thousandpaintedhourscover

Book Review: A Thousand Painted Hours, by Barbara O’Neal

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About the book, A Thousand Painted Hours thousandpaintedhourscover

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 11, 2026
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 543 pages

An epic, emotionally charged novel about love, art, and survival spanning 1900s colonial India to Blitz-era London by the USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids.

In the shadow of the London Blitz, artist Elsie Turner clings fiercely to her canvases, refusing to let war dim the colors that define her. The bombs test her nerve, but the struggle also stirs memories of her golden youth in India and of the long-lost love of her life.

The daughter of a British civil servant in the Himalayan station of Nainital, Elsie crosses cultural divides to forge an unlikely bond with Tanveer Singh, a Sikh prince with hopes, dreams, and far-reaching ideas. What begins as shared sketchbooks and stargazing becomes first love and a secret correspondence. When Elsie’s father is summoned to England, Elsie is severed from the world she knows—and is determined to preserve it through both her art and a connection with Tanveer that endures through the most tumultuous years of their lives.

Across four decades and two continents, Elsie navigates a journey from lush colonial India to war-torn London, amid landscapes of beauty, protest, and peril. As past and present collide, the most impossible choices and sacrifices are yet to be made in the name of love, war, and survival.

Praise for this book:

“From the forested hills of India to the bomb-scarred streets of London to the searing heat of Cairo, A Thousand Painted Hours is a colorful, transportive, and heartrending novel. In a sweeping tale of friendship and love through the ages, O’Neal grabs her readers by the heart and doesn’t let go. Not to be missed!” —Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling author of The Hope Keeper

Buy, read and discuss this book:

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About the author, Barbara O’Neal Barbara O'Neal

Barbara O’Neal is the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon Charts bestselling author of twenty novels of women’s fiction, including the #1 Amazon Charts bestseller When We Believed in Mermaids, as well as The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth, Memories of the Lost, This Place of Wonder, and The Starfish Sisters.

Her award-winning books have been published in more than two dozen countries. She lives on the wild Oregon Coast with her husband, a British endurance athlete who vows he’ll never lose his accent.

For more information, visit www.barbaraoneal.com.

Connect with Barbara:

Facebook | Instagram 

 

My thoughts Melissa - 2026

A Thousand Painted Hours entered my life during a summer when I was already doing a lot of reading about both British colonial India and World War II, so I felt as though the literary gods were smiling upon me.

Then I loved the print version so much that I bought the audiobook simply because I wanted to hear Barbara O’Neal’s language read aloud.

This isn’t a review of the audio edition, but that seems worth mentioning because it says something about the prose itself. O’Neal writes with a richness that never becomes cumbersome. Her descriptions are lush and evocative without slowing the story, and there is a musicality to the language that made me curious about how it would sound rather than simply how it looked on the page. For the record, the narration is spot-on, and the story flows just as beautifully when heard as it does when read.

The print edition, though, is gorgeous.

Different languages weave through the text. Letters pass back and forth, sometimes accompanied by pressed flowers or small pieces of art. These elements aren’t decorative flourishes pasted onto the story; they’re part of the way O’Neal builds intimacy between her characters and gives physical presence to relationships stretched across enormous distances and spans of time.

They also contribute to one of the novel’s greatest strengths: its sense of texture. This is a book that feels tactile. Paper, paint, flowers, landscapes, food, weather, clothing, and color all contribute to the world of the novel without overwhelming it.

At 543 pages, A Thousand Painted Hours is wonderfully meaty—and somehow still not enough.

That is partly because O’Neal handles the pacing of a long, dual-timeline novel remarkably well. The movement between periods creates momentum rather than interrupting it, and the letters provide yet another rhythm within the larger structure. Instead of feeling as though I were being pulled away from one story just as it became interesting, I found that each shift added another layer to what I already knew.

O’Neal is equally good at allowing relationships to develop over time. Connections between characters are not treated as static things established in one scene and carried unchanged through the rest of the book. Affection, resentment, obligation, desire, friendship, and loyalty evolve as the characters themselves do. Four decades is a tremendous amount of emotional territory for a novel to cover, and the relationships feel lived in rather than merely plotted.

There is also considerable care in the novel’s treatment of culture and belonging. O’Neal doesn’t use India simply as an exotic backdrop for a British woman’s story. Questions of colonialism, privilege, cultural identity, and independence are woven through the characters’ lives, while the multilingual elements of the novel allow people to inhabit their own languages rather than having every interaction flattened into English.

