Monthly Archives: April 2024

Make You Mine by Nan Reinhardt – a Review

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Make You Mine by Nan Reinhardt – a Review

 

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Description:
When his family’s company is on the line, business and pleasure definitely don’t mix, but maybe they should…

Madeline Ross left the city and a career glass ceiling behind, hoping to build a new life as the crew supervisor for Walker Construction in River’s Edge. She’s qualified and experienced, but new CEO Jackson Walker hires someone else. Even as she searches for a different job and builds a life in River’s Edge, the sexy memory of Jack teases.

After a rough year, Jackson Walker’s family business is still struggling. He needs a new construction crew supervisor, and Maddie Ross is perfect, except for the first time in his life, player Jack is suddenly smitten with the curvaceous redhead. He wants her in his bed more than on his payroll.

When his second-rate new hire is a disastrous mistake, Jack humbles himself on Maddie’s doorstep with an offer she can’t refuse. Maddie could be the key to saving his company as long as he hides his heart. But does he have to?

 

 

Review:

Make You Mine by Nan Reinhardt is the first book in her The Walker Family series. River’s Edge is a wonderful small town with great characters. The story revolves around the Walker family, and their construction company, with Jackson Walker taking over as CEO.  Things have been a bit rough the past year, with the business still struggling, in hopes to win a new contract. Jackson is looking to hire a new construction crew supervisor, when he interviews Maddie Ross, he knows she is perfect for the job.  But he finds himself very attracted to her, and does not want to mix work relationships; so, he hires someone else.  

We meet Maddie Ross, who recently moved to River’s Edge, hoping to build a new life, with high hopes to be hired for the Crew supervisor position. Maddie had met Jackson the night before, working behind the bar, to help, and thought he was a bit too aggressive.  However, when she went for the interview the following day, to her surprise, the CEO was the man at the bar the night before. Even though Jackson was impressed with her credentials, he decided to hire someone else, which turned into a big mistake.

Maddie searches for a different job elsewhere in River’s Edge, and has befriended Annabella Walker, Jackson’s cousin, and their friendship grew.  Jackson realizes that the man he hired caused a number of problems, and had to fire him.  It is Annabella and Eli (Jackson’s brother) who push for him to hire Maddie, who was the person he should have hired.  Of course, Jackson knows the real reason he didn’t hire her, was because of the strong feelings he has for her. Finally, Jackson offers Maddie the job, with extended benefits, which she really couldn’t turn down.   Maddie was very good at her new job, especially coming up with a plan for the custom homes division building spec homes for factory workers, which they are in competition with other vendors in River’s Edge. 

Jackson fights off his feelings for Maddie, but with each passing day, he finds it harder; and slowly Maddie too is falling for Jackson.  One day, Maddie finds herself in danger, with the man who was fired, and threatens her life.  It is Jackson who worries where she is, and manages find her and save her. Though he was injured, Jackson is desperate to see Maddie, to tell her his feelings, that he can’t deny.  Maddie too reveals her true feelings. I really loved Maddie and Jackson together.

Make You Mine is a wonderful heartwarming story, with a terrific couple, great secondary characters, and a sweet small town.   Make You Mine was so very well written by Nan Reinhardt; as I have read her other previous series, and loved them.   If you enjoy a fun, sweet romance, I suggest you read Make You Mine.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

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The Reaper Follows by Heather Graham – a Review

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The Reaper Follows by Heather Graham – a Review

 

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Description:
Death comes for everyone.

Deep in the Florida Everglades, the body of a woman is discovered in pieces, presumably ravaged by an alligator. Upon closer inspection, it’s determined no animal could make such perfectly precise cuts. Only a blade could do that. Wielded by a human. Soon, dozens of oil drums emerge amid the river of grass. Each one packed to the brim with body parts.

FDLE special agent Amy Larson and her partner, FBI special agent Hunter Forrest, share a bad feeling that extends beyond the horrifying nature of the grim discovery. They’ve seen this kind of sadistic killing before, and when a small beige horse is discovered at the bottom of one of the barrels, they know exactly what it means. The fourth horseman of the apocalypse rides a pale horse—and his name is Death.

