October 27, 2022 · 7:00 am

The Mystery of the Teacup Quilt (Harland Creek Mystery Quilters) by Jodi Allen Brice (Book Review)

Hi! I’m Dove Agnew, former successful dress designer who was living the high life in New York, until my sleazy business partner used my business to move his drugs, leaving me to pack my ruined reputation and move back home to the tiny town of Harland Creek.

Despite the setback, all was going relatively well until I found Gertrude Brown’s body on the floor of my mom’s quilt shop. Now, rumors are flying and all eyes are on me. I’m a murder suspect! Even my ex-boyfriend, the current chief of police, is suspicious of me.

Now, it’s up to me to clear my name and find out who the real killer is before someone else gets hurt. But I’m going to need help, and the Harland Creek Quilters, and a goat named Petunia, are just the group to get things done.

Welcome to the new series set in the beloved town of Harland Creek.

With the quilting club ladies and a sidekick, which happens to be a goat, this book will keep you guessing and laughing out loud!

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from R&R Book Tours.
I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.


The Mystery of the Tea Cup Quilt by Jodi Allen Brice was entertaining. I loved the antics of the quilting group. The breaking and entering getaway scene was hilarious! 

“Who killed Gertrude” was not a slam-dunk, an easy mystery to solve. I had my suspicions but was on the fence for quite a while. Certain suspects on the quilters’ board were way too obvious. I had to think who wasn’t obvious. That’s when I narrowed it down to two suspects. By the way, I was right. I figured out the who but not everything the murderer had been up to. Let’s just say, murder was not their only crime. 

The break-out star of The Mystery of the Tea Cup Quilt was Petunia, the goat. I thought goats were cool before this, but now I think they are my favorite barnyard animal! 

Even though Dove (police’s prime suspect) and Dean (police chief) butted heads about the case, there was still a spark from their high school sweetheart days. They didn’t “hook up” in this book, but I’m hoping that changes in the sequel — which I can’t wait to read.

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

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Jodi Allen Brice is a USA Today best-selling author and has written numerous books under a different pen names. Under Jodi Allen Brice she writes fiction, small town clean and sweet romance and cozy mystery.

She transitioned away from paranormal romance in the year 2020 when the virus hit and currently writes  under Jodi Allen Brice.

Jodi Allen Brice

 

 

 

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October 26, 2022 · 7:00 am

Come One, Come All by E. Gilliland (Book Review)

The Pied Piper Circus lures in the lost, the lonely, people who wish to be stronger or faster or prettier…but once you join, you can never leave. 

Louisa knows the dangers of the traveling carnival, but she cannot afford to stay away. Not if she wants to get rid of the white owl that’s been haunting her, invading her dreams. Not if she wants to know about the dark, sinister mark in her eyes that convinces people to follow her every whim, no matter how terrible. Not when she fears what she might do with that power.

Ringmaster Amos Cain has the answers Louisa seeks, but like everything else in the Pied Piper Circus, they won’t come without a price. And there’s something hungry living in the heart of the carnival that will never be satiated, no matter how many lost souls She consumes.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from R&R Book Tours.
I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Years and years ago, I grew up in a tiny town. Every fourth of July weekend, a carnival would be set up less than a block from my house. During the day, the carnival didn’t look scary. At night, I had the opposite feeling regarding the place. I’m sure the carnie workers were friendly enough, but at night, I was afraid of them and who might grab me on the way back to my house. This story made me remember all those uneasy feelings from years past. 

The Pied Piper Circus had an acrobat, clown, a strong man, and a tiger that entertained the visitors. The circus also housed a very dark secret – a monster that feasted on the souls of the lost and lonely. When hunger struck or anger boiled over, the monster, referred to as “Lady,” would peel the skin off her victim’s flesh. She was the stuff of nightmares! 

Amos was the circus’s ringmaster, but he also helped corral the Lady when she awoke. It was no easy task keeping the Lady pleased; she was a jealous and heartless beast. 

The book’s summary was an attention-grabber. The cover and title are perfect! The story itself left me with mixed feelings. The story’s plot was unique. However, the first half often gave off a sequel vibe. For instance: It was written as if I should know who certain characters are, their past interactions, and why they behaved or reacted in certain ways. I looked up the book to verify this was not a sequel in a series. 