Perhaps most impressive is the balance of all these elements. This is historical fiction, romance, family drama, and a novel about art, memory, culture, and identity, but none of those pieces feels as though it has wandered in from a different book.

And despite those 543 pages, I reached the end wishing there were just a few more painted hours left.

Goes well with: Gulab jamun and a steaming cup of cardamom tea.

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Review: The Frequency by Randall D. St. Claire – with Giveaway

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About the book, The Frequency  Final Cover Design 2 28 2026

  • Genre: Mystery / Speculative Thriller / Thriller / Suspense / History
  • Publisher: Atmosphere Press
  • Publication Date: July 21, 2026
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He didn’t expect his life to change in a single moment. He didn’t expect it to ask anything in return. 

Bronx Rousselle built his small life on purpose: a pawnshop in northern Minnesota, a few familiar faces, no debts he couldn’t count, no relationship anchors. Friendship, in his experience, always came with a cost—and Bronx never owed much to anyone. Humor helped. If he laughed hard enough at trouble, it often lost interest.

Then something finds its way into his hands. Old. Hidden. Mystical at first glance. Powerful enough to draw attention from people who don’t ask—they take. Curiosity bleeds into pursuit, and luck demands a toll. As it stretches from the American Midwest to the frozen edges of Greenland, Bronx is pulled into a world where survival is measured in seconds—and trust in scars.

But the greatest danger isn’t what’s chasing him. It’s how the journey begins to change him—forcing uneasy alliances.

A woman who carries pain without breaking. Another who will not bend. Men in shadows, where loyalty is uncertain and betrayal waits.

And somewhere between the cold, the fear, and the weight of what he carries, Bronx begins to feel something he’s spent a lifetime avoiding:

Connection. Responsibility. Loss.

The kind that doesn’t let go.

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About the author, Randall D. St. Claire RandyPortraits-19

Randall D. St. Claire writes intelligent, character-driven thrillers that live at the intersection of discovery, consequence, and the human cost of both.

His ninth novel, The Frequency, grew from a simple question that wouldn’t let go — what happens when a historic discovery powerful enough to change the world appears destined to fall into the wrong hands? Born in Southern California, he moved to Texas in 1996. Mentored by Patricia Anthony and Carol Woods, he is a past President of the Greater Dallas Writer’s Association.

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My Thoughts Melissa - 2026

The Frequency does not so much begin as detonate. Randall D. St. Claire had me from the opening sequence, and once the story took off, I had no interest in putting it down. This is a rocket-powered thriller with a cinematic sensibility, but its speed never comes at the expense of character. The tension holds even when the humor slips in, and both feel completely natural.

Bronx Rousselle is a terrific reluctant hero. Gruff, taciturn, and firmly committed to keeping the rest of humanity at arm’s length, he becomes more appealing as the pressure builds and the man beneath the defenses begins to emerge. His growing attachment to other people is gradual, believable, and clearly inconvenient to him—which makes it all the more satisfying. He may prefer not to care, but his actions keep giving him away.

Dr. Edwin James Gibbons is an equally memorable presence. His collection of Texas expressions brought warmth and levity to the story, while also giving Bronx one more unpredictable personality to contend with. His homespun Texas expressions may occasionally bewilder outsiders, underscoring how regional phrases do not always travel as intended.

St. Claire packs a great deal into the novel: murder, conspiracy, scientific possibility, Arctic danger, betrayal, loyalty, and a restrained thread of romance. None of it feels crammed in. The plot remains clear, the suspense keeps tightening, and the quieter moments give the action emotional weight. I was especially impressed by the way the humor relieves the tension without puncturing it.

The Arctic setting is rendered with enough clarity to feel both beautiful and actively hostile. The landscape increases the isolation, magnifies every risk, and made me appreciate central heating on an almost spiritual level.

What stayed with me most, though, was the balance between spectacle and tenderness. The Frequency offers all the momentum and danger I want from a thriller, but its characters are what make the story matter. The ending lands with an unexpected softness that feels earned after everything that precedes it. Engaging, deftly constructed, and impossible to resist, this is exactly the sort of novel that deserves a screen adaptation. I would happily buy a ticket.

Goes well with: A piping-hot deep-dish pizza and an ice-cold St. Pauli Girl Lager. 