With so many bodies to identify, connecting one victim to the next is easier said than done. But finding a pattern in the chaos might be the only way Amy and Hunter can zero in on the killer, testing their skills as agents—and their relationship—like never before. And when the disturbing trail of clues signals these slayings are just the beginning, the agents will have to return to where it all started before it’s too late. The apocalypse is coming, and Hunter and Amy have only one chance to stop it, even if it means sacrificing each other.

 

 

Review:

The Reaper Follows by Heather Graham is the 4th book in her Amy Larson & Hunter Forest FBI series. When bodies start turning up in the Florida Everglades, dozens of oil drums emerge filled with body parts.  They have seen this kind of killing before, and when a small beige horse is found in one of the barrels: they know what it means. Both continue their investigation into a series of crimes linked to the four horsemen in the Book of Revelations; the 4th one meaning death. FDLE special agent Amy Larson and her partner, FBI special agent Hunter Forrest, with both of them on this case since the beginning. This final book brings us to the final horseman and mastermind; who rides a pale horse. Amy and Hunter know they are close to finding the mastermind, who is killing so many people, especially in the Everglades.

Though we do not know who is the killer until near the end, we know he considers himself the archangel, and brainwashes his followers; then when they are no longer needed, he kills them.  The mastermind (archangel) is a manipulator who manages to sway people to his cause. Sadly, many of these deluded cult followers take their own lives.  I will say that half way through the I did suspect who the killer was.

I really liked the duo of Amy and Hunter, as in this 4th book, they are both planning to marry, once this case is solved.   Amy is an amazing tough and fearless detective, who pushes herself to exhaustion, even when her superiors force her to get sleep and rest.  Hunter being FBI, and closely working with all the agents that have gathered where the bodies have been found; he is also determined to protect Amy at any cost.  As noted previously, they both made a great team.  The romance between Amy and Hunter was sweet, as it was spread throughout the book. I really liked so many of the agents and secondary characters, who all played major parts in this conclusion; Aiden, Sabrina, Mickey, Jimmy, and so many wonderful team members. They all made a great team, working hard together to solve the case.  

The Reaper Follows was an intense, suspenseful, haunting, dangerous story that kept us unable to put the book down; especially in the last quarter of the book when Amy’s life was in danger and she knew who the killer was.  The story was a great plot, fantastic characters, and the murders were gruesome.  The Reaper Follows was so very well written by Heather Graham, who once again gives us a fabulous murder mystery.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

 

 

 

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Wright Kind of Love (Wright Vineyard 8) by KA Linde-review tour

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💜💜Wright Kind of Love (Wright Vineyard 8) by KA Linde-review tour💜💜

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 15, 2024

Chase Sinclair should be my enemy.

Wrights and Sinclairs don’t mix. Not with years of history and turmoil between our families. A rivalry that only seems to fester and corrode with time.

Except I’m done denying what I want.

We both are.

Just when we think we have it figured out, it all blows up in our faces.

But we’re determined to make this work. Even knowing that the road ahead is uncertain. And everyone wants us to fail. At least we’re doing this together.

Everything is on the line. Our friends, our families, our careers. And we’d give it all up.

He may be from the wrong family, but he’s my Wright person.

••••

REVIEW:WRIGHT KIND OF LOVE is the eight instalment in KA Linde’s contemporary, adult WRIGHT VINEYARD erotic, romance series, and part two in Harley Wright and Chase Sinclair’s story. WRIGHT KIND OF LOVE should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the events and cliff hanger of book seven WRIGHT KIND OF TROUBLE.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Harley and Chase) WRIGHT KIND OF LOVE follows the ongoing but forbidden relationship between our story line couple. For years, the Wrights and the Sinclairs have been in a proverbial war since an embarrassing and political incident and fall-out all but threatened the career of the Sinclair patriarch. For three years, Harley and Chase kept their relationship a secret but the reveal would find our couple threatened by family members on both sides, so much so, that careers and lives hung in the balance. Knowing they had to control the narrative of their own future, Harley and Chase would learn all was not well back at home, and Chase’s father Arnold was facing a crisis of his own, and his ownership of Sinclair Realty was in jeopardy.

