Smorgasbord Book Reviews – #Fantasy #Adventure – The Ferryman and the Sea Witch by D.Wallace Peach

Delighted to share my review for the latest release by D.Wallace Peach..a stand alone fantasy The Ferryman and the Sea Witch

About the book

The merrow rule the sea. Slender creatures, fair of face, with silver scales and the graceful tails of angelfish. Caught in a Brid Clarion net, the daughter of the sea witch perishes in the sunlit air. Her fingers dangle above the swells.

The queen of the sea bares her sharp teeth and, in a fury of wind and waves, cleanses the brine of ships and men. But she spares a boy for his single act of kindness. Callum becomes the Ferryman, and until Brid Clarion pays its debt with royal blood, only his sails may cross the Deep.

Two warring nations, separated by the merrow’s trench, trade infant hostages in a commitment to peace. Now, the time has come for the heirs to return home. The Ferryman alone can undertake the exchange.

Yet, animosities are far from assuaged. While Brid Clarion’s islands bask in prosperity, Haf Killick, a floating city of derelict ships, rots and rusts and sinks into the reefs. Its ruler has other designs.

And the sea witch crafts dark bargains with all sides.

Callum is caught in the breach, with a long-held bargain of his own which, once discovered, will shatter this life.

My review for the book 16th October 2021

Wow. This stand alone fantasy novel from D.Wallace Peach is fantastic. The author is known for her world building and creation of memorable characters, and does not disappoint with the worlds above and below the sea, and those who struggle to survive within them.

Deals have been made following a dreadful incident. Innocents must suffer to fulfil the terms of the agreement. A floating derelict world with a queen intent on survival, and a rich and fertile land with an unrelenting king, are connected by one ship and the Ferryman. He bears the burden of keeping to the bargain made to the Sea Witch for free passage between the two realms, and he has sacrificed much over the years to maintain this fragile peace between them.

There is deceit, side-deals and an undercurrent of violence that races towards a deadline set many years ago. Young lives are at risk, as are those who sail the dangerous waters ruled by the Sea Witch. There are heart-stopping moments when it seems that all is lost, and heart-warming interactions between humans and those beneath the sea that demonstrate the power of trust and love. However, those seeking their own version of justice will stop at nothing to to achieve satisfaction.

This is a love story, adventure, mystery and thriller rolled into a compelling and page-turning fantasy. Highly recommended.

Head over to read the reviews and the book : Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A selection of books by D.Wallace Peach

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Follow Diana: Goodreads – blog: Myths of the Mirror – Twitter: @Dwallacepeach

About D.Wallace Peach

Best-selling author D. Wallace Peach started writing later in life after the kids were grown and a move left her with hours to fill. Years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books, and when she started writing, she was instantly hooked. Diana lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon’s rainforest with her husband, two dogs, two owls, a horde of bats, and the occasional family of coyotes.

For book descriptions, excerpts, maps, and behind the scenes info, please visit:
D.Wallace Peach Books

 

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

Smorgasbord Author Promotion and Book Reviews 2021 – Guidelines – Sally Cronin

Last week I had five unsolicited emails from authors that I don’t know, requesting that I review their books, and of course very flattered to be asked. However, it did raise a few issues that I felt needed some clarification.

I have been an avid reader since childhood and it is something that I do for pleasure. This is not a book review site, it is a mix of many things, but primarily these days it is a book promotion platform for authors in the Cafe and Bookstore and the Children’s Reading Room.

As you will have noticed, I blog a great deal as I keep to my vision of an online magazine blog. It keeps me busy every day and I love it. So no complaints from me about that. However, it does mean that I have to schedule time to read, and this year I have made a commitment to reading at least one, if not two books a week.

Currently like most of you I have a TBR as long as both arms, and I try to read in the chronological order that I buy the books. Which is the key here, as I prefer to buy the books that I review, so that there is no pressure to read and review, and I can enjoy at my leisure.

There is an exception to this, and it is when an author I have previously read and reviewed asks if I might accept their book for an advance review. If I feel I can do so in a timely fashion then I am happy to do so.

My focus in 2021 is promoting authors in the Cafe and Bookstore and am delighted to welcome new writers with their books to join the 150 already on the shelves with their reviews, and I will happily promote their new releases and recent reviews regularly.

If you are visiting for the first time here is the links on how you can join other authors in the bookstores.

Main Cafe and Bookstore : Free Author Promotion Cafe and Bookstore

Children to 12 years old: Children’s Reading Room

So I do ask respectfully that if you are an author who is not in the cafe and bookstore that you take advantage of this free promotion that is in place, rather than send me requests to review your books.

Thanks very much for visiting and hope you don’t mind me clarifying how the book reviews fit into the blog… Sally.

 

 

 

 

Smorgasbord Book Reviews – Braxton Campus Mysteries – Book 3 – Flower Power Trip by James J. Cudney

Delighted to share my review of the third book in the Braxton Campus Mysteries:  Flower Power Trip.. by James J. Cudney

About the book

At a masquerade ball to raise money for renovations to Memorial Library, Kellan finds a dead body dressed in a Dr. Evil costume.

