Over the course of the next three months I will be sharing the authors who feature in the Smorgasbord Bookshelf with the books that I have reviewed and can personally recommend.
In this first part of the summer fair, I am sharing books that are the first in a series in both adult and children’s books along with one of their five star reviews. I hope that this will encourage you to enjoy the series in full. I will feature every author on the shelves by the end of the summer. I hope you will enjoy.
The first author today is John W. Howell with the first in the John J. Cannon series, My GRL, which I thoroughly enjoyed along with John’s other books.
About the book
John J. Cannon, a successful San Francisco lawyer, needs some well-deserved time off. He takes a leave of absence from the firm and buys a boat he names My GRL. His short-term plan is to become a charter fishing boat captain. John is unaware his craft has been targeted by a terrorist group to be used to destroy a class of Annapolis Midshipmen on their summer cruise. John’s first inkling of trouble is when he wakes up in the hospital and learns he was unconscious next to the body of the young woman who sold him the boat in the first place. To further complicate the situation, he was lying on the gun that killed her
John now has a more critical plan than charter fishing. He needs to convince law enforcement that he is innocent of the woman’s murder and to figure out why he was in the position of taking the fall.
John’s quest for answers takes him from the small fishing village of Port Aransas to eventually confront those who are holding him prisoner on the cargo ship carrying My GRL in the hold. The answers come fast and not to John’s liking. The chief terrorist has decided to lash John to the wheel of My GRL which is packed with C4 explosives and by remote control steer them to certain death at the Port of New York. The plan is to destroy the Midshipmen and the Intrepid museum. All this to satisfy the terrorists need for revenge on perceived grievances against America and the leader’s hatred for John.
If you like your heroes’ to be regular people and you want your thrillers to be exciting with plenty of twists and turns this is the book for you. It is the first in the John Cannon Trilogy.
One of the excellent reviews for the book
John Cannon is on a sabbatical from his high-powered attorney job and decides to spend a year on Mustang Island off the coast of Texas working on his used 65’ boat. Then his friend ends up shot, and the sheriff suspects that he’s keeping secrets. Add to that, it turns out that terrorists want his boat.
This book moves along at a good clip as John deals with the sheriff and then gets embroiled in the terrorists’ plot. He’s a great character, and for me, he brought the book to life. He’s kind of an average guy, but he’s smart and resourceful (for the most part), and he has some attitude. I had a great time watching him deal with all the problems while completely out of his element.
The story didn’t bog down with description or backstory, and it had just the right amount of shipboard detail to lend authenticity to the setting, John’s capabilities, and the story’s resolution. I would definitely read more of this character and author. Though a thriller, the book was also a lot of fun. Highly recommended for readers of action novels and thrillers, and book-lovers who enjoy great characters.
Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
Also by John W. Howell
Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – and on: Amazon UK – Goodreads:John Howell Goodreads – Blog: John W. Howell. com – Twitter – @HowellWave
About John W. Howell
John began his writing as a full-time occupation after an extensive business career. His specialty is thriller fiction novels, but John also writes poetry and short stories. His first book, My GRL, introduces the exciting adventures of the book’s central character, John J. Cannon. The second Cannon novel, His Revenge, continues the tension. The final book in the trilogy, Our Justice, launched in September 2016 concludes the thriller series. John’s fourth book Circumstances of Childhood, launched in October of 2017 tells a different thriller story of riches to rags, football, Wall Street, brotherly love, redemption, and inspiration with a touch of paranormal to keep you riveted.
The fifth book is a collaboration with the award-winning author, Gwen Plano titled The Contract. Heavenly bodies become concerned about the stability of the Earth and send two of their own to risk eternal salvation in order to save the planet. The Contract achieved number one status in its genre. John’s latest book is titled Eternal Road – The final stop and launched in September 2020. In search of their eternal home, Sam and James discover a threat to human existence. They also encounter the prince of darkness. The question is; can they save humankind and their eternal souls. All books are available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.
John lives in Lakeway, Texas with his wife and their spoiled rescue pets.
The next series debut is Wake Robin Ridge: Book One by Marcia Meara I can highly recommend the series and I am sure you will fall in love with the characters.
