HOLIDAY CHEER by Andrew Grey and Amy Lane

Fiction, Holiday Anthology, LGBTQ

4****

Blurb: Fall in love this holiday season with Holiday Cheer, a delightful collection of romantic Christmas tales from bestselling authors Amy Lane and Andrew Grey. From snow-filled streets to cozy fireside moments, these charming romcoms bring warmth, laughter, and love to the most wonderful time of the year. Whether it’s a chance meeting under the mistletoe, the magic of an unexpected holiday getaway, or a second chance at true love, these heartfelt stories capture the joy of the season. With plenty of festive cheer, witty banter, and swoon-worthy moments, Holiday Cheer is the perfect holiday treat for anyone who believes in the power of love and a Christmas miracle. Grab a cup of cocoa, cuddle up, and let the romance of the holidays begin!

Thoughts: This anthology contains six stories by authors Amy Lane and Andrew Grey. They all contain some heat—at least 4 flames on a couple. All take place during the Christmas season and all are M/M. “Stardust” – Duncan, an engineer, is in Bavaria to oversee the creation of a satellite mirror. Georg is his company contact. Love prevails. “Sweet Anticipation” – Rhys and Gregory, old boyfriends, reconnect over Gregory helping with a friend’s wedding. “Rudolph the Jack Russell Terrier”- told partially from the dog’s POV – Alex and Luther bond over a shelter dog. “The Morning After” – Pierce is injured in a crash and Hal helps him through recovery. “Watch Out for that Tree” – Cassidy, a loner, is seriously injured by a falling tree. His neighbor Mark (and Mark’s entire family) help him out. “Chrismyths” – Andy is stuck returning to Vermont for the holidays and has to leave Eli behind. When disasters happen at the Rainbow House where Eli is trying to hold things together, Andy’s entire small town comes to the rescue and the two have a definite happy holiday after all.

Recommended.

Blurb: Former OSS spy, Sarah Kraft, thought she’d left her dangerous past behind in 1950s New York City. But when her former boss tracks her down and convinces her to accept a new mission-steal the ancient Byzantine Cross from inside the Kremlin for the CIA she’s dragged back into the world of espionage. Once in Moscow, she’s promised the aid of a Russian double agent, Nicolai Rodzyanko, but things aren’t as they seem. Someone hired a hitman to eliminate Sarah, and she and Nicolai realize they’re not the only ones after the mysterious cross. As the two dig deeper into the history behind the oldest known biblical relic, they discover it’s far more than a simple artifact. Sarah starts questioning the motives of her former boss and the agency she once trusted, and when supernatural forces come into play, she must make a decision that could change the course of history.

Buy links – 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Byzantine-CrossDena-Weigel/dp/1509258280

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/thebyzantine–cross–denaweigel/1146196612?ean=9781509258284  

Dena Weigel was born in a small Western Kansas town—a place that provided her with ample time for exploring, reading, and lots of daydreaming. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, she studied art and culture in over thirty countries before settling in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. There, she built a career writing for businesses and nonprofits around the world. Dena enjoys hiking with her husband and daughter, painting, and relaxing on her deck with a cup of coffee and a great book. She is currently working on the next Sarah Kraft novel, The Argentinian Affair.

Social links – 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ 

Istagram: https://www.instagram.com/de naweigelauthor/  

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@denaweigel  

THE EMPRESS by Kristin Cast

Fiction, Fantasy, Tarot Subject

2**

He’s a ruthless, battle-scarred warrior with a dark past, and she’s stuck pretending to be his wife to save a fantasy kingdom.
The Arcana aren’t just figures in a tarot deck―they’re real. Terrifyingly real. That’s what I learned when I found a tarot card in the snow and was yanked from my world and into Towerfall. The first thing the people of this harsh, cruel realm did was try to kill me, and they probably would have succeeded if Kane hadn’t taken me to his hideout in the woods and nursed me back to health. But I don’t know if I can trust him. He’s too hot to be good news, he’s definitely hiding secrets, and I’ve already seen him kill two people to protect me. If I hadn’t just been helplessly dumped into his world, the scars on his hands and his dark, brooding attitude would have me running in the opposite direction. But right now, convincing the Kingdom of Pentacles that Kane and I are married is my best chance of getting into the palace, and back to my own world. Because there’s something wrong with Towerfall. Something deeply, terrifyingly wrong. And if anyone finds out Kane and I aren’t really married? Well, then both of us are dead.

Thoughts: For me, the best part of this story was the Tarot connections. I liked the beginning with the Tower spread and instructions on how to use it. Unfortunately for me, that was my favorite part of the book. It’s written in first person/present tense – admittedly not my favorite POV. But the main character, Scarlett, seems more like a teen than an adult, which would be fine, but the “lust” scenes make this definitely in the adult not the YA realm, especially the first scene on the opening pages. The instant attraction between her and Kane just didn’t work well for me either. There was no getting to know each other, just instant lust.

