Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore Update #Reviews #News – Audrey Driscoll, Brigid P. Gallagher, Christoph Fischer and Shehanne Moore

Posted on January 28, 2019 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the first of the week’s author updates and we begin with fantasy author Audrey Driscoll and her latest release She Who Comes Forth.

About She Who Comes Forth

The novel is a standalone sequel to the Herbert West Series. Readers who enjoy a combination of realistic adventure and supernatural elements in an exotic setting — Luxor, Egypt and the Theban Necropolis — may wish to have a look.

October 1962. The developing nuclear missile crisis in Cuba is of no concern to Francesca “France” Leighton. Recently turned 21, France travels from her home in Providence to a job at an archaeological dig in Luxor, Egypt. She takes with her two legacies—an emerald ring from the grandfather she never knew, and an antique cello from his friend, a man she loved like a grandfather.

The dig disappoints. France is relegated to sorting chunks of stone, the dig’s director makes unwanted advances; rivalries and mistrust are everywhere. And it’s too darn hot! Tasked with playing her cello at a gathering of archaeologists, France meets the enigmatic and fascinating nuclear physicist Adam Dexter. She’s smitten, especially when he promises to show her the secrets of Egypt, including a hitherto undiscovered tomb.

After a risky balloon cruise ends in a crash landing, France is forced to leave the dig. Despite warnings against solo explorations on the west bank, she finds herself with Adam Dexter in an eerie house near the Theban Necropolis. Adam’s promises are alluring, but he is both more and less than he seems and his motivations are disturbing. Fleeing his house, France makes a horrifying discovery.

Through an image of Osiris, France discovers the true reason for her presence in the Theban Necropolis. As the world teeters on the brink of nuclear war, she must call upon resources both within and beyond herself to meet the perils that await her in the world of the dead beneath the Western Peak.

One of the recent reviews for the book

Priscilla Bettis Richly Drawn Characters, Exotic Location, Suspenseful Plot

This book has everything: Exotic setting? Check. Fem lit? Check. Horror, ancient Egyptian mysteries, three dimensional characters? Yes, yes, yes!

The story takes place in Egypt in the mid 20th Century. This is one of the few novels I’ve read with a foreign location that I appreciated. It didn’t feel like a story taken from Anywhere, USA, and plopped into an exotic locale just to appeal to readers with wanderlust. The setting Driscoll creates is textural, full of sounds, full of colors . . . a treat!

Driscoll also created realistic characters you’ll fear, loathe, or love. Adam is so eerie he’ll make you stop reading just to check the dark corners in the room. The professor is a creep, ew. France Leighton, the protagonist, is smart, adorably imperfect, brave, and lovable. There’s even a cello character named Eudora. (Yes, a CELLO. And be careful or you’ll develop a crush on Eudora. She’s charming!)

Readers who enjoy more literary-type stories will get a kick out of all the symbolism in the book. Driscoll especially uses colors and music, and these symbols tie in well with the ancient Egyptians’ reverence for the meaning of colors and the music of their ceremonies.

Pros: Everything I’ve mentioned already plus breath-holding, suspenseful, scenes filled with ancient spirits.

Cons: For SOME readers, the action may drag. I like a slow burn because I think it builds up the suspense and makes the climax even that much scarier, so I won’t take a star off for this. The only other con I can think of is the title is not compelling. It ties in with the storyline, but if I saw a list of titles without any taglines or blurbs or book covers, I’d pass over this title. But really, what I think of as an imperfect title doesn’t take away from the genius of the book, so I can’t take a star away for this, either.

Overall, an enthusiastic five stars!

Read the reviews and buy the book : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H6CKB4M

And Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/She-Who-Comes-Forth-novel-ebook/dp/B07H6CKB4M

A selection of books by Audrey Driscoll

Read the reviews and buy the books: https://www.amazon.com/Audrey-Driscoll/e/B00J7X7QVC

And Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audrey-Driscoll/e/B00J7X7QVC

Read more reviews and follow Audrey on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4202146.Audrey_Driscoll

Connect to Audrey via her website: www.audreydriscoll.com

The next review is for the memoir by Brigid P. Gallagher that shares her experiences and also strategies to overcome chronic illness in Watching for the Daisies.

About the book

Millions of people around the world suffer from fibromyalgia; the majority of them are women. As yet, there is no cure.

In this memoir, Brigid P. Gallagher shares her experiences on:

The busy life she followed before succumbing to this debilitating disease
Stopping and soul searching for answers to her vast array of symptoms
Entering a new life of SLOW

Drawing on her knowledge and experience as a Natural Medicines therapist, she seeks out therapies to aid her healing and integrates a variety of self help techniques and lifestyle changes. She also unearths a love of solo travel including Egypt, India, Rome, Lourdes, Carcassonne and Bali…

Brigid learns many insights about LIFE on her journey, the most valuable being: “First learn to love thyself.”

In 2006, she began a new career in Organic Horticulture eventually teaching part time in schools. Although she has now retired from teaching, she continues to pursue her lifelong passion for gardening and watching the daisies.

One of the recent reviews for the book

Elaine A book not to be missed.

It’s very rare nowadays that I can pick up a book and I know without doubt that I’m going to enjoy reading before the end of the first page. I really enjoyed this book, it had everything that I enjoy reading about. Positivity, spirituality, hope and common sense.

Following Bridget’s inspiring life, written with frankness and honesty. I just wanted to curl up and read it in one go but time restraints did not permit. However it is a book that can be picked up and put down and by doing that I prolonged the pleasure of reading it.

