Review: Twisted Fates

TWISTED FATES by SD Porter

Fiction, YA, Paranormal

4****

THOUGHTS: This is part of a series from The Wild Rose Press called “The Haunting of Pinedale High”. All the stories take place in the same small town and are paranormal and are YA in that the main characters are teenagers.

In this one, Ben Danvers has lost his twin sister, Beth. But, he can still see and communicate with her ghost. He keeps it quiet that he can do this until he meets a cute girl—who can also see ghosts. Together, the two of them, along with Beth, tackle a decades old murder mystery of the volleyball team. But they have to convince their parents and the local cops that the killer is still out there—and they could be next.

I love the emotions this evokes and the conflicts that Ben faces when trying to convince others that, first, he’s not crazy, and second, that there really is a danger out there and the killer’s not done yet.

I loved the ending. That twist was very satisfying.

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”

BLURB: The ghosts of the Pinedale High girls’ volleyball team have been trapped on campus for decades. When Ben Danvers arrives on campus, grieving the death of his twin sister, Beth, the past and present collide. Beth, now a ghost herself, vows to help the trapped players get their justice and recruits her brother’s help. During their investigation, the twins discover that even though it’s been more than forty years since the tragedy, the danger is still very much alive.

Review: Dr. Shine Cracks the Case

DR. SHINE CRACKS THE CASE by Cathy Tull

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

4****

Thoughts: Most cozy mysteries have amateur sleuths who run bakeries, but in this one, she is an ex-cop turned chiropractor. Definitely different. But her being accused of murder by the local cops is standard for cozies. Susannah Shine and her friends must uncover secrets in the small town in order to show her innocence. This takes place in a small Southern town with a huge cast of characters. So many, I had trouble keeping some of them straight. And I was never quite sure why the investigator hated Susannah so much. And her continuous vertigo was a bit off-putting at times. But I loved “Henry the Eight” – her goldfish. And Rusty, her troublesome cat. There’s a decent plot but I will say I solved the mystery before I got to the end. Still, it was a decent cozy with a satisfying ending.

Blurb: When former NYPD officer, Susannah Shine, changes careers and becomes a Chiropractor, her path leads her to the small Georgia town of Peach Grove. After she finds the body of a local restaurateur on her doorstep, the ex-NYC cop, must hunt down a list of suspects while staying one-step ahead of the detective who’s accusing her of a murder she didn’t commit. When her BFF, Bitsy Long, forms the Ladies’ Crime Solving Club, Dr. Susannah and her staff unearth long hidden secrets via the Peach Grove Independence Day Festival. The ChiroCozy Mystery series is light-hearted mystery series featuring humorous characters, southern charm, and recipes. If you like Janet Evanovich and Jana DeLeon, then you’ll love this series that combines their best traits in a fastpaced, can’t-put-downable adventure.

Review: Accident or Murder

ACCIDENT OR MURDER by Michelle Godard Richer

Fiction, Thriller

5*****

Thoughts: I love this author’s works, but this one was a little dark. Actually, very dark. In this one, a husband and wife have to face their pasts where a young woman was killed. But who killed her? Or was it an accident? There are so many twists and turns in this story—in a good way—that keeps you turning the pages. It encompasses all the issues in a psychological thriller: obsession, secrets, revenge, suspense and more, as well as delving into the past and present. Not all of the characters are someone I’d want to invite to tea, but they are relatable (to an extent).

The young woman, Sasha, died years ago and her sister Eliza has never gotten over her death. She is certain Sasha’s old boyfriend, Kristian, murdered her. It has taken years for her to exact her revenge, but she plots and plans. In her mind, he should not be free to have a wonderful life full of riches and a beautiful wife. But the way she goes about it gives me a moment. I can kind of understand her, but I would never go as far as she does.

As much as I don’t like dark thrillers, I will admit that this one drew me in and kept me turning the pages.

Recommended.

Blurb: Eliza has lived half her life haunted by the memory of her sister, Sasha’s, suspicious death. The police ruled her death an accident, but Eliza is certain that Sasha’s boyfriend, Kristian, got away with her murder. Over the years, Eliza’s grief has morphed into obsession. She’s determined to make Kristian pay, no matter the cost. Kristian has moved newly married to Adrianna, he’s trying to balance a fractured marriage with the dangerous ties he maintains to a criminal organization. Meanwhile, Adrianna struggles to step out of her husband’s oppressive shadow and gain her independence. Both are blind to the danger that’s closing in, unaware that their every word, action, and weakness is being studied by someone determined to destroy them.

