Welcome to the Friday Edition of the Cafe and Bookstore update with recent reviews for authors on the shelves.
The first book with a recent review is Voyage of the Lanternfish (The Lanternfish Series Book 1) by C.S. Boyack.
About the book
An honorable man is mistaken for his disreputable father. Now he’s pushed into a political scheme to start a war that will spread across multiple kingdoms. James Cuttler’s fiancé is being held captive to ensure he goes through with the plan.
He soon decides his skills are at sea and procures a ship to wage war upon those who disrupted his simple life. He can’t do it alone, so he recruits a band of cutthroats to help him. But first, they need guns and munitions to outfit the ship properly. Deception and trickery will only get them so far. Eventually, they’re going to have to engage the enemy.
James’ goals aren’t necessarily the same as his crew. It’s a delicate balancing act to collect enough loot to keep his crew happy, while guiding them back to rescue the girl.
Voyage of the Lanternfish is filled with adventure, magic, and monsters. Lots of monsters. Hoist the colors and come along for the ride.
A recent review for the book
James Cuttler’s sweetheart, Bonnie, is bricked into a tower by the Earl of Grandelur and won’t be released until James and Dan (Bonnie’s brother) incite a war between two rival nations. This demand kicks off the adventure as James and Dan travel through the fantasy world—first by wagon and later by sea as pirates. They assemble allies and a ship’s crew and cause havoc everywhere they go.
The book is a jaunting quest with a focus on a unique collection of characters and worldbuilding detail. The pace is moderate, and the plot ambles in places, but there are also bouts of intense action, and readers who enjoy pirates will appreciate the sea battles.
As other readers have mentioned, the real stars of the book are the root monsters. They “grew” on me, and their scenes are hysterical from start to finish. Boyack has a wonderful way of creating magical characters and imbuing them with distinct—and frequently outrageous—personalities. The root monsters are impressive.
I recommend this fantasy read to anyone who enjoys rambling quests with fabulous characters, sea battles, and plenty of humor.
Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
A selection of other books by C.S. Boyack
Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – and :Amazon UK – Follow Craig: Goodreads – blog: Cold Hand Boyack – Twitter: @Virgilante
The next review is for Lizzie Chantree for the holiday romance Babe Driven.
About the book
A sizzling romance read full of giggles, sunshine and searching for a soul mate in paradise, by international bestselling author, Lizzie Chantree. If you love bad boy romances with strong women, you’ll love Lizzie Chantree’s exciting and irresistible reads.
A millionaire, rock star romance.
Driving straight out of trouble and into paradise!
Harriet’s crazily successful business idea is under serious threat, and the danger seems to be coming from inside her own family. She whisks her sisterand her friends away to an exotic location to try and work out whose side they are on. It’s time to start damage limitation.
When the girls arrive at the glorious villa owned by Harriet’s maverick business partner Nikki, they find a gorgeous band and their sexy lead singer Max staying next door, out to entice their new neighbours into all kinds of trouble.
This isn’t a holiday for Harriet and she can’t afford to be distracted. She has to sell her business idea to the powerful resort owner, the elusive Mr Grant, while she is there, or she may not have a business to go back to. Harriet will have to choose between family and friends, business or pleasure. For someone who stays out of the limelight, even though her new company is the hottest ticket in town, she’s going to have to avoid the front pages of every newspaper if she wants to survive the ride!
One of the recent reviews for the book
I have now read all of Lizzie Chantree’s books and loved every one of them. They all seem to have uncommon and fascinating plots leading the reader in so many direction whilst being captivated by the study in the personalities of the characters and their relationships. This book is no exception:
Harriet has built a successful business and it needs to expand but the offers of funding come with conditions, some obvious and some downright devious. Is Harriet a match for the front runner, Ben Grant? She thinks she is, but…
With the offer of a luxury villa in an exclusive sun drenched resort owned by the Ben Grant, she takes her sister and some of her friends for a week’s holiday. It is not as generous as it sounds as someone has been sabotaging Harriet’s business and she could narrow this down to this pool of friends or maybe their spurious associates, even her sister. And then there is her jealous step-brother, left back in London to create havoc.
In the next door villa is a famous pop group: cue lasciviousness, lust and love from both groups of the beau monde. In the meantime Harriet lays mantraps, red herrings, and a trail of bait, but she is not immune to the leader of the band, or indeed the Funder (everyone is gorgeous).
What follows is an Agatha Christie like mystery but with no bodies, unless you count the youthful easy on the eyes, ladies and hunks of men. There are veils and layers of subterfuge to satisfy anyone and it all leads to the final pages before we know how things will pan out, by which time you have sweated buckets and become thoroughly engaged.
Yes, it is frothy. Yes, it is sort of contrived, but it works on so many levels and I loved it. Highly recommended along with all of Chantree’s other books – 5 stars
Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US
Also by Lizzie Chantree
Read the reviews and buy the books:Amazon UK – And:Amazon US – Follow Lizzie: Goodreads – website:Lizzie Chantree – Twitter: @Lizzie_Chantree
The final author with a recent review is for bestselling crime author Sue Coletta and Pretty Evil New England: True Stories of Violent Vixens and Murderous Matriarchs
About the book
For four centuries, New England has been a cradle of crime and murder—from the Salem witch trials to the modern-day mafia. Nineteenth century New England was the hunting ground of five female serial killers: Jane Toppan, Lydia Sherman, Nellie Webb, Harriet E. Nason, and Sarah Jane Robinson.