Since this book is labeled “horror,” I craved more Lady feasting scenes. Her hunger wasn’t capitalized on enough to make this a typical horror book. This story was more supernatural in nature. 

I was pleasantly surprised who came out of nowhere to help Louisa when we saw Lady’s anger unleashed. I thought they were gone forever. (No spoilers.)

With the superbly written book summary, I was ready to be blown away by the contents. Unfortunately, I wasn’t. It felt incomplete. Even though I had mixed feelings regarding the story, I recommend you read it. It was a nice supernatural read, and the ending opened it for a sequel. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤1/2

 

 

About the Author

Writer Elizabeth Gilliland was photographed in Mobile, Alabama.

Elizabeth Gilliland mostly believes in ghosts and other supernatural spooks, but she has a standing agreement with them to keep a respectful distance. When she isn’t writing, she is most likely sneaking classic Gothic novels into her class curriculum, or arguing why we need to value adaptations as art. She is also the author of the Austen University Mysteries, and she lives in Alabama with her husband and son.

Bayou Wolf Press | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

 

 

 

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October 24, 2022 · 7:00 am

Madison: The Tale of a Corgi with no Tail by Susan Erickson Catucci (Book Review)

HOW CAN THIS BE?

Yesterday was just a typical day in the life of little Madison, a Corgi who lives with her family in a little blue house. She considers herself to be one of the luckiest animals within her world – even if she has to share the little blue house with Whiskers, a cat who tends to be grouchy and awfully prickly most of the time. But today, everything has changed! Madison has discovered she is not like the other animals around her. She is missing something and she needs to know why.

HOW CAN THIS BE?

And she hopes to find the answer.

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Meet the real Madison!

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

I don’t always read the dedication page, but I’m glad I didn’t skip over it today. It had a real-life photo of Madison, and the corgi is adorable! 

I acknowledge that I am unfamiliar with all the dog breeds, but I am acquainted with corgis. They appear to be jolly dogs. In Madison: The Tale of a Corgi with no Tail, the pup starts all smiles until they realize they have no tail. 

Madison goes on a mission to ask other animals why they have a tail. Each animal Madison meets is a teaching moment. For the wee ones, it helps teaches animal names. Maybe you could incorporate animal sounds too. For the slighter older listener, it teaches the function of different tails. For example, kids will learn about an opossum using its tail to hang from a branch and protect its young while they nap. 

Madison heads home down because they do not have a tail. They think they are unlucky; however, Whiskers the cat tells them how lucky they are not to have one. The illustrations of poor Whiskers with his mouth stretched wide in an AHHHH moment will make your child laugh. 

Madison might not have a tail, but that’s okay. Dogs are loads of fun, with or without a tale!

While my daughter loved all the photos, she cracked up at the last image. She said, “Look at the dog’s big butt.” Her laughter brought a smile to my face. 

Madison: The Tale of a Corgi with no Tail held my daughter’s attention from beginning to end, and if you are a parent, you know that’s a sign of a well-crafted book. I encourage others to share this book with their youngsters. Also, show them pictures of the dearly departed Queen’s famous corgi companions. 

Review submitted to Reedsy on 9/13/22

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

Meet the Author

I have loved reading and writing all my life, second only to art, especially illustrations. My co-author Susan Permuy was the real Madison’s mom and together we have brought her to life in order to share a valuable life lesson. My main focus is mindfulness and well being for children.

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

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October 20, 2022 · 7:00 am

Looking Up by Jayne Augustin (Book Review)

Explore the possibilities of your own capabilities with this story of a young girl who reimagined her entire existence with hopes of rising above the proclaimed narrative and bringing all those who look a bit like her along for the rise.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

History has shown black and brown people have been mistreated. They are repeatedly treated differently because of their skin color. Fear and hate follow them wherever they go, and that’s not right. 

While the past does not paint a pretty picture, we must teach our children the harshness unleashed on them. We are also responsible for sharing all the excellent ways black and brown people have done in the world. They are fighting for injustice, then and now. They doctor the sick and injured. They teach, perform, create art, invent, and do much more. They are proud people who embrace their culture. They deserve to be celebrated, never feared. 

Looking Up by Jayne Augustin speaks and illustrates all the points made above. Brown and black people should be welcomed in every part of the world. Color shouldn’t define a person. Actions do. 