Review: Finally Hopeful

FINALLY HOPEFUL by James Greenblatt

Nonfiction, Self-Help, Depression

3***

Thoughts: I was really looking forward to this book. I found the premise intriguing, but the outcome was troublesome to me. I loved that he was promoting functional psychiatry for depression—testing before treating. But…some of the tests he proposes cost hundreds of dollars and not everybody has the kind of insurance that will cover them. Then, when the tests results come in, he proposes specific types of supplements, the kind insurance won’t cover and very few people can afford. Plus, he specifies using a particular brand/company. Basically, this is more like An infomercial where they tell you what’s wrong, then tell you that they have the perfect solution—for a price.

I like the idea of functional psychiatry. According to the author, depression is not just in your head. It’s part of your entire body. Functional psychiatry treats the root cause. And he stresses that “one size (or med) does not fit all”. It combines medical science with nutrition and metabolism.

Overall, it’s an interesting book and there is some good information in there, but you have to wade through a lot of brand specific recommendations.

Blurb: A groundbreaking personalized model for psychiatric treatment of depression that helps readers identify their body’s unique interplay of nutritional factors, biochemistry, lifestyle and genetics for effective and lasting care. Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting more than 21 million American adults and 3.7 million of our youth each year. And yet, the current one-size-fits-all medical model for psychiatric treatment of depression does not work for a significant portion of patients. Antidepressant medications are often treated as a magic bullet, but the truth is that depression is a complex mental and physical condition, influenced by nutrient intake and absorption, body chemistry, metabolism, genetics, hormones, food sensitivities, stressful life events, social support, and many other factors. In Finally Hopeful, functional psychiatrist Dr. James Greenblatt offers a new model of treatment that acknowledges that depression is not “all in your head,” but in your body. Dr. Greenblatt provides a unique guide to optimizing the nutrients, hormones, neurotransmitters, and many other biochemical factors that play a major role in most cases of depression. It is vital to address these physical factors using testing that customizes treatment to the individual, and Finally Hopeful outlines what tests you need; how to read the results for practical action; and how to work in conjunction with your physician. You’ll also gain key insights into antidepressants and feel empowered in seeking the answers you deserve. A functional psychiatry approach recognizes that depression has many causes and often requires a range of therapies, both drug and non-drug. Finally Hopeful makes the whole-body approach available to everyone, delivering real hope and relief.

Spotlight: Lost in His Spiderwebs

Lost in His Spiderwebs by Amber Daulton

Genre: Dark Romance

Tropes: Mafia/Cartel, Second Chance, Enemies to Lovers, Secret Child/Surprise Baby

Heat Rating: 5 Flames

Blurb: Kidnapped by the enemy. Bought by the jefe. Will his smoldering touch thaw her frozen heart?

Rubén Lozano, the new leader of the Lozano Cartel, craves peace amidst a legacy of bloodshed and death. He never expected to find his ex-lover, Drina Cabrera, in the clutches of his vicious rivals. Her haunted eyes compel him to rescue her, but freeing her is another matter. After five months of captivity, Drina trades one captor for another. Though she succumbs to Rubén’s masterful touch, the bittersweet memory of her daughter and the life she was stolen from is a constant wedge between them. When Rubén’s darkest secret comes out, he will have to wash his hands in crimson. Will Drina let her king face the danger alone, or stand at his side as his cartel queen?

– Book two in the dark romance series, the Lozano Cartel. All the books can be read as a standalone, but are part of an interconnected series.

– Scenes featuring drug distribution, violence, kidnapping, and attempted sexual assault may be uncomfortable for some readers.

– No cheating. HEA guaranteed!

Tagline: The cartel king has finally found his queen.

Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231721773-lost-in-his-spiderwebs

Check it out on BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/lost-in-his-spiderwebs-lozano-cartel-book-2-a-dark-captivity-second-chance-romance-by-amber-daulton

Download Now

Download Direct from the Author (discount available): https://books.amberdaulton.com/LostInHisSpiderwebsDirect

Universal: https://books2read.com/LostInHisSpiderwebs

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4joCJUV

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-in-his-spiderwebs-amber-daulton/1147318586?ean=2940184374895

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/lost-in-his-spiderwebs

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=7lNYEQAAQBAJ

Apple/iBooks: https://apple.co/4jpLyht

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1648364

About the Author

Amber Daulton is the author of the Lozano Cartel, the Arresting Onyx, the Embracing You, and the Ramseys in Time series, as well as several standalone novellas. Her books are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and demanding cats.