The world building continues to focus on the forbidden relationship between Harley and Chase. The Sinclair-Wright animosity was threatening the growing love between our story line couple but secrets will reveal a more devastating revelation for everyone concerned.

The relationship between Harley and Chase has been building for more than three years but our couple kept their relationship a secret until it was no longer possible to stay hidden in the shadows. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative but I dislike the use of a certain four-letter word in my romance story lines.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters including siblings, half-siblings, cousins and estranged parents.

WRIGHT KIND OF LOVE is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, family and friendships, relationships and love. The character driven premise is thought provoking and stirring; the characters are animated and dynamic; the romance is seductive and real.

Previous reviews
A Wright Christmas
One Wright Stand
Wright With Benefits
Serves Me Wright
Wright Rival
Wright That Got Away
All The Wright Moves
Wright Together
Wright Kind of Trouble

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Follow: Facebook /Twitter /Website /Google Plus / Instagram / Goodreads / BOOKBUB

K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of the Avoiding Series, Wrights, and more than thirty other novels. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, binge-watching Supernatural, traveling, and dancing in her spare time.

She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super-adorable puppies.

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FINALLY FOUND MY COWBOY by AJ Pine-review

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FINALLY FOUND MY COWBOY (The Murphys of Meadow Valley 2) by AJ Pine

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 9, 2024

Nothing mends the heart quite like a cowboy.
Dancer Beth Spence finally gets a shot at her dream—auditioning for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. But her audition concludes with a torn Achilles tendon and possibly the end of her dance career. When her sister, Delaney, flies her to Meadow Valley, California to recuperate, she is reluctant to go, but out of options. Beth has no idea that Delaney has set her up with a job managing widower Eli Murphy’s veterinary clinic while staying in the guest house on his ranch. Beth and Eli’s attraction is undeniable, but Beth has every intention of making a full recovery and heading back to New York. Eli has no intention of loving and losing again. Too bad their hearts have other plans.

••••••

REVIEW: FINALLY FOUND MY COWBOY is the second instalment in AJ Pine’s contemporary, adult THE MURPHYS OF MEADOW VALLEY romance series -a spin off from the author’s Meadow Valley series. This is thirty year old professional dancer Beth Spence, and veterinarian / widower Dr. Eli Murphy’s story line. FINALLY FOUND MY COWBOY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Beth is Delaney’s sister (MY ONE AND ONLY COWBOY-MEADOW VALLEY #1), and Eli is Boone’s brother (HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY 1).

Told from omniscient third person perspectives (Beth and Eli) FINALLY FOUND MY COWBOY follows the building romance and relationship between our story line couple. Three years earlier Dr. Eli Murphy lost his wife to an accident on the ranch, and has struggled to move on with his life. Working the ranch in Meadow Valley, California brings Eli up close and personal with his future in the guise of dancer Beth Spence, a thirty year old woman struggling with a potential career ending injury, and the woman with whom Eli will fall in love . What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Eli and Beth, and the potential fall-out as Beth’s time in Meadow Valley comes to a close.

The world building focuses on loss and recovery as Eli continues to struggle with the guilt of his wife’s death, and his inability to let go but all is not well, as Eli begins to suspect a possible poacher is threatening the ranch. Meanwhile Beth is worried about the end of her dance career, and an injury that is struggling to heal but falling in love was never in the future until Beth meets a man who is battle his own demons.

The relationship between Beth and Eli begins acrimoniously as Beth is ‘forced’ upon Eli as his new office assistant. Beth thought she was going to Meadow Valley to aid in her recovery, never expecting to find herself the face of Eli’s busy veterinarian facility. Eli continues to struggle in the wake of his beloved wife’s death but meeting Beth stirs something long thought dead in our story line hero. The $ex scenes are passionate but fade to black or are mostly implied.