Looking Up by Jayne Augustin shows a little girl’s determination to love who she is and where she came from and encourages everyone to reach for the light. 

This world is getting darker every day, so I implore those reading this review to listen to the child in Looking Up. Look past skin color and help others reach their full potential – reach for greatness. 

No matter your skin tone, I encourage you to share Looking Up by Jayne Augustin with your children. Teach acceptance. Promote a strong community. 

Amazon didn’t have a recommended reading age when I wrote my review; however, I would suggest it’s for 3-year-olds and up. Toddlers might not grasp the message, but I think they’ll like the illustrations. Speaking of drawings, I couldn’t locate the illustrator’s name on the Reedsy file, but I’d like to congratulate them on their beautiful pictures. My eyes were watering at the image of the shadows chasing down the three people. Very moving! 

Review submitted to Reedsy on 8/6/22. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

Meet the Author

Jayne Augustin: Greetings! I am a mom of six, wife, doula, author, caretaker, and strange (dang near abnormal) explorer. I celebrate the small things in life and people fascinate me. My hope is that my books sprinkle a little magical wonder over all who read them! Cheers and happy reading!

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

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October 19, 2022 · 7:00 am

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch by Julia Brewer Daily (Book Review)

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Emma Rosales is the heiress to the largest ranch in Texas-The Thorn. All of the responsibilities of managing a million acres now fall into her fifth-generation hands.

A task Emma could handle with her eyes closed… if The Thorn was any ordinary property.

The Thorn is home to many things. Clear, cloudless skies. Miles of desert scrub and craggy mountains. A quiet disrupted only by whispers of the wind. And an ancient web of secrets that won’t let Emma out alive without a fight.

The Fifth Daughter of Thorn Ranch is a family saga as large as the state of Texas.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from R&R Book Tours.
I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Emma’s path in life has been set for her even before she could speak her first word. In every generation, the women in her family are in charge of running Thorn Ranch. Thorn Ranch has over 500 horses, 7500 heard of cattle, and crops. It has a million acres (1600 square miles) and spans eight counties. Life on the ranch is never dull. People work hard, but they also have time to “play.” Emma has impressed many people in the county with her shooting and riding skills.

When Emma went missing for two weeks, I expected a search party to be called out. I was perplexed why the workers of Thorn Ranch didn’t call her parents sooner. They waited until Emma had been missing for two weeks. This stunned me. I’ve never lived on a ranch or visited one, so maybe being gone (alone) for an extended time is standard practice.

When Emma stumbled upon a hidden tribe (The People) in the cave cliffs, they didn’t immediately help her home. They feared the outside world because they had lost so much from them in the past. Instead of going home, they informed Emma this would be her new home. Emma never stopped trying to escape, and her attempts caused her bodily harm. As the days progressed, The People became plagued with covid. Yes, the pandemic took root in the homes. Emma didn’t bring the sickness to them. It came from other “city” girls.

Covid brought fear to their tribe, and this fear caused the people to act harshly. You’ll need to read the book to find out the extent of their actions to appease their god.

If you’re a parent, your heart will break with each scene involving Josie searching for her missing daughter. Her tears will become your tears. Her sorrow will become your sorrow.

Will Josie ever smile again? Will her daughter ever come home? Read the book and find out!

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

About the Author

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Julia Brewer Daily is a Texan with a southern accent. She holds a B.S. in English and a M.S. degree in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi.

She has been a Communications adjunct professor at Belhaven University, Jackson, Mississippi, and Public Relations Director of the Mississippi Department of Education and Millsaps College, a liberal arts college in Jackson, Mississippi.

She was the founding director of the Greater Belhaven Market, a producers’ only market in a historic neighborhood in Jackson, and even shadowed Martha Stewart.

As the executive director of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi (three hundred artisans from nineteen states) which operates the Mississippi Craft Center, she wrote their stories to introduce them to the public.

Daily is an adopted child from a maternity home hospital in New Orleans. She searched and found her birth mother and through a DNA test, her birth father’s family, as well.  A lifelong southerner, she now resides on a ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas, with her husband Emmerson and Labrador Retrievers, Memphis Belle and Texas Star.

Julia Brewer Daily | Facebook | Twitter  | Instagram

 

 

 

 

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