Social Media Links

Follow Me: https://linktr.ee/AmberDaulton

Check out my website, Daulton Publishing: https://amberdaulton.com

Review: Guarding His Home

Guarding his Home by Andrew Grey

Fiction, M/M, Contemporary Romance

4****

THOUGHTS: This was a quick read with lots of emotions, conflict, and a satisfying ending. Brendan and Lucas are great characters who are not made for each other, but they work. I love that Lucas was so easy with Lucas’s son Jameson – and that the 4-year-old calls him the Hulk!

In this story, Brendan has trouble with a vandal at his horse farm. He believes his ex-wife is the perp. Lucas, a bouncer for a bar, is between jobs so comes on as security. With his help, they discover who is causing the problems. And even though Brendan is his “boss”, the two find a deep connection that they can’t deny. At only a hundred pages, this is a quick read and you’ll love the way things turn out.

Recommended.

Blurb: Single father Brendan Marshall is trying to keep life and limb together after his divorce. Having gotten custody of Jameson in a tough custody battle, he’s determined to be the best father he can. However, it seems his ex is not willing to just walk away, even if she isn’t up for mother of the year. When a threat arises to his family horse farm, he realizes he needs help to keep his family safe. Lucas Stone is a bouncer at a happening night club until it closes its doors, and what he needs now is a job. Through a mutual friend, Lucas meets Brendan. He knows nothing about farms, horses, or goats. But what he does know is security, and the fact that there is something about Brendan that gets under his skin… like, way under. Both men are in uneasy territory, but they quickly realize that they need to rely on each other. Brendan comes to learn that Lucas will act in order to keep him and Jameson safe, and Lucas quickly figures out that while country life is different from his past experience, it also has its charm… like the farmer and his amazing son. But just as a relationship begins to build, outside threats could pull everything they care about to pieces.

Spotlight: Unholy

Blurb: In her last semester of college, Beth D’Angelo has one goal—to get her thermodynamics experiment to work so she can graduate. But everything changes when she nearly runs over a mysterious stranger with her car—a man whose hauntingly handsome face fills her with an inexplicable sense of dread. Suddenly, her failed experiment becomes the least of her worries. Strong, alluring, and centuries-old, Thomas Callahan is a vampire whose powers are as dangerous as his secrets. After Beth nearly runs him over, her sweet nature and innate fear of him become an irresistible challenge—to corrupt her innocence. As they spend more time together, Beth’s fear dissipates and becomes something Thomas finds himself craving more than blood. Knowing it is only a matter of time before she discovers what he truly is, and with two hunters on his trail seeking vengeance, Thomas must decide if loving Beth is worth risking both their lives.

Buy Links:

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FL2K4DBG/

Nook – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unholy-kathryn-amurra/1147939872

Apple – https://books.apple.com/us/book/unholy/id6749545140

Author Bio: Kathryn Amurra is the author of sweet and sensual love stories. Her debut series, Soothsayer’s Path, is a historical romance series of standalone books set in Ancient Rome around 115 CE. Her new series, Heart’s True Desire, is a paranormal romance series of standalone books published through The Wild Rose Press. Kathryn has been making up stories for as long as she can remember and writing since grade school. Against the advice of her 12^th grade English teacher, she studied Mechanical Engineering in college, then worked as an Engineer for a few years. After finding and marrying her own hero, she and her hubby went to law school together. They currently live in North Carolina with their three girls.

Contact The Author:

Email – kathrynamurra@gmail.com

Website & Newsletter Sign-up – https://www.kathrynamurra.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/kathrynamurra/

Twitter – @AmurraKathryn

Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20280375.Kathryn_Amurra

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kathryn-amurra

Review: Holidays and Homicide

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Short stories/Anthology

5+++ stars

THOUGHTS: This book isn’t coming out until December 2, but it is definitely on my “must buy” list. And it should be on yours. In most anthologies, there are often stories that you love and others that are okay, but there are no “okay” ones in this anthology. They are all fun, entertaining, and satisfying–and have characters that are in the authors’ full scale books. And a few of them have delicious recipes as well. They are quick reads so easy to grab over lunch (though some are a little longer and may take more than a lunch break to read) and give you a glimpse at each author’s unique style.