It follows the life of Bridget and the triumphs and obstacles placed on her journey and how she pushed through the challenges of ill health with determination. I felt like I had been alongside side her when she described her travels enjoying each experience that came with each holiday. I felt the heat, I could smell the smells, I was there.!

I read this book whilst going through a difficult time myself and it really did help me. So thank you Bridget, I’m no gardener but I can appreciate yours and I can’t wait for your next book.

Read the rest of the reviews and buy the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Watching-Daisies-Life-Lessons-Importance-ebook/dp/B01N3M9VJ0

and at Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Brigid-P-Gallagher/e/B01N8UCYYD

Read more reviews and follow Brigid on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16119226.Brigid_P_Gallagher

Connect to Brigid via her blog: https://watchingthedaisies.com/

Now time for the second book in a murder mystery series from Christoph Fischer – Over my Dead Body: Murder at Eurovision – A Bebe Bollinger Murder Mystery.

About the book

On her return from a cruise ship gig Bebe Bollinger learns that fellow Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler has decided to enter a European Song comptition for the UK. While Bebe jealously watches the pre-publicity trail for ‘Eurovision’ in Malmö, a string of ‘odd accidents’ endangers several participants of the competition. This stirs her desire for playing detective again but also a curiosity to check out the suitability of Eurovision for her own career.
Follow Bebe’s continued search for fame and a comeback before it’s too late, step into the weird world that is Eurovision fandom and see how Bebe gets on with her naughty daughter and deals with those evil TV presenters.

One of the recent reviews for the book

Ritu A great mystery!

I really enjoyed the first Bebe Bollinger mystery and was excited to see that Christoph Fischer had a second one penned.

Bollinger is an old school singing star who has experienced a new flash of popularity, and is trying to find her way to a new Big Comeback.

She ends up at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmao, Sweden, after a few suspect events, and ends up singing, solving mysteries and getting involved in all sorts of craziness!

A great light hearted read and if you are a Eurovision fan, I am sure you will love it even more!

Read the reviews and buy the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Over-Dead-Body-Eurovision-Bollinger-ebook/dp/B07CGNL2HJ/

And Amazon US: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Over-Dead-Body-Eurovision-Bollinger-ebook/dp/B07CGNL2HJ/

A small selection of other books by Christoph Fischer.

Read all the reviews and buy the books: http://www.amazon.com/Christoph-Fischer/e/B00CLO9VMQ

and on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Christoph-Fischer/e/B00CLO9VMQ

Read more reviews and follow Christoph on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6590171.Christoph_Fischer

Connect to Christoph via his Blog: http://writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com/

Now time for more historical romance from Shehanne Moore who has retrieved her books from her previous publisher and has now reissued the books with new covers. Because of the move to publishing her own books, Shehanne has lost all her reviews on Amazon for the books but you can find them all on her Goodreads Page The latest book to be re-released is The Unraveling of Lady Fury – on Pre-Order for February 14th at 99c/99p

About the book

Genoa 1820 Rule One: There will be no kissing. Rule two: You will be fully clothed at all times…

Widowed Lady Fury Shelton hasn’t lost everything—yet. As long as she produces the heir to the Beaumont dukedom, she just might be able to keep her position. And her secrets. But when the callously irresistible Captain James “Flint” Blackmoore sails back into her life, Lady Fury panics. She must find a way to protect herself—and her future—from the man she’d rather see rotting in hell than sleeping in her bed. If she must bed him to keep her secrets, so be it. But she doesn’t have to like it. A set of firm rules for the bedroom will ensure that nothing goes awry. Because above all else, she must stop herself from wanting the one thing that Flint can never give her. His heart.

Ex-privateer Flint Blackmoore has never been good at following the rules. Now, once again embroiled in a situation with the aptly named Lady Fury, he has no idea why he doesn’t simply do the wise thing and walk away. He knows he’s playing with fire, and that getting involved with her again is more dangerous than anything on the high seas. But he can’t understand why she’s so determined to hate him. He isn’t sure if the secret she keeps will make things harder—or easier—for him, but as the battle in the bedroom heats up, he knows at least one thing. Those silly rules of hers will have to go…

One of the reviews for the previous edition

Mishka Jenkins An intense, brilliant read!

Do you ever read a book that you love so much that you talk about it to people and they just don’t understand why you’re getting so hyped up?

Well, this was one of those books for me.

It was a fantastic read. Right from page one I knew it was going to be a book I’d enjoy.

Fury (a great name for a character) was a great female leading character, she was strong but not annoyingly so. After finding herself in a difficult position, she makes a difficult decision, and I can believe her motivations and really got behind her character throughout the book.

As for Captain Flint, well, I can’t actually talk about this character without swooning into a girly heap on the floor. What a character! I have such intense views on this character I can barely even type. At the start he was the kind of guy that I’d hate, but I found myself falling for him through every word! I couldn’t stop myself. The author did an absolutely brilliant job at making me love this character.

The story was excellent, with a plot I found really unique and some twists and turns that I did not expect, which was really nice. Even after the author had left hints, it was still a surprise. Shehanne drew me into the writing and plot so deeply I found I couldn’t pull back to look at it from the big picture because I was too connected to the characters and what would come next!

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves steamy romance with great characters and writing that drags you into the story.

Read the reviews and buy the book at the pre-order price of 99p: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unraveling-Lady-Fury-Shehanne-Moore-ebook/dp/B07MYMVRVD

And Amazon US at 99c: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MYMVRVD

Also by Shehanne Moore