Did one of Maggie’s sisters kill the annoying guest who’d been staying at the Roarke and Daughters Inn, or does the victim have a closer connection to someone else at Braxton College?

As Kellan helps school president Ursula bury a secret from her past and discover the identity of her stalker, he unexpectedly encounters a missing member of his family. Everything seems to trace back to the Stoddards: a new family who recently moved in.

Between the murder, a special flower exhibit and strange postcards arriving each week, Kellan can’t decide which mystery in his life should take priority. But unfortunately, the biggest one of all has yet to be exposed – and when it is, Kellan won’t know what hit him.

My review for Flower Power Trip – a well written and compelling mystery.

Having read the previous two books in The Braxton Campus Mysteries, it was great to catch up with familiar characters, and find how they have moved on in the short time since the last story. Considering that it is only four months into Kellan Ayrwick’s return to the town, he has been kept busy sleuthing. As the police chief, April Montague, keeps mentioning, people do seem to be dropping dead rather more frequently since his return. But is her frosty demeanour towards his intrusion into her investigations beginning to thaw?

With a costume fundraiser and a prominent flower show being organised in the university grounds, it is not a great time for another murder, especially when Kellan stumbles upon it and a possible killer. The official investigation is hampered by lack of evidence and with a tacit agreement from the police chief, Kellan is back to sleuthing to uncover secrets from the past, and shady dealings by both residents some of the newcomers to the town.

Running parallel to the story is the continuing mystery surrounding the death of Kellan’s wife, Francesca, daughter of  mobster and his wife Vincenzo and Cecilia Castigliano. Who is sending those nostalgic postcards?

Kellan’s grandmother is as feisty as ever as she prepares for the mayoral election and continues to interfere in the lives of those around her.  We are introduced to the extended family of existing characters from the previous book, adding fresh faces and another layer of intrigue to the fabric of the story. After three Braxton mysteries, this eclectic group of people is beginning to feel like a community I would not mind joining.

I pride myself on being able to spot the culprit pretty early on in a murder investigation, but James Cudney introduces enough red herrings to keep us amateur sleuths busy and barking up the wrong tree. The climax to the story was excellent and we have been left with a cliffhanger that encourages a swift purchase of the next book in the series Mistaken Identity Crisis… which is now lined up on my reader.

The author has created characters that are easy to relate to and enjoy and the plot is well paced. The reveals give you only just enough to whet your appetite and keep you guessing until the last page. I recommend that you begin with Academic Curveball and enjoy the same journey that I have been on, getting to know the family and friends of Kellan Ayrwick and the Braxton Campus.

Read other reviews and buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NDK76WF

And on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flower-Power-Braxton-Campus-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07NDK76WF

Also by James J. Cudney

Read the reviews and buy the books: https://www.amazon.com/James-J.-Cudney/e/B076B6PB3M

And on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/James-J.-Cudney/e/B076B6PB3M

Read more reviews and follow James on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17128817.James_J_Cudney

About James J. Cudney

James is my given name; most call me Jay. I grew up on Long Island and currently live in New York City, but I’ve traveled all across the US (and various parts of the world). After college, I spent 15 years working in technology and business operations in the sports, entertainment and media industries. Although I enjoyed my job, I left in 2016 to focus on my passion: telling stories and connecting people through words. My debut novel is ‘Watching Glass Shatter,’ a contemporary fiction family drama with elements of mystery, suspense, humor and romance. To see samples or receive news from my current and upcoming books, please subscribe with your email address at my website: https://jamesjcudney.com

What do I do outside of writing: I’m an avid genealogist (discovered 2K family members going back about 250 years) and cook (I find it so hard to follow a recipe). I love to read; between Goodreads and my blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, I have over 500 book reviews which will give you a full flavor for my voice and style. On my blog, I started the 365 Daily Challenge, where I post a word each day that has some meaning to me, then converse with everyone about life. There is humor, tears, love, friendship, advice and bloopers. Lots of bloopers where I poke fun at myself all the time. Even my dog has a weekly segment called “Ryder’s Rants” where he complains about me. All these things make up who I am; none of them are very fancy or magnanimous, but they are real and show how I live every day.

A bit of humor: Everything doubles as something else when you live in NYC. For me, it’s the dining room, my favorite space in the apartment, where more than just my cooking is on display! As I look out the windows onto a 12th floor terrace, various parts of nature (trees, bushes, flowers, bugs & animals) inspire me to write. Ryder, my 10-year old shiba inu, usually lays on my feet, growling when I shift positions too many times or when I forget to share my food! Although he’s only 20 pounds, he’s quite strong and pushy. But how else can you pen the best story possible without these things by your side?

Connect to James J. Cudney

Website and Blog: https://thisismytruthnow.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsMyTruthNow/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamescudney4/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamescudney4/

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you have enjoyed my review. I can recommend the series and I am looking forward to reading book four soon.