restoring and decorating a historical Victorian mansion into a B&B. While looking at a building on the grounds for possibly renovating that she discovers not only a hidden cellar and tunnel, but also a long-dead skeleton. And before the mystery of who he was, a much fresher body is found in the cellar. As she’s looking into that mystery, other secrets are uncovered–like a hidden speakeasy in the main house. Uncovering all the secrets being hidden in the property becomes necessary for Emmy when a friend becomes a person of interest in everything. She has to help him out, hopefully before she becomes the next hidden secret.

A fun series with great characters and a setting you really want to go visit.

Definitely recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

BETWEEN A WITCH AND A HARD PLACE by Celia Roman
Fiction, Urban Fantasy
3***

BLURB: Twelve years ago, my mother, a powerful chaos witch, walked out on me and my twin brother without a backward glance. We didn’t hear another word out of her until a vampire walked into my brother Nick’s bar wanting me to track her down. She’d disappeared into thin air, and he insisted that I was the only one who could find her. Of course, I refused. How could I not? Disappearing was Mom’s wheelhouse, and after she’d disappeared on us, I never wanted to see her again. Then members of the local supernatural community started turning up dead, and Nick was fingered as the suspect. With his life on the line, I had to make a choice: Throw everything I had at finding our mother and, maybe, the real culprit, or be forced to watch while the local werewolf pack tore Nick limb from limb as punishment for a crime he didn’t commit.

THOUGHTS: This is a good start to a series. There is an issue in this story – missing paranormals – that gets solved while leaving enough threads dangling to let us know more is coming. But at least it doesn’t end on a nasty cliffhanger, which I appreciate. Yes, we know more is coming, that’s obvious, but we get this part of the story solved.

In this one, Vanessa (aka Nessie) is an ex-cop turned PI who is hired by the local werewolf alpha to find a missing female werewolf. What she finds is more missing than just one female, leads to her mother who disappeared years ago, and a lot of secrets that affected her and her brother’s lives. Like the fact that they aren’t failed witches, but actually rather powerful ones who had been blocked by their mother before she took off. The question is, why? And when her aunt unblocks them, then the power really comes out–and not necessarily in a good way. The world building in the story is done well as are most of the characters. I’m just not sure I believed Nessie a whole lot. She seemed too clueless at times, especially when it came to Seth, the alpha of the pack.

Still, not a bad book. And I will look forward to the following books and the solving of the overall mystery.

Recommended.