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September 8, 2018

The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz ~ a Review

by MK French

Jane Hawk is a fugitive former FBI agent and fighting to bring to light the truth regarding the Techno Arcadians, a group of people organized into cells that will take out any opposition, any who are likely to be an opposing force, and subdue the will of the people with a mesh of nanobots that assemble inside the brain. One team is trying to track her whereabouts directly, sure she will try to go to her son now that his guardians are dead. Another team is tracking her in-laws in the hopes that they know where their only grandchild is hidden. There are rare side effects of the nanobots, including sudden and total psychological collapse, and it seems to be infectious.

September 7, 2018

Shocking Introductions: Crafting the Perfect Start to a Story

by C. M. North


One of the main criticisms levied against my debut novel, 22 Scars, is that it takes a while to get into. It lacks initial momentum, for lack of a better phrase; it starts with a whisper, and although (I like to believe) it builds to a heightened crescendo of emotional turmoil and unexpected revelations, it doesn’t necessarily shout out from the opening lines that this is going to be a story that will reward your emotional investment. Enough people have said it eventually gets there that I want to believe I achieved something at least good, if not great, but it’s certainly taught me a lesson about how to start a book.

The Book of Hidden Things by Francesco Dimitri ~ a Review

by MK French

Four friends had made a pact to meet every year in Castelfranco, their hometown. When Art doesn't show up, his friends try to track him down. There is an illegal marijuana farm on his property, a book he had apparently written, and bizarre rumors about his apparent miraculous abilities. The book he wrote, called "The Book of Hidden Things," promises to reveal dark wonders and secrets. Art had traveled around the world before settling back in Italy, and he was always the leader of their group of friends. Fabio became a photographer, Mauro became a lawyer, and Tony became a surgeon. As the novel unfolds around Art's disappearance, we get flashes back to their friendship together as teens, and there are teases of a larger mystery. Art had disappeared for a week inside an ancient olive grove, and apparently, he was never the same afterward. Fabio is the first to make the connection to the old grove, but the mystery around Art's disappearances continue.

September 6, 2018

2 Final Books to Read Before the Heat of Summer Disappears

by Susan Roberts


July and August is typically the time of the year that Southerners refer to as DOG DAYS - a period of stagnation or inactivity due to the hot temperatures.  We spend as much time in air conditioning as possible.  The way the weather looks this year, it isn't just the South that is having hot and muggy days, and just because we are past Labor Day it doesn't mean the summer heat is gone. Since you can't do much outside due to the heat, it's time to add a few new books to your reading lists.  Both of these books kept me so interested that I barely even knew that the sun was out.

September 5, 2018

Clutch by Lisa Becker ~ a Review

by Donna Huber

I originally passed on reviewing Clutch when it was originally released a few years ago. Then I read Links by Lisa Becker (read my review). So when I was asked again several months ago to review the re-release of the book, I agreed. I was really looking forward it since I loved Links so much. Some e-reader problems kept me from getting to it until recently. Did it live up to my expectations?

September 3, 2018

The Fated Sky by Mary Robinette Kowal ~ An @Audible_com Review #MondayBlogs

by Donna Huber



I was so thrilled when I finished The Calculating Stars (read my review) that I only had to wait a few days until the release of the book 2 in the Lady Astronaut series, The Fated Sky, came out. Now I'm sad because I finished it and it was so incredibly good that I didn't want it to end.

September 2, 2018

Drawn to the Marquess by Bronwen Evans ~ a Review

by MK French

Drawn to the Marquess
September 2018; Loveswept
ebook (223 pages); Regency romance
Penelope had been trapped in a terrible marriage for six years before her husband died, allowing her prior properties and money to revert back to her. Her brother-in-law wants to seize that fortune by proving that her husband's death was murder, so Penelope enlists Stephen Hornsby, the Marquess of Clarendon. He's a rake she's determined not to fall for and has contacts that could help her.

This is a rather seasoned formula for Regency romances, as the titled lord with contacts must be convinced to rescue the damsel in distress. Penelope isn't fresh out of the schoolroom, which is nice, and she is very self-assured and helpful to the people in her country village. Stephen has his own issue, as he is slowly going blind and trying to race against time to see every beautiful thing he can before that happens. Penelope figures out his secret fairly early on, and Stephen figures out her secret toward the end of the novel, temporarily driving a wedge between them. The two really do make a good match, as they're both stubborn and independent while longing for someone special to share their lives with. They are surrounded by loving and supportive friends and family, which makes for a warm and easygoing story before the action kicks in at the very end.

Buy Drawn to Marquess at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever.


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