Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – Christmas Book Fair – #Supernatural Jessica Bakkers, #DieselPunk Teagan Riordain Geneviene, #Historical Allan Hudson

Welcome to the Christmas Book Fair where I will be featuring all the authors currently on the shelves of the Cafe and Bookstore.

I am going to be choosing authors at random so that there is a variety of genres in each post to offer as many gift ideas as possible.

The first book today with a recent review is  Guns of Perdition – The Armageddon Showdown Book 1 by Jessica Bakkers. I reviewed the book and this fast paced supernatural thriller with all guns blazing would make a great gift.

About the book

IT TAKES GRACE TO HUNT WHEN IT’S DARKSOME

Jessie expects he’ll be forever cleaning up after the cowpokes of the Bad Hoss Saloon. That’s until the day a drifter strides through the doors, and blows away a blood-sucking demon, along with Jessie’s belief in an everyday world. Jessie is captivated by the enigmatic Grace, with her pearl-handled revolvers, and wolf companion. He throws in his normal life and follows her across the Wild West, as she hunts down and slays the evil creatures that roam the frontier.

Along the way, they seek the aid of a Native American warrior, cross paths with a Cajun Queen, and encounter a small-town tycoon with a deadly hunger for gold. Animosity and distrust plague Grace and Jessie, and their strange group of allies, but they must put their differences behind them if they’re to have any hope of finding and defeating the frontier’s true evil, the Darksome Gunman.

The Armageddon Showdown is a dark-fantasy, weird western series of epic proportions, focusing on the age-old battle between good and evil, though in the Wild West, it’s not always clear just who is good and who is evil.

Join Grace Dyer and her band of miscreants as they battle demons and demi-gods, in the frontier’s deadliest conflict…the Armageddon Showdown.

One of the recent reviews for the book

tpolen 5.0 out of 5 stars Delightfully Dark  Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2020

I haven’t read many westerns – to my knowledge this book makes a sum total of two. It’s not one of my favorite genres, but toss in Armageddon, dark fantasy, and a between good and evil and I’ll snatch it right up regardless of the genre.

The genre blend of western, dark fantasy, and horror is done so well and will appeal to a wide variety of readers. Some parts are a bit graphic, so heed the warning if that’s something you prefer to steer clear of (or just skim over those parts). It’s clear the author did her research for this time period, and I really enjoyed the western vernacular.

Morally gray characters are my favorite and these characters? Shades of gray dripping on nearly every page. Jessie had no idea what he was getting into the day Grace walked into the saloon where he worked or how much his life would change after leaving town with her. His character arc from young and naive to weathered and jaded is fascinating, but also kind of heartbreaking at his loss of innocence. It’s one of the things I enjoyed most. And Grace? She’s badass, hardened, lethal and ruthless, but I loved how the author also allowed her softer side and undying loyalty to her friends to shine through.

Vile creatures, unsavory characters, shocking twists, somber moments – my emotions were all over the place. Alexa read this to me from my Kindle and I had to rewind her more than once because I let some curses slip out over suprising plot developments. The author absolutely didn’t pull her punches from the first page to the last.

Readers of westerns, horror, and dark fantasy will be delighted with this gruesome, gritty tale and after this book, I’ll have to retract my statement about not being a western fan. It’s a powerful debut, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here.

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More Reviews: Goodreads

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Website – JessicaBakkers.com – Facebook – The Written Word – Twitter – @JessicaBakkers

The next author with a recent review is Teagan Riordain Geneviene for Hullaba Lulu: a Dieselpunk Adventure – Step back into the roaring twenties to enjoy this adventure.

About the book

Hullaba Lulu, a Dieselpunk Adventure is a wild and wooly 1920s fantasy story. Lulu, the heroine is inspired by the song, “Don’t Bring Lulu,” from 1925 ― so are her pals, Pearl and Rose. My Lulu loves to dance, and freely indulges in giggle water. She snores and burps and says whatever she wants. Lulu is a snarky but good-hearted flapper. The song’s inspiration stops there, but the story is just beginning.Travel with Lulu and her friends on a magical, dieselpunk train that belongs to the smolderingly handsome and enigmatic man known only as Valentino. They get into all sorts of trouble, usually due to Lulu’s clumsiness. It’s an intense ride through a number of pos-i-lutely creepy settings, including “sideways” versions of Atlantic City and the Cotton Club. At every stop and in between, Lulu ends up creating chaos. There’s no telling where they’ll end up. No, Lulu! Don’t touch that!Lulu’s the kind of smarty, breaks up every party,Hullabaloo loo, don’t bring Lulu,I’ll bring her myself!;

One of the recent reviews for the book

AuthorDesigner 5.0 out of 5 stars Slicing through time with Lulu  Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2020

What a fun story! I have never read a Dieselpunk Adventure Story before. This will give me the chance to read more of what the author will write in the future. The novel is set in the roaring 1920s, the flappers, the drinking prohibition imposed in the USA, and train travel. Reading this novel, it’s like slicing through time and I love going back in times I have not lived. It’s brilliant how the Author Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene has included futuristic technology, with magic, tarot cards, automobiles, and famous people and how well she worked them all in one plot. I love how strong her characters are, Lulu and her friends Pearl and Rose speak their mind and they are not afraid of any situations they face. I would have loved to meet a real Lulu in my life, she is a fun character. The novel is short and full of action, it’s funny and entertaining. I truly recommend this novel. Well done Teagan, your imagination is spatial. 😀👋

Read the reviews and buy the book:  Amazon US –  And: Amazon UK- Rest of the World: Universal Link

A selection of other books by Teagan

 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – and : Amazon UK – Blog: Teagan’s Books – Goodreads:Goodreads – Twitter: @teagangeneviene

The final author today is Allan Hudson who has a recent review for his historical novel The Alexanders  1911 – 1920 Vol 1

About the book

In the turbulent waters off Saltcoats, Scotland, Danny Alexander dies in a boating accident. He leaves behind a wife, seven children and no hope. Dominic is the middle child. With a broken heart, his mother is forced to leave him with his bachelor uncle, Duff. None of them are happy with the decision.Eleven-year-old Dominic Alexander must earn his keep. There are no free rides. Yet despite the difficulties, he finds his place in the structured world of his uncle and overcomes his loneliness.Fortune and misfortune follow the young man until adversity forces him to make a decision that will affect the rest of his life. Is emigrating to Canada the answer?

A recent review for the book on Goodreads

Sep 14, 2020 Sharon Beddoes rated it it was amazing

Born during a difficult time into an impoverished family, Dominic is sent to live with his uncle who grows to care for him deeply. Tragedy leaves Dominic again on his own and at a very young age he leaves his homeland to travel to Canada hoping to make his fortune. Follow Dominic as he uses all the lessons his uncle taught him to make his way in this strange new country.

Mr. Hudson weaves a wonderful tale of love and endurance and it is easy to become entwined with Dominic and those he meets along the way. I look forward in anticipation to the next chapter in the life of the Alexanders. ;

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A selection of books by Allan Hudson

 

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Allan: Goodreads – Website: South Branch Scribbler – Twitter: @hudson_allan

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some great gifts to share.. thanks Sally.