Welcome to the first of the Cafe and Bookstore updates this week with recent reviews for authors on the shelves
The first author today with a recent review is Roberta Eaton Cheadle for Through the Nethergate.
About the book
Margaret, a girl born with second sight, has the unique ability to bring ghosts trapped between Heaven and Hell back to life. When her parents die suddenly, she goes to live with her beloved grandfather, but the cellar of her grandfather’s ancient inn is haunted by an evil spirit of its own. In the town of Bungay, a black dog wanders the streets, enslaving the ghosts of those who have died unnatural deaths. When Margaret arrives, these phantoms congregate at the inn, hoping she can free them from the clutches of Hugh Bigod, the 12th century ghost who has drawn them away from Heaven’s White Light in his canine guise. With the help of her grandfather and the spirits she has befriended, Margaret sets out to defeat Hugh Bigod, only to discover he wants to use her for his own ends – to take over Hell itself.
One of the recent reviews for the book
Through The Nethergate by Roberta Eaton Cheadle is a wonderful YA novel that will be appreciated by readers of all ages! Cheadle does an excellent job of weaving true historical characters into her tale that pits a teenaged girl, along with her Grandfather, and a few other helpers, against the very forces of Hell itself.
I deeply appreciated the way Cheadle was able to tell the historical tales and intertwine them into the main plot. Her development of characters is very strong, and the reader will care what happens to Margaret, the young protagonist of this novel. Margaret is a very special young lady who along, with a supernatural ability, shows empathy and courage as she faces terrible horrors. Cheadle has written a true page-turner, and I recommend this novel highly!
Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
A selection of other Sir Chocolate stories co-written with Michael Cheadle and other books by Robbie Cheadle
Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Buy :Amazon US – And:Amazon UK – Robbie on : Goodreads – blog: Robbie’s Inspiration – Twitter: @RobertaEaton17
The next author is Suzanne Burke with a review for her thriller, The Reckoning Squad.
About the book
The Reckoning Squad was the new name being whispered in the darkened corridors of the powerful in Washington. The name was whispered with awe, and the whispers grew louder.
Twenty people had been carefully vetted and recruited to undergo specialized training. Training engineered to break them utterly, intended to shatter everything they once believed themselves capable of surviving. Only the best of them made it through the twelve weeks of hell. They now formed a cohesive black-ops unit, known as The Reckoning Squad.
Their facility is breached, and the team’s numbers are decimated. The survivors know that they’re in a fight for their lives. They have been betrayed from within. Trust has now become a rare commodity. They want answers.
The betrayers don’t understand just what they’ve unleashed.
But they are about to find out. The Reckoning Squad are coming, and they have just rewritten the rules.
One of the recent reviews for the book
The Reckoning Squad starts with a young caring girl, Chastity/Chaz, who is forced to act during a horrific event. The story follows her into adulthood as she becomes part of a Black-op group. The story’s pace is fast and exciting as Chaz is trained and then works with her group on special operations. Her dedication to duty and relationships with her fellow Black-ops are what drives her. When they are attacked, Chaz’s determination to survive and figure out what happened is not only page-turning but inspiring. Ms. Burke knows how to write a thrilling story, but also make you care about the characters, too. There were twists that I didn’t see coming and character developments that I had me invested. I highly recommend this book, especially if you love a good psychological thriller.
Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
A selection of other books by Suzanne
Suzanne Burke, Buy: Amazon US – And:Amazon UK – Follow Suzanne: Goodreads – Website: Soooz Burke Author – Twitter: @pursoot
The final author today is Claire Fullerton with a review for her novel Little Tea, which I can also highly recommend
About the book.
Southern Culture … Old Friendships … Family Tragedy
One phone call from Renny to come home and “see about” the capricious Ava and Celia Wakefield decides to overlook her distressful past in the name of friendship.
For three reflective days at Renny’s lake house in Heber Springs, Arkansas, the three childhood friends reunite and examine life, love, marriage, and the ties that bind, even though Celia’s personal story has yet to be healed. When the past arrives at the lake house door in the form of her old boyfriend, Celia must revisit the life she’d tried to outrun.
As her idyllic coming of age alongside her best friend, Little Tea, on her family’s ancestral grounds in bucolic Como, Mississippi unfolds, Celia realizes there is no better place to accept her own story than in this circle of friends who have remained beside her throughout the years. Theirs is a friendship that can talk any life sorrow into a comic tragedy, and now that the racial divide in the Deep South has evolved, Celia wonders if friendship can triumph over history.
A recent review for the book on Goodreads
I am in awe! Claire Fullerton writes a beautiful book. She is upper eschillon, top notch! I would put her right up there with Pat Conroy. Her book Little Tea is amazing. I love southern life and was not privileged to live here during the days of plantations and mint juleps but Claire brought me into that time period and gave me a taste of it.
The book takes place in two time periods now and back somewhere in the 1980’s. Three lifelong friends get together for a long weekend to help one of them figure out her marriage and what she is going to do with the rest of her life. You know how it is when old friends get together? They talk about old times, growing up and their teen years. That is the part that takes place in the 80’s and the rest of it is in today’s time. Folks, I loved every minute of their reminiscing and how they fell right back into their old behaviors. I wanted to be their friend!