About the book
Marcia Meara, author of Swamp Ghosts and Finding Hunter, has set Book One of her Wake-Robin Ridge series amid the haunting beauty of the North Carolina mountains, where ghosts walk, ancient legends abound, and things still go bump in the night.
“A PHONE RINGING AT 2:00 A.M. never means anything good. Calls at 2:00 A.M. are bad news. Someone has died. Someone is hurt. Or someone needs help.”
On a bitter cold January night in 1965, death came calling at an isolated little cabin on Wake-Robin Ridge. Now, nearly 50 years later, librarian Sarah Gray has quit her job and moved into the same cabin, hoping the peace and quiet of her woodland retreat will allow her to concentrate on writing her first novel. Instead she finds herself distracted by her only neighbor, the enigmatic and reclusive MacKenzie Cole, who lives on top of the mountain with his Irish wolfhound as his sole companion.
As their tentative friendship grows, Sarah learns the truth about the heartbreaking secret causing Mac to hide from the world. But before the two can sort out their feelings for each other, they find themselves plunged into a night of terror neither could have anticipated. Now they must unravel the horrifying events of a murder committed decades earlier. In doing so, they discover that the only thing stronger than a hatred that will not die is a heart willing to sacrifice everything for another.
One of the great reviews for the book
If you like tender romance spiked with a dash of fear and the supernatural then this book is for you. There are two love stories in the novel.One is poignant and set in the past, the other has a modern setting and wonderfully describes the inner turmoil and insecurities when attracted to someone new. There’s malevolence, too, which threatens both the old and the new but I’ll say no more to avoid spoilers!
Marcia Meara has a superb eye for detail and describes mannerisms in the characters and in their quirky pets which give a ‘real’ feeling to the book. She also brings the Wake-Robin Ridge area to life, the descriptions skilfully woven into the plot.
The pace of the book is frequently gentle and unhurried which makes the terror all the more shocking in contrast with its sudden and rapid escalation.
I’m moving on to the second book in the series now!
Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK
A selection of other books by Marcia Meara
Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Marcia Meara on: Goodreads – Blog:Marcia Meara Writes – Twitter: @MarciaMeara
Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty years, four big cats, and one small dachshund.
When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening, and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. She enjoys nature. Really, really enjoys it. All of it! Well, almost all of it, anyway. From birds, to furry critters, to her very favorites, snakes. The exception would be spiders, which she truly loathes, convinced that anything with eight hairy legs is surely up to no good. She does not, however, kill spiders anymore, since she knows they have their place in the world. Besides, her husband now handles her Arachnid Catch and Release Program, and she’s good with that.
Spiders aside, the one thing Marcia would like to tell each of her readers is that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. If, at the age of 69, she could write and publish a book (and thus fulfill 64 years of longing to do that very thing), you can make your own dreams a reality, too. Go for it! What have you got to lose?
Thank you for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.. thanks Sally.
My list keeps growing, Sally, but both, John and Marcia were on mine already. Thanks and good luck to both authors!
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Wonderful thanks Olga.. mine stretches before me and I love seeing all the books to come.. hugsx
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Reblogged this on Judith Barrow.
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Thanks very much for sharing Judith ♥
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Two excellent authors. I have already enjoyed two of John’s books and this one of Marcia’s, and I know I have another one in her series waiting for me on my Kindle.
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Thanks Pete two of my favourite people and authors…have a good weekend.. xx
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Super choices, Sally! I’ve read both of these and highly recommend them. I guarantee Rabbit will steal any reader’s heart.
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Thanks Teri and I agree with you Rabbit is a sweetheart..xxx
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Two wonderful authors here! Congrats to John and Marcia. I have read a few of each authors’ books and thoroughly enjoyed them! They are both talented storytellers. I look forward to reading more of their books on my TBR list. Thanks for sharing, Sally! Hugs to you all! Xo
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Thanks very much Janice ♥
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💕
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I apologize for not becoming this avid and regular reader i myself also thought to become. But i will change. xx Michael
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No need to apologise Michael, there are only so many hours in the day.. hubs
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Thanks for the great reminder, Sally! I would have to start soon with one book of each author. They are fantastic. Like Robbie said Swamp Ghost and My GRL are very interesting. xx Michael
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Glad to give you a nudge Michael.. both wonderful authors with books to enjoy…have a good Thursday hugs
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Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks for sharing Michael..hugsx
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Hi Sally, two fantastic authors. I enjoyed My GRL and Swamp Ghost is my favourite of Marcia’s books to date. I just loved it.
