Smorgasbord Cafe and Bookstore Update – #Reviews – #Romance Jacquie Biggar, #Historical #Paranormal Roberta Eaton Cheadle, #PostApocolyptic Harmony Kent

Welcome to the first of the author updates this week with recent reviews for authors on the shelves.

The first review today is for USA Today Bestselling Author Jacquie Biggar – Secrets, Lies & Alibis (Wounded Hearts Book 8)

About the book

An elusive danger brings two obstinate lovers together for the sake of their unborn child

SAC Agent Amanda Rhinehold is driven to succeed, so it’s a bitter pill to swallow when she is forced to accept a demotion in order to distance herself from an error in judgment– one that leaves her pregnant.

Adam O’Connor uses his playboy image to keep anyone from getting too close. History has shown the people he cares about tends to get hurt, he’s like the proverbial bad luck charm. When an affair with his supervisor goes sideways and she leaves town, he figures it’s for the best, though his heart isn’t so sure.

When trouble comes calling, these two will have to sort their differences in order to protect their baby- and try not to fall in love in the process

One of the recent reviews for the book

Aug 07, 2021 Karen rated it four stars really liked it   

SAC Agent Amanda Rhinehold has taken a new position in the company, but not because she wanted to, because she was forced to after an error in judgement. Now she’s on desk duty and planning for the changes in her life. When trouble finds her from a past case, she has to go back to Texas and come face to face with the people she put in danger. She has a secret that she’s been keeping too and now it will be out in the open.

Adam O’Connor has another new partner and is still working a large case. When his past comes back to Texas with danger on her heals, he will have to convince his previous SAC that he’s ready for a relationship and helping her.

I enjoyed this story, and the characters are always enjoyable to read. The story is full of action, secrets, danger and great characters. Adam and Amanda both have baggage, and they need to figure out a way to put their pasts behind them and move on and make a life together to protect the innocent. I give this story 4-star review. I have to find time to go back and read the stories earlier in the series.  

A small selection of other books by Jacquie Biggar

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Jacquie : Goodreads – website: Jacquie Biggar – Twitter: @jacqbiggar

The final book today with a recent review is A Ghost and His Gold by Roberta Eaton Cheadle .. Now in Kindle on Lulu

About the book

After Tom and Michelle Cleveland move into their recently built, modern townhouse, their housewarming party is disrupted when a drunken game with an Ouija board goes wrong and summonses a sinister poltergeist, Estelle, who died in 1904. Estelle makes her presence known in a series of terrifying events, culminating in her attacking Tom in his sleep with a knife. But, Estelle isn’t alone. Who are the shadows lurking in the background – one in an old-fashioned slouch hat and the other, a soldier, carrying a rifle?

After discovering their house has been built on the site of one of the original farms in Irene, Michelle becomes convinced that the answer to her horrifying visions lie in the past. She must unravel the stories of the three phantoms’ lives, and the circumstances surrounding their untimely deaths during the Second Anglo Boer War, in order to understand how they are tied together and why they are trapped in the world of ghosts between life and death. As the reasons behind Estelle’s malevolent behaviour towards Tom unfold, Michelle’s marriage comes under severe pressure and both their lives are threatened.

A recent review for the book

Aug 16, 2021 Toni rated it five stars it was amazing

A dramatic paranormal historical story set in South Africa

I’m familiar with Roberta Cheadle’s wonderful Sir Chocolate series for children (written under the name of Robbie Cheadle), and I was looking forward to reading one of her adult fiction books. I was not disappointed with this dramatic and enthralling story set in South Africa and dealing with the Second Anglo Boer War.

This is a moving supernatural thriller that weaves two intertwining stories together. There is a modern-day story about a married couple, Michelle and Tom Cleveland, whose lives are horrifically impacted by a poltergeist, Estelle, who died in 1904. The story switches between past and present. When we go back to the past, we learn a great deal about the Second Anglo Boer War and one farming family at the time.

I knew a little bit about that war because Australia was involved on the British side. But I had no idea what a cruel and brutal conflict it was, and the horrific ordeal suffered by so many people at the time, including in concentration camps. The history is magnificently brought to life in this very intense story, particularly involving a Boer farmer, Pieter, and his daughter Estelle, who has a very tragic life. It also deals with emotional abuse and trauma within family relationships. Estelle’s story is supremely sad, and that spart of the story will stay in my memory for a long time.

The modern story I found to be a real page-turner, as Michelle’s husband descends into madness and has all sorts of other problems as secrets from his past are revealed. The problems within their relationship are very complex and disturbing.

The ghosts from the past have a devastating impact on the modern characters, but the two stories weave together brilliantly. I didn’t know how the modern couple could possibly resolve their differences, but I was swept along as the author managed to bring everything to a very satisfying conclusion.

If you are interested in history and enjoy mysteries, then this book would be a very good choice. I give it a resounding five stars.

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

A small selection of other books by Robbie and Michael Cheadle and as Roberta Eaton Cheadle.

Read the reviews and Buy the books : Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Robbie : Goodreads – blog: Robbie’s Inspiration- Twitter: @bakeandwrite

The final review today is for Harmony Kent and Fallout: A Post-Apocalyptic Novel.

About the book

&WHEN EVERYTHING FALLS APART, WHAT CAN YOU DO?

The year is 3040.

The location is Exxon 1, part of a six-planet system in settled space.

Determined to avoid the mistakes of old Earth, the surviving humans avoided democracy and opted, instead, for a non-elective totalitarian system.

The new way worked well, until now.

A crazy, despotic president releases a nano-virus on the population.

No one was ready for the fallout. It came anyway.

In this post-apocalyptic world, can you stay safe?

One of the recent reviews for the book

ADG 5.0 out of 5 stars A bleak world with a fantastic story  Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 August 2021

Fallout by Harmony Kent is a bleak, turbulent and fascinating post-apocalyptic Sci Fi novel revolving around the themes of power, deception and corruption. Whilst some of the Sci Fi elements didn’t resonate with me (this is a personal preference however), the entire novel is a brilliant read from start to finish.

The introduction sets the book up well: a dangerous world filled with disease, infection, ruin, blood-thirsty gangs, violence, soldiers, and roaming creatures. I felt for Priya, the first main character, as she tried to navigate this dangerous world, and the development between her and Kaleb was really enjoyable. I read with delight as his influence brought her power and understanding, a far cry from how we first encountered her at the start. I also liked how we moved to Sasha and her story, watching her work as a master manipulator and her own quest for power and dominance. In the centre is the struggle are the vials, powerful biological weapons that can wipe out vast populations or save them from the terror in which they live. The book was expertly crafted by the author to bring all of this together, and I felt that we spent suitable time with each so as to really understand them, whilst remembering where we left the other person’s story. I loved the juxtaposition of how one of them is at the bottom rung of power and the other is at the top, and yet each has their own battles to face if they are going to survive this harsh world.

A few minor negatives. I felt a little lost in terms of the context around this world at the start (which is cleared up later on). Kent has done a marvellous job of world-building, but sometimes I found myself lacking some important details. I would have liked some more description about where we were and what the raptors, for example, looked like. I also would have preferred it to be set on earth, but this is my personal preference and does not affect how much I enjoyed this book.

In short, this is a brilliant read. It was the sort of book I found myself reading in the early hours of the morning and late at night. Sci Fi fan or not, everyone should read this book.

A small selection of other books by Harmony Kent

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon UK – And : Amazon US – Follow Harmony:Goodreads – Website:Harmony Kent – Twitter: @Harmony_Kent

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.. thanks Sally.