Female killers are often portrayed as caricatures: Black Widows, Angels of Death, or Femme Fatales. But the real stories of these women are much more complex. In Pretty Evil New England, true crime author Sue Coletta tells the story of these five women, from broken childhoods, to first brushes with death, and she examines the overwhelming urges that propelled these women to take the lives of a combined total of more than one-hundred innocent victims. The murders, investigations, trials, and ultimate verdicts will stun and surprise readers as they live vicariously through the killers and the would-be victims that lived to tell their stories.
A recent review for the book on Goodreads
Fascinating and interesting read! For those who are interested in serial killers, this book is for you!
Meticulously researched and well put together, this book is going to take you down the poisoned path of murder, and reveals the story in-depth along the way! This is one that you do NOT want to miss!
A selection of books by Sue Coletta
Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – follow Sue : Goodreads – website/blog: Sue Coletta – Twitter: @SueColetta1
Thank you for visiting today and I hope you will be leaving with some books..thanks Sally.
Excellent Authors and reviewers, Sally.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks very much John..hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great selection and reviews, Sally. I read Sue’s and Craig’s, and highly recommend both.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks Staci and for adding your recommendations.. have a good weekend..x
LikeLiked by 1 person
You, too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Three wonderful writers and great reviews! Thank you, Sally, for all that you do for authors. You are amazing. 💗
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks Gwen.. a little change in format coming up in a couple of weeks and a few tweaks to the Cafe as well… hope it helps..hugs ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another great selection, Sally. I’ve read both Lanternfish and Pretty Evil New England and like Staci, recommend them both.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for adding your recommendations Joan.. and have a lovely weekend..hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Honored to be featured alongside these incredible authors. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Pleasure Craig..have a good weekend..x
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s great to see H.M.S. Lanternfish popping up everywhere all of a sudden. I know that will make Craig smile. These are all great authors and fantastic books. Thanks for sharing, Sally!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Craig is smiling. Thanks, Jan.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Jan.. I enjoyed Voyage of the Lanternfish and must catch up with book two. So many wonderful books to look forward to…hugsxx
LikeLiked by 2 people
Stellar Lineup today. Congrats to Craig, Lizzie and Sue! Sue’s book intrigues me, and Lizzie’s sounds like fun chicklit – always a nice escape read 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thanks, Debby!
LikeLiked by 2 people
❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Debby… always good to have a few escape reads at the ready..♥♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Factoid! Just picked up Lizzie’s book ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
A wonderful trio, Sally. Congratulations to them on those awesome reviews. Toni x
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks very much Toni..hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for adding my book amongst these wonderful reads, Sally. I really appreciate all that you do. X
LikeLiked by 2 people
My pleasure Lizzie.. have a good weekend. x
LikeLike
Great group of books;) I read and loved Lanternfish and have the other two on my TBR list!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fantastic and thanks for recommending Craig’s book.. I have to catch up with the second book..hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for finding a balance in the posting, Sally! Twice bad boys, just have to be supplemented by female serial killers. :)) Great reviews! Congratulations!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Michael…. as you say got to have balance lol… hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
:-)) Well done, Sally! 😉 Enjoy your day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the sound of all these, Sally. They all have tremendous reviews. I’m intrigued by the root monsters, though!
LikeLiked by 2 people
They are adorable Viv… in a quirky kind of way..xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out these author updates from the Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore via this post from Sally Cronin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m reading the second Lanternfish right now – love those root monsters. A great selection, Sally!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Teri.. looking forward to book two as well… soon..hugsx
LikeLike
Glad you’re having fun, Teri.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fascinating trio of books here, Sally, and great reviews! I’m especially intrigued by true crime. Congratulations to all!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks very much Amy and have a lovely weekend..hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same to you, Sally! xo
LikeLike
Thank you so much for sharing the latest review, Sally. I hadn’t even seen it yet, which made it all the more exciting. Honored to be among such great company, too! xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
great and pleasure to share Sue… have a good weekend..hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great group of authors, Sally. I thoroughly enjoyed Lanternfish, and Sue’s book sounds chilling. Thanks for the intro to Lizzie and her book. Congrats to all. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Diana.. and for your added recommendation.. looking forward to HMS Lanternfish soon…enjoy your weekend.. hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you enjoyed Lanternfish.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Three wonderful authors, and three great books. I’ve read all of these. They’re all so different but I enjoyed every one of them. Congrats to Craig, Lizzie, and Sue!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Mae.. and for adding your thoughts.. hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Weekly Round Up..- February 28th – March 6th – Pretty Woman, Shortstories, Poetry, Book Reviews, Food and Funnies. | Smorgasbord Blog Magazine
A fabulous and varied selection!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Olga..hugsx
LikeLike