There is a large ensemble cast of familiar and dynamic secondary and supporting characters, many of whom were introduced in the previous series: Ivy and Carter (Cowboy to the Rescue ), Delaney and Sam (My One and Only Cowboy ), Charlotte and Ben (Make Mine a Cowboy), Jenna and Colt (Only a Cowboy Will Do), Casey and Boone (Holding Out for A Cowboy).

FINALLY FOUND MY COWBOY is a story of loss and grief, acceptance and moving forward, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is honest and impassioned; the romance is charming and seductive; the characters are spirited and charismatic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one HOLDING OUT FOR A COWBOY

Copy supplied for review

reviewed by Sandy

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Giving the Dragon Fire by Victoria Jayne-review tour

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🔥 Giving the Dragon Fire by Victoria Jayne-review tour 🔥 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 9, 2024

She captured his dragon’s attention and stole his fire.

With her final exams behind her, Ella Kincaid has one weekend to live carefree before entering the grueling world of corporate America to start her dream job. She never expected her one-night stand with Gideon to put her in an ethical dilemma on day one.

As a dragon shifter, all Gideon Hayes wants is his fire and to make jewelry. One incredibly stupid mistake cost him his flame. What’s he supposed to do with a human mate, anyway?

They’re mates who shouldn’t be. If Ella can’t get Gideon out of her head, she’ll lose her career. He’ll be damned if a human negates his fire.

Can they deny what destiny has in store for them? Challenging fate may have worse consequences than they ever imagined.

••••••

REVIEW:Another new author for me 😉 and a shifter book (one of my favourite reads) so I’m well happy 😊

Ella, has a strong personality who takes no messing from anyone. She values her work and has worked hard to get where she is now. It might be a family owned business, but didn’t do her any favours. She loves her job (the one thing that puzzled me though… it’s family run, but hardly any of her family wander through or are mentioned!)

Gideon is a dragon shifter. He has the reputation of being a bad boy, but it didn’t really come across that way (well I didn’t to me 🤷🏻‍♀️) He loves his job. He make’s jewellery for the family run business. (Now this is where it differs from Ella, we meet, and hear about his family all the time 🤔)

I liked how the author (through Gideon) explains how the shifter community works. How they shift/meet other dragons and how they live in general, (they are governed by a dragon council) We got the information in a way that wasn’t just an information dump (you get some authors just unload too much too soon!)

Meeting leads to obvious chemistry between Ella and Gideon. One thing leads to another…. The bedroom scenes are spicy 🥵 but there aren’t too many (lately all I’ve been reading is no plot and lots of $ex, it gets a little monotonous)

Did make me roll my eyes when they decided they weren’t going to be together, they wanted to continue their own lives separately. It’s good to have conflict, it’s ok to make them realise they will be happier together. (Nothing worse than no drama) but both Gideon and Ella got a little whiny (that is me skipping a few pages)

I loved Felicity, Ella’s friend/roommate, she’s an absolute blast. Witty and totally out there, but we all need a friend like that. Some of the stuff she comes out with had me chuckling.

So when an opportunity arises that could end they’d bond, will they take it? or will they finally realise what they have really is special?
Storyline is fairly original and straightforward. Characters are well thought out.

It’s descriptive without wasting pages. A recommended read if you like your shifter stories. I’d love Felicity to get a story, that would a fun read.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B🦋

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Victoria Jayne is the epitome of a Jersey Girl. She doesn’t [know how to] pump her own gas, enjoys pork roll, and grew up on the Jersey Shore.

She’s lived throughout the state of New Jersey and remains there with her sports journalist husband and two darling daughters.

When not writing, Victoria enjoys baking with her daughters, rooting for the New Jersey Devils, thinking of home improvement projects, and staying up far too late chatting on Discord.

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Cold Hearted Casanova (Cruel Castaways 3) by LJ Shen-review tour

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Cold Hearted Casanova (Cruel Castaways 3) by LJ Shen-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 9,2024

Riggs Bates may be a billionaire, but he knows money can’t buy happiness. He keeps his financial status a secret and takes his women the same way he takes his meals—a different one three times a day. That’s until he’s caught sleeping with a married newswoman by none other than her ambitious assistant.