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Thanks Robbie and so many books from both John and Marcia to enjoy ♥
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Huge congratulations to these fantastic authors. Toni x
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Thanks Toni..hugsx
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Congratulations to John and Marcia. I am a fan of John’s work. I will certainly check out Marcia’s. Thanks, Sally!
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Great thanks Beem.. xx
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Great start of selections Sal. I’ve read them both and thoroughly enjoyed. Congrats to Marcia and John. ❤
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Thanks Debby looking forward to the fair over the summer ♥
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Me too! And oye, I joined Netgalley! Lol, I will NEVER get through my Kindle now. 🙂 🙂 ❤
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OMG… We will have to make an appointment to speak to you lol. ♥
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Lolol You always know how to find me. ❤
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♥♥
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I’ve read and enjoyed both very much. Excellent reviews. Wishing the authors and reviewers all the best. Thanks, Sally.
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Thanks very much Staci..hugsx
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Two outstanding writers and great reviews! If you haven’t read them yet, you should.
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Thanks for adding your recommendation Bette.. I agree both amazing authors.. ♥
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What a wonderful surprise to be included with John in your post today, Sally! Thank you so much for sharing your lovely review, too! I will be back later to respond to comments, when we finish a huge project involving the demise of the last tree in our front yard, and an enormous mess! I’m super happy to see WRR getting some love, though, and really really appreciate it. (And congratulations to John, as well! We were lucky today, for sure!) 😀 ❤
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My pleasure Marcia and don’t work too hard ♥♥
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Two great recommendations. John is a super thriller writer.
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Enjoyed the series very much and his other books too… thanks Noelle.. ♥
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Oh my, what a treat! Congratulations, Marcia and John. You both are great writers and wonderful friends. Thank you, Sally, for spotlighting these two. ❤️
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Thanks very much Gwen..♥
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Both great authors and loved both series and books! Xo
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Thanks for adding your boost Denise…hugsx
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I’ve read books by both authors but not the ones featured today. Both are going on my TBR list.
Congrats to John and Marcia!
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Wonderful thanks Joan..hugs x
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Two authors that I adore and books that I loved. Thanks for snagging my review of John’s book, Sally. It was the first of his that I read and I was hooked. And the Wake Robin Ridge series… Marcia nailed it on that one. Great shares, Sally! Congrats to both authors.
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Thanks Diana and you know I love to share your reviews ♥
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🙂 I love writing them.
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♥
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Thank you for featuring My GRL along with these other great books, Sally Also thanks for including Diana’s super review.
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Pleasure John.. an excellent series hugsxx
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😊
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Congratulations, John and Marcia, on this wonderful spotlight! Fabulous reviews!
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Thanks Jan..♥
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I love Marcia’s Wake-Robin Ridge series and in the second book we’re introduced to Rabbit – one of my favourite characters ever! I haven’t read John’s yet but I’m popping across to Amazon as soon as I’ve posted this! ♥♥
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Wonderful thanks Alex and I am sure you will enjoy and totally with you about Rabbit..♥♥
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Huge congrats to John and Marcia on these awesome recommendations! Both series are fun. Wishing them both all the best.
Thanks for sharing, Sally. Hugs 💕🙂
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Thanks very much Harmony ♥
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I haven’t read Marcia’s but am eyeing it. John’s–really good. I enjoyed every word of it.
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Fantastic Jacqui thanks for adding your boost for John.. Marcia’s hooks you in.. hugsx
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I’m currently reading one of Marcia’s books, and it’s amazing! I’ve also read John’s work and can attest to him being a great storyteller. Congratulations to both of them for being featured today! 🙂
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Wonderful thanks Yvette and so happy you are reading one of Marcia’s books…and for boosting Johns terrific series..hugsx
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