Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore – Weekly News – #Poetry Balroop Singh, #Fantasy Vashti Quiroz Vega, #Poetry Sue Vincent, #Mystery James J. Cudney

Posted on April 30, 2021 by Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

Welcome to the Cafe and Bookstore Weekly news with recent reviews for authors on the shelves.

The first author today is Balroop Singh with a recent review for her poetry collection – Magical Whispers

About the collection

I wait for whispers; they regale my muse. Whispers that can be heard by our heart, whispers that ride on the breeze to dispel darkness and ignite hope. I’m sure you would hear them through these poems if you read slowly.

‘Magical Whispers’ would transport you to an island of serenity; beseech you to tread softly on the velvety carpet of nature to feel the ethereal beauty around you. The jigsaw of life would melt and merge as you dive into the warmth of words.

In this book, my poems focus on the whispers of Mother Nature, whispers that are subtle but speak louder than words and breathe a quiet message.

Each day reminds us
It’s the symphony of surroundings
That whispers life into us.

One of the recent reviews for the collection

Apr 19, 2021 Stephanie Ward rated it five stars it was amazing

Magical Whispers is a collection of poems, mostly quatrains meaning poems structured in stanzas of four lines. The poems focus on telling the secrets of Mother Nature in mystical, moving and meaningful ways.

My favoriites included “Watch Them…” about the sun and river meeting at sunset; “Only Memories Are Mine” that explores the feelings of a former habitant of a house and what’s left when you can no longer go inside; and “Life Is Much More” with a lesson about how to live.

A thoroughly enjoyable collection of poems from poet Balroop Singh.

Also by Balroop Singh

Balroop Singh, Buy: Amazon US – and : Amazon UK – Follow Balroop : Goodreads – blog:Balroop Singh on WordPress – Twitter: @BalroopShado

The next author with a recent review is Vashti Quiroz-Vega for The Rise of Gadreel (Fantasy Angels Series Book 3)

About the book

In The Fall of Lilith, award-winning author Vashti Quiroz-Vega took readers inside the gates of heaven for a front-row seat to Lucifer’s rebellion. In Son of the Serpent, she introduced Dracúl, tormented offspring of fallen angels. Now, in The Rise of Gadreel, Quiroz-Vega is back with the next chapter in her Fantasy Angels saga—a gripping tale of hope and redemption set against the fiery backdrop of a demon’s insatiable thirst for power and revenge.

Lilith is gone, suffering the torments of the damned in hell. Satan, once known as Lucifer, endures endless agony in an earthly prison. Yet their foul legacy lives on, spread by a corrupted priesthood that uses the blackest magic to fan the flames of evil and hate throughout the world.

The former angel Gadreel, who fought and fell alongside Lilith and Lucifer, only to join Dracúl in his fight against them, is weary of war. Repenting of past sins, she wants nothing more than to be left in peace. But when a new threat to humankind arises, Gadreel is given the chance she has prayed for—the chance to earn God’s forgiveness.

Now, with the aid of Dracúl and a trio of uncanny allies—a man of air, a man of stone, and a woman of fire—at her side, Gadreel must find the courage to confront her past and forge a new future for herself . . . and the world.

One of the recent reviews for the book

Karen Ingalls A Page Turner Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2021

The final book of the trilogy is as good as the first two. The struggle between good and evil is wonderfully written with vivid descriptions. During some passages, the author leaves nothing to the imagination. And, there are passages that are not for the faint of heart.

Also by Vashti Quiroz Vega

Read the reviews and buy the books :Amazon US – and : Amazon UK – Follow Vashti : Goodreads – website:Vashti – WordPress – Twitter: @VashtiQV

The next author is Sue Vincent with a recent review for her poetry collection Life Lines.

About the Collection.

“The pen paints the souls longing in jewel tones.”

A collection of fifty-two poems of life, love and inspiration.