Daphne “Duffy” Markham wants two things in life: marry well and stay in the States. So when her almost-fiancé takes off to “find himself” and her work visa approaches expiration, Duffy resorts to the only thing she has left—blackmail. Luckily, Riggs needs an excuse to stay in New York as badly as she does, so their first meeting quickly leads to a begrudging engagement.

Armed with strict house rules and their mutual distaste for one another, Riggs and Duffy soon find there’s no denying the spark between them…or the fact that this fake marriage is starting to feel a little too real.

••••••••

REVIEW:COLD HEARTED CASANOVA is the third instalment in LJ Shen’s contemporary, adult CRUEL CASTAWAYS erotic, romance series. This is thirty-seven year old billionaire and photographer Riggs Bates, and thirty -year old PA Daphne ‘Duffy’ Markham’s story line. COLD HEARTED CASANOVA can get read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary .

Told from dual first person perspectives (Riggs And Duffy) COLD HEARTED CASANOVA follows the fake relationship and marriage between our story line couple. British born citizen Daphne ‘Duffy’ Markham is on temporary assignment working in America for a woman who has been relocated to Washington DC but walking in on her married boss in a compromising position with a beautiful man pushes Duffy to do something she never thought she would: blackmail her boss, and the handsome stranger in exchange for her silence and an American visa and green card. Enter Riggs Bates, the man with whom Duffy will fall in love but Riggs has a secret-he is a billionaire who doesn’t advertise his wealth, a secret he was never going to reveal. While Duffy struggles between head and heart in the wake of the break up from her former love, Riggs sets into motion a plan to ensure his ‘fake marriage’ feels real for the woman he loves. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Riggs and Duffy, and the potential fall-out as their time together comes with an expiry date.

The world building focuses on Duffy’s struggle to remain in America: her battle to let go of the past; and her fight to accept that her marriage is only temporary to a man who is unable to give her his heart. Riggs Bates early years were mired in rejection and loss, and in this, Riggs has vowed never to settle down or fall in love but meeting Duffy Markham gave Riggs pause for a future but a future that may be shorter than they could ever have imagined.

The relationship between Duffy and Riggs begins as a fake relationship predicated upon a blackmail scheme for our story line heroine. Duffy wants to remain in the US, and Riggs has no permanent address due to his world travels for work. Riggs is determined to not to fall in love; while Duffy struggles to keep her feelings buried where no one can see. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters include the return of of Arya and Christian (Ruthless Rival #1), Arlene and Winnifred (Fallen Foe 2), as well as Duffy’s neighbor Charlie; her twin brother Kieran, their parents, and Duffy’s assortment of former co-workers and employees.

COLD HEARTED CASANOVA is an emotional story of secrets and lies, betrayal and heart break; acceptance and forgiveness, family and love. The premise is captivating and emotional; the romance is fated and seductive; the characters are determined, desperate, broken but struggling to heal.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Ruthless Rival
Fallen Foe

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

L.J. Shen is USA Today, WSJ, Washington Post and #1 Amazon Kindle Store bestselling author of contemporary romance books.

She writes angsty books, unredeemable anti-heroes who are in Elon Musk’s tax bracket, and sassy heroines who bring them to their knees (for more reasons than one).

HEAs and groveing are guaranteed.

She lives in Florida with her husband, three sons, and a disturbingly active imagination.

Keep up with L.J. on all platforms:
Newsletter Sign up ➜ https://bit.ly/3LhsIrb
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TikTok ➜ shorturl.at/frw59
Facebook➜ https://goo.gl/fKCSo4
Website ➜ www.authorljshen.com

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CENTAURI’S SHADOW by Ross Garner-Review & Guest Post

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CENTAURI’S SHADOW by Ross Garner-Review and Guest Post

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 8, 2024

‘Eight years ago they sent a single ship to test our defences. Now they’re building an armada.’

Cole grew up in the shadow of grief. Kyoko grew up in the shadow of war. Two pilots, separated by time, set out on parallel journeys to Proxima Centauri. What they find could be the start of something new. What they bring with them could be the end of all we know.