Scarlett loses her job, her boyfriend, and is basically having a rotten day. She goes into a shop to have her future read by a seer. She gets hit by a magic card that pulls her into another realm. She’s branded a witch, injured, and running for her life when Kane grabs her. Not knowing who he is, she fights him, but is too weak to do much. He saves her life and the two enter into a quest to save the Pentacle Kingdom. Of course things don’t go smoothly, but, like most stories, they do overcome by the end.

I’m not sure if I recommend this or not. It’s a decent fantasy in some areas. Definitely not a good “romantasy” even though they end up in a HEA ending. Just be forewarned that there are some very hot scenes that are adult in nature. Caveat emptor.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book. All opinions are mine alone and are not solicited or influenced by anyone.

If you live in the US, today is Election Day. Please… do the right thing and vote. I’m not going to tell you who to choose – but… please. Think about what this vote will mean to the women and girls in your life. To anyone who is not a rich, white, bigot.

HALLO-WAIIAN MURDER MYSTERY by Rosalie Spielman

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Aloha Lagoon Series

3***

Blurb: It’s Kiki Hepburn’s first Halloween in Aloha Lagoon, and she doesn’t know exactly what to expect. Between working at the busy Aloha Lagoon Dive Shop and living with the eccentric Auntie Akamai, life is always unpredictable. But one thing Kiki definitely didn’t expect to find is the dead body of Auntie Akamai’s life-long friend, Celine Suzuki! And when the island’s Homicide Detective Ray shows up, Kiki knows the death is not an accident—it’s murder. Now Auntie Akamai’s friends are all suspects in the death. Was it Oliana Harris, the Pineapple Princess, and heiress to a pineapple fortune? Margaux La Roux, a transplant from New Orleans? Or Stella Keawe, Akamai’s gossipy goose of a neighbor? They’re all acting suspiciously. And each is hiding something. But is what they’re hiding worth killing over? To complicate matters even more, Kiki’s parents want her to bring her hot diver boyfriend Dex home for the holidays, and Kiki’s not sure how she feels about the whole situation—let alone how Dex feels. Instead of enjoying her first Hawaiian Autumn under the waves, Kiki’s investigation takes her to gardens of flowering poisonous plants, an over-the-top animal shelter, a prickly pineapple plantation, and a zombie theme “Hallo-wedding.” With time running out and “something” stalking her every move, will Kiki live to see her Halloween treats? Or will this year end in a “trick” Kiki won’t come back from?

Thoughts: This was a cute addition to the Aloha Lagoon series but I had a few problems with it. There were repetitions of information – not a lot, but some. And I’m not sure the ending was as satisfying as it could have been. Yes, the killer was caught, but there were a few strings still left dangling for me. And I knew who the killer was from the start, just not the why until most of the way in. The characters were believable and interesting. I especially loved Auntie Akamie’s parrot Paulie and Doyle the cat! And the info on the beautiful—but deadly—plants was intriguing.

Kiki came to Aloha Lagoon from New York City and is still adjusting to life in the islands. She’s learning to drive and endure the rainy season. She helps out with her boyfriend Dex’s (and his father’s) diving tours and when not doing that, helps the cops solve murders. 

In this one, old family secrets will soon be in the open, and some family members can’t let that happen. Kiki hunts down the clues and helps find the truth—and the murderer. Oh, and there’s a Zombie-themed wedding to boot!

Recommended for a fun Halloween read.

Author Bio: 

Dr. Susan Harris Howell is a psychology professor who has taught and mentored students for over thirty years. Her novel, The Spirit of Vanderlaan, draws on that career to capture the warmth between a psychology professor and the assortment of personalities which inhabit her office. Her first book, Buried Talents, focuses on the subtle ways women are discouraged from entering male-dominated occupations. Through her writing and speaking, her passion is to free others from unnecessary restrictions so they can step into their best life. Susan and her husband have two grown children, a daughter-in-law, one adorable grandson, and an incorrigible beagle named Doc. 

Socials: 

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

Blog/Email List   https://susanharrishowell.substack.com/p/the-gift

Facebook: www.facebook.com/susanhowellwriter

Was it coincidence that brought them together – or a ghost with a purpose?

When beloved professor, Samantha Hayes, learns that her favorite four students live in as many of her old dorm rooms, she wonders how it happened and for what purpose. As she and her student entourage explore the possibilities, they uncover a death years ago and what appears to be the ghost of the dearly departed. All of this stirs up Samantha’s long-held fear that she was responsible for that death, challenging all she thought she knew about herself and the work she holds dear. They must figure out what happened before Samantha gets fired for “dabbling in the paranormal.” 

Buy Links: 

Website:  http://susanharrishowell.com 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/susanharrishowell