BLURB: From twelve USA Today bestselling and award winning authors, comes a short story collection stuffed full of mirthful mysteries, clever criminals, and holiday cheer! These short holiday bites are perfect for enjoying between rounds of wrapping or binge-reading over a cup of cocoa! Stories: A Hometown Christmas Caper (Hometown Mysteries) by Rosalie Spielman; Gossip, Guilt & Gingerbread (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries) by Lena Gregory; Larceny & Twinkle Lights (Jamie Winters Mysteries) by Kelly Rey; Holidays & Heists (Aloha Lagoon Mysteries) by Anne Marie Stoddard; Ornaments, Surprise & Dead Guys (Gianna Mancini Mysteries) by Jennifer Fischetto; It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Mischief (Northwoods Mysteries) by Annie McEwen; You Can’t see the Forest for the Christmas Trees (Modern Midwife Mysteries) by Christine Knapp; Jingle Bell Rocker (Sunny Side Up Mysteries) by Misty Simon; Holly, Handcuffs, and Hearsay (Camelot Flowers Mysteries) by Erica Wynters; Search for the Silent Santa (Ghost Town Mysteries) by Jamie L. Adams; Nothing But Truffle (Cookies & Chance Mysteries) by Catherine Bruns; A Heartland Homicide (Bourbon B&B Mysteries) by Gin Jones

Review: Amish Baking at Home Cookbook

Author: Naomi Stutzman Gingerich

Nonfiction, Cookbook, Memoir

5*****

THOUGHTS: I live in an area populated by the Amish and Mennonite and many of the recipes in this book are reminiscent of the area. I loved the stories and memoir-like pictures as they bring back memories of stories my father told of growing up on an Amish farm. There are also plenty of color pictures to go with many of the recipes which help. As for the recipes themselves, they are clear, concise, and easy to follow. The author includes such ones like Shoo Fly Pie, Whacky Cake, Tapioca Fluff, Apple Fritters, and Whoopie Pies and so much more. Okay, not all of them are strictly Amish, but they are sooo good. The only slight drawback is that there is no nutritional information, but these are not recipes for the diet conscious. They are full of fat, sugar, and so much deliciousness that you can’t help but enjoy them — on occasion.

Definitely recommended (and on my “must buy the hardcover” list)!

BLURB: There’s something magical about Amish and Mennonite baking, which may be why people travel far and wide to savor its authenticity. Now you can capture the same fresh-baked goodness at home and fill your kitchen with the sweet aroma of traditional Amish baked goods and desserts with the Amish Baking at Home Cookbook. Taste 176 recipes for homemade Amish cookies, breads, rolls, cinnamon rolls, pies, cobblers, and much more. Inside, Naomi Gingerich—a food writer and natural storyteller—will have you sinking your teeth into the Amish and Mennonite cultures that shaped her culinary upbringing. It’s not just a cookbook. It’s a grand tour through Amish country, exploring the family-honed traditions that bring each recipe to life. With the Amish Baking at Home Cookbook, everything you make will help you feel a little more connected to the wholesome, natural ingredients that make Amish baking so unforgettable. This special edition features a gorgeous fabric-wrapped spine, shimmering gold page edges, and is individually numbered and signed by author Naomi Gingerich on the inside cover, making it a truly beautiful keepsake for any home baker!

Spotlight: Blowing Bubbles on the Moon

Blurb: Deena is a prime, born and raised to porter parents in the lunar habitats. Life is hard, but with a rag-tag group of friends, she gets by. Jake is a wealthy techie, part of an elite security force searching for the source of the deadly drug utopia. He can’t imagine the hardships Deena has endured and is determined to make a difference. They reluctantly team up together, but they realize that the danger to them is more than they imagined — but that love doesn’t care about class and status.

Buy Links:

Amazon

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228111735-blowing-bubbles-on-the-moon

Blowing Bubbles on the Moon by Vicky Burkholder – BookBub

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blowing-bubbles-on-the-moon-vicky-burkholder/1146964475

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/blowing-bubbles-on-the-moon/54981085

Enter to win a $10 Amazon gift card:

https://kingsumo.com/g/1xqq0nm/science-fiction-and-fantasy-bookish-event-giveaway

Open Internationally.
Runs October 7 – October 13, 2025.
Winner will be drawn on October 14, 2025.