In this sweeping science fiction debut from Ross Garner, readers will find an Earth that is transformed by fear of an imminent invasion; a space station in orbit that acts as a gateway to other worlds; a Martian colony with all of the threat and violence of the Old West; and a distant star where answers can be found.

What is ‘the signal’? A greeting, or a threat?

••••

REVIEW: CENTAURI’S SHADOW by Ross Garner is an adult, science fiction thriller focusing on a potential war on the horizon with an alien race.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Cole and Kyoko), focusing on two timelines, CENTAURI’S SHADOW follows in the wake of a message from space possibly signifying a senscient lifeform from beyond the sun but the UNSA’s (United Nations Space Agency) first attempt to circumnavigate the sun, ends in disaster, and years later, the sole remaining survivor, volunteers to set a plan into motion, to reach the Centauri system, in an effort to complete the original mission.

Meanwhile, several decades into the future, Earth and its’ colony on Mars have been attacked by an unknown enemy, and Kyoko and her crew of fighter pilots is tasked with ending all future attacks but Kyoko will quickly discover that all is not well on her voyage towards the end.

The characters are numerous, determined, dynamic and often lost. Mars is not so much a respite from Earth, but a virtual imprisonment for those who have been forgotten or have no direction home.

CENTAURI’S SHADOW is a detailed, complex and intriguing story of what ifs and whys. Humans have not learned from the past, and the past is gearing to repeat itself over and over again. Every generation or two fights for power and control, and in this, vengeance and greed lead to another war that no one will win.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Click HERE to read the first chapter of CENTAURI’S SHADOW by Ross Garner

The Wright Flyer to Apollo 11

By Ross Garner

In 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made history as the inventors and pilots of the Wright Flyer: the first airplane. Of the first four test flights, the most successful was the last: covering a distance of 260 metres.  

Just 66 years later, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins flew Apollo 11 a distance of 953,054 miles. They landed on the moon, and returned safely.

There aren’t many people who lived through both events. A person born in the United States in the 1880s had a life expectancy of just 40 years. But there were some: a miraculous few who experienced first hand the transition from the Old West to the Space Age.

What was their reaction to this dramatic change in our technological capability? Did they feel like time travellers, leaving the world of the horse and wagon behind in favour of rockets and satellites?

It was this idea that led to the writing of Centauri’s Shadow, my first novel.

I imagined an astronaut, setting out alone to visit our closest star: Proxima Centauri. The journey would take him 40 trillion kilometres away from Earth. With today’s technology, it would take 70,000 years.

He would need to be frozen somehow, waiting to be reawakened on arrival.

And how might his home planet have changed while he slept?

If humankind’s technology could shift from a flimsy biplane to a rocket-fuelled spaceship in just 66 years, how might it evolve over 70,000 years?

It seemed reasonable to conclude that our technology would continue to improve. That the journey time would shrink from 70,000 years, to something more manageable.

By the time our astronaut arrived, Proxima Centauri could be home to millions of people: living in spaceships, space stations, and on other worlds.

I thought about this astronaut: sacrificing his life on Earth to be the first great explorer to visit another star, only to find that the journey had been pointless. The time, wasted. The sacrifice, meaningless.

And I decided to turn this idea into a book.

The story of Centauri’s Shadow evolved in the writing. The astronaut in question became Cole Anderson, and he journeys to Proxima Centauri not with a traditional rocket but with the use of solar sails: a method of propulsion that already exists and uses the pressure from solar radiation to gain speed.

With a bit of science fiction fudgery, the journey time was reduced to 30 years: allowing for a stronger emotional tie to Cole’s life and relationships back home. But the core concept remained, including the themes of time and sacrifice.

And the original idea lingers in the novel in another major way: the notion of the Old West, complete with saloons, brothels, missionaries and violence, re-emerged in the form of the first martian colony.

It took me 10 years in total to finish the story. A rather damning reflection of my ability to get things done when compared to the accomplishments of those who followed in the steps of the Wright brothers.

But I came to have sympathy for Cole, with all his faults. He did his best to find his way, as we all do.