It was a fun read but this book also dealt with some pretty tough subjects. There was a gay brother, an alcoholic father, mental illness, tragedy, death, race relations and divorce. This book made you think about some hard subjects and about what is going on in our society today. Claire Fullerton lays it all out for you and allows you draw your own conclusions. Don’t waste any time getting your own copy. You’re gonna love it!
Head over to read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK
Also by Claire Fullerton
Claire Fullerton, Buy: Amazon US – and: Amazon UK – Follow Claire on : Goodreads – website: Claire Fullerton – Twitter: @Cfullerton3
Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you have found some books to take away with you.. thanks Sally
A terrific set of authors and reviewers, Sally. Thanks
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Thanks John..delighted to share..hugsx
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Through The Nethergate is in my TBR pile. Robbie’s such a great blogger, I’m very keen to read her book!
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Fantastic Jessica … something to look forward to. Have a lovely week. xx
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Thank you, Jessica.
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Hi Sally, What fantastic reviews. Congratulations to Claire, Robbie and Suzanne. Toni x
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Thanks Toni and have a great week.. I appreciate all your support..hugsx
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Thank you, Toni. Hugs
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Thanks so much, Toni.It’s marvelous to have my work featured along with such great authors.
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Wonderful! I know a couple of the authors (congratulations to all of them), and having read Little Tea, I also recommend it. Thanks Sally!
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Thanks Olga and for adding your recommendation for Little Tea.. Enjoy your week and hope your weather is sunny, because it must have gone somewhere! hugsx
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Great to see your recommendation for Little Tea, Olga. I have a book of Suzanne’s on my TBR too.
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Thanks so much, Roberta. That’s music to my ears.😊
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I have Through the Nethergate on my ereader waiting for me. It’s been there a while, lols. I WILL get to it!!! A lovely trio of authors. Thanks for sharing, Sally. Hugs x 🙂
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Thanks Harmony… and I am sure you will enjoy..hugsx
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I have the same struggle with a huge TBR, Harmony. I hope you enjoy it when you get to it.
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Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out what’s new at the Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore with author updates from Roberta Eaton Cheadle, Suzanne Burke and Claire Fullerton
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Thanks for sharing, Don.
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You’re welcome.
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Thanks so much for sharing, Don.😊
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Thank you so much for including Through the Nethergate here, Sally. I am flattered to be included with wordsmiths, Suzanne and Claire. I have books by both of them on that TBR of mine.
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Delighted to share Robbie.. terrific review..hugsx
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Through The Nethergate is by me on a re-read. Great work of Robbie and her mom. Its firsthand information about a time till now nobody really had told the full truth. So recurring to works like Robbie’s the only possible way getting this information. Michael.
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Excellent recommendation thanks Michael.. first hand living history is far more reliable than the ‘official version’…xx
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Talented authors backed by impressive reviews. Thanks, Sally!
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Thank you Alex..hugsx
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Thank you, Alex! 😊
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Reblogged this on Judith Barrow.
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Thanks Judith.. have a good week… I expect like us across the way it will be wet…hugsx
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Wet, but have granddaughter with us – so sunshine! xx
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ahh perfect..xx
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Thanks so much for the Reblogg, Judith. 😊
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I’ve read (and loved) Robbie’s. The other two look pretty darn good. Thanks, Sally.
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Thanks Jacqui.. I do like to throw temptation in the path of friends…xxx
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Reblogged this on Claire Fullerton Author and commented:
Are you following the incredibly creative, author and book blogger, Sally Cronin of Smorgasbord? I am and have been, for years! Here are recent updates to books Sally has championed!
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Thanks so much for the Reblogg, Claire. 😊
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First thing on this California Monday and I arise to this 🙂 Thank you, Sally. So pleased to be included with those you continue to champion and proud to reblog this!
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Delighted to share another lovely review Claire.. hope you have sunny weather…I am wearing wellies at the moment….♥
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A fantastic gathering of authors and books, Sally!
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Thanks Jan..and have you scheduled with a recent review on 26th,,xx
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This is a lovely way to begin my Tuesday Down Under. I’m delighted to be featured with such talented authors. Thanks so much, Sally.😊
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My pleasure Soooz…always delighted to share your reviews..hugsx♥
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Hugs right back atcha, my friend. ❤
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Lovely books and talented authors! Congrats to Roberta, Suzanne, and Claire! Some more books to add to my wish lists! Thanks, Sally! 🤗 💕
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Thanks very much Janice.. hugs ♥
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Three fantastic authors and books here today. Happy to say I have books by all these talents awaiting me to get there. I do believe Claire’s is next up. Congrats ladies! ❤ xx
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Fantastic Debby treats in store..hugs ♥
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I’m all eyes ❤
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Wow 3 books with great reviews.. For me two out of the 3 are must reads x
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Thanks Carol…happy reading..xx
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