There are joys for which we cannot find expression, moments that have a depth of emotion that can only be shared in images. It is here that poetry comes into its own, for the pictures we paint with words can conjure all the emotions of the human heart. From solitude to passion, from aspiration to the quest for the soul’s inner light, we seek to find ways to share our journey through life, to witness our footsteps as we pass through its shifting sands and cast a reflection on time itself. The poet is both mirror and reflection, framing the images of a human life and giving them a beating heart.

One of the recent reviews for Life Lines

MacTrish Remarkable

The themes in Life Lines by Sue Vincent are varied, accessible and remarkable in their ability to let you see things through her eyes. Commonplace topics such as a sunset, are described so perfectly and with a fresh viewpoint that reminds us that this moment is unique – that this particular sunset will never return.

The mood varies but the quality of the writing never loses its power or its clarity. There is much to stir the soul here and the way that Sue Vincent captures the essence of things – whether it’s watching a lover sleeping, a mother appreciating what age and experience has done to her body or an awareness of the natural world that we’re part of. The commonplace becomes remarkable when we see it from her perspective.

It’s hard to write a review of poetry because it’s impossible not to introduce a subjectivity that picks out details that appeal more to one person than another. What I can say is that there are poems here that will satisfy everyone – even those who don’t think they like poetry. That is the mark of a remarkable poet.

A selection of Sue’s books and those written with Stuart France.

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon UK – and: Amazon US – Blog: S.C. Vincent – Goodreads:Sue Vincent – Twitter:@SCVincent

The final review today is for the recently released book by James J. Cudney..Legally Blind Luck (Braxton Campus Mysteries Book 7)

About the book

Surprising new family members. A hidden talisman. Deadly curses. Murder. Months after tragically losing a loved one, Kellan learns his relative’s death wasn’t an accident.

Someone has discovered a cursed talisman, and a rogue government agent will stop at nothing to retrieve the heirloom. Unfortunately, it has already changed hands and found its way on campus. Moments before Braxton’s controversial art exhibition opens, Kellan stumbles upon another murder victim, and it appears he might be next on the avenger’s list.

Can Kellan protect the talisman’s true heir and prevent the killer’s nefarious plan? Given all the suspects have ties to prominent Braxton citizens, he’s uncertain whom to trust. Together, Kellan and Sheriff April are determined to solve the mystery – via legal means or blind luck.

An early review for Legally Blind Luck

Carla the Reader A Great cozy mystery with an interesting and twisty storyline. Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2021

Once again, James J. Cudney has penned a cozy mystery that had me reading long after I should have gone to bed. In the seventh book in the Braxton Campus Mysteries we meet up with our intrepid sleuth Kellan Ayrewick and his family and friends. Kellan has found himself in the middle of another murder mystery, as well as having suspicions that the death of a family member might somehow have not been an accident. How such a small town can have so many murders, and how Kellan seems to be in the middle of them is one of the things that makes this series so interesting.

Kellan has been a professor at Braxton Campus since we met him in the first book when his dad encouraged him to take the job and move back home. He has an interesting relationship with his boss, but there seems to be some thawing in this book. I liked that we learned a bit about Miriam’s life and background in this book, it made her more likable. Nana D, one of my favourite characters, didn’t play as much of a role in this book, but that’s okay, there were others that made up for it. I enjoy Kellan’s family’s antics, but I also liked the new characters that appeared in this book. That is one thing I like about James’ books, his characters are well developed, diverse and interesting.

The mystery in this one was quite twisty and I enjoyed the history and story about the curse. It added a lot of enjoyment to the story, especially for this history buff. The plot was well-developed and with its many red herrings, I wasn’t sure who the culprit was. When the reveal came, it did not surprise me as it was one of my suspects, however the showdown was quite exciting. The ending of this one sets up a plot for the next story, but it was not really a cliffhanger, which I liked. The story has a great conclusion and all is tied up well. I definitely recommend this one to lovers of mystery, especially cozy mysteries.

Also by James J. Cudney