Readers can make up their own minds whether it was worth it.

Centauri’s Shadow is available now on Amazon (US / UK / Canada)

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LOST IN YONKERS (RBMC: Huntsville Chapter 14) by KL Ramsey-review

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☠️LOST IN YONKERS (RBMC: Huntsville Chapter 14) by KL Ramsey -review tour☠️

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 9, 2024

Yonkers was running from his past—namely, the woman who still held his heart back in Huntsville. She was off limits, and he knew it, but there was nothing he could do to make himself stop wanting Wren. It was his job to keep her safe, to help out her older brother, who happened to be one of his best friends. He broke their unspoken bro code and there would be no coming back from that. Forgiveness might be something that he could ask his friend for, but forgiving himself was a whole other matter.Wren knew that sooner or later her little secret would come out and she would have to face the music. She had seduced her brother’s friend and that wasn’t going to sit well with him. It was Blade’s fault for saddling Yonkers as her babysitter while he dealt with the trouble that seemed to plague them all. Jumping into bed with Yonkers might not have been the right call, but now, she would have to find him because, like it or not, she was pregnant with his baby and that truth always found its way out.

•••••

REVIEW: LOST IN YONKERS is the fourteenth instalment in KL Ramsey’s contemporary, adult RBMC: HUNTSVILLE CHAPTER erotic, MC romance series-a part of the multi-authored RBMC series. This is Yonkers aka Chris, and Wren’s story line. LOST IN YONKERS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary .

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Yonkers and Wren) LOST IN YONKERS follows in the wake of a one-night stand between our story line couple. Wren is the sister of Blade, and best friend to Blade’s girlfriend Trixie (Blade’s Christmas Ride) but when Trixie’s stalker also targeted our story line heroine, Blade ordered Yonkers to look after his sister but one night of romance ends when Yonkers is called back home to New York, leaving a heart broken Wren in his wake. Fast forward five months, Wren is pregnant, and is desperate to contact our story line hero. Arriving in New York, Wren surprises Yonkers with news about her pregnancy, news that Yonkers struggles to accept or understand. What ensues is the building relationship between Wren and Yonkers, and the potential fall-out as Yonkers continues to struggle with his relationship with Wren, and his mother’s illness that originally called him home.

The world building is fast and furious. LOST IN YONKERS introduces the RBMC: Yonkers Chapter as well as one man’s struggle with family and love.

The relationship between Chris and Wren begins as a one-night stand but Wren has lusted after Chris since the first time they met. Chris is a man who is battling between head and heart, taking care of his ailing mother, and the woman that is calling to his heart. The $ex scenes are intimate without the use of over the top ,sexually graphic language and text but saying that I felt no palpable sexual attraction between our story line couple.

The secondary and supporting characters include Blade and Trixie, as well as Yonkers, mother, and the introduction of RBMC: Yonkers president Hurricane, and Reacher.

LOST IN YONKERS is a quick read; a fast paced, short story of secrets and lies, forgiveness and acceptance, family and love. The premise is entertaining but something is missing. There is no external conflict, and the back and forth between Wren and Yonkers is stilted and cold. The romance is subtle. LOST IN YONKERS includes a couple of chapters from HURRICANE’S HOUSE, books one in the author’s spin off-RBMC: YONKERS, as well as a couple of chapters SALACIOUS, book one in the author’s new KINK CLUB series.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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K. L. Ramsey currently resides in West Virginia (Go Mountaineers!). In her spare time, she likes to read romance novels, go to WVU football games and attend book club (aka-drink wine) with girlfriends. K. L. enjoys writing Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, and Sexy Ménage! She loves to write strong, capable women and bossy, hot as hell alphas, who fall ass over tea kettle for them. And of course, her stories always have a happy ending. But wait—there’s more!

Somewhere along the writing path, K.L. developed a love of ALL things paranormal (but has a special affinity for shifters <YUM!!>)!! She decided to take a chance and create another persona- BE Kelly- to bring you all of her yummy shifters, seers, and everything paranormal (plus a hefty dash of MC!).

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