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Review: Indigo, the Deep by Kellye Abernathy – with Giveaway

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About the book, Indigo, the Deep: ITD Cover

  • Genre:  Teen and YA / Coming of Age / Fantasy
  • Publisher: Atmosphere Press
  • Publication Date: July 7, 2026
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“In the heart of the deepest sea caverns, there is a stillness. Learn to surrender to it.”

Fifteen-year-old Condi Bloom knows the magic will happen again. The autumn equinox is looming. Strange currents are sweeping through her coastal town. Tides are turning wild, and a mercurial mist cloaks the lonely rock tower known as Windy Hollow, long believed to be haunted.

When a silent threat glides into the cove, altering the fragile ecosystem and drawing sharks close to shore, Condi ignores the danger. A fierce surfer, she insists on pushing her skills to the limit, hoping to heal a broken heart. Meanwhile, seventeen-year-old Firth Cristo, a bold free diver, is tormented by a past he cannot reveal. Guided by the Beachlings, the mystical women who teach the secrets of the deep, he dares to explore remote underwater sea caverns, navigating the pulsing tides of a shimmering enchantment.

Inspired by the certainty of wonder and the uncertain nature of time, Condi and Firth dive into their rawest places, discovering that healing—of nature, of others, and of themselves—is found in the bounty of a limitless sea.

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About the author, Kellye Abernathy ITD Author Photo

An avid reader and writer, Kellye is the author of the YA science-fantasy series: The Aquamarine Surfboard (2022), Amethyst, The Shallows (2024), and Indigo, The Deep (2026). A former wireless business executive and a graduate of the University of Kansas, Kellye teaches practical life skills, creative writing, yoga, and mindfulness within the trauma-survivor community in Plano, Texas. She hopes to inspire healing through body and breath awareness, creativity, consistency, and compassion.   Her joys are many and varied, among them neuroscience, oceanography, swimming, biking, family adventures, and great conversation. She believes in staying curious, showing up, and keeping her heart open.

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My Thoughts Melissa - 2026

Indigo, the Deep is the third installment in Kellye Abernathy’s Yellow Cottage series, and the third time I’ve had the privilege of immersing myself in one of her stories.

I love the way Abernathy combines magical elements without turning the story into in-your-face fantasy. Dolphins communicate with humans, surfboards are imbued with ancient energy, and neurodivergence—specifically synesthesia—is almost a superpower. One character uses it to compose music, while another perceives moods as colors. The magic feels organic to Craggy Point and Windy Hollow, woven naturally into the lives of the people who call them home.

Abernathy takes a slightly different direction with this book. Where the conflicts in the previous stories were generated largely by the town, the beach, and their history, Indigo, the Deep introduces a biomedical research ship whose presence is disrupting the local ecosystem and drawing more sharks into the cove. There is still surfing, of course, as well as free diving, mysterious sea caverns, and the restless pull of the water.

04 caption banner Indigo, The Deep

What remains central, however, is the young people—and some of the older folks—discovering who they are and how they fit into the world around them. Condi may be the focal point, but it is the entire community that keeps pulling me back into these books. Kait, Abe the master surfer, Firth, the Beachlings, and the others are all dimensional and imperfect. They feel real, making it easy to become invested in their lives, their relationships, and the healing they find in one another and in the limitless sea.

This book can be read as a standalone novel, but reading the previous books in the series will make the experience richer.

Overall, this is a fantastic read for anyone who loves foggy coastal weather, salt air, leaping dolphins, and a bit of a mystery to be solved.

Goes well with: clam chowder, warmed baguette, and a mug of hot tea.

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Under the Stairs

Review: Under the Stairs (An Anthology of Homebound Horror) edited by Adam Vine

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Under the Stairs

 

About the book, Under the Stairs: an Anthology of Homebound Horror Under the Stairs

  • Listening Length: 4 hours, 24 minutes
  • Authors: Adam Vine (editor), Dean Liapis, Ryan E. Felton, Courtney M. Privett, Brandon Naylor, E.E. King, Chelsea Pumpkins, Jessica Peter, Robert Bagnall, Francescia Maria
  • Narrators: Dean Liapis and Hilary Halpern
  • Release Date: 15 May 2026
  • Publisher: Ossuary Press

Twenty short stories about losing one’s sense of home: a sleep study gone wrong, a pair of ghostly baby shoes that won’t leave a grieving father alone, a serial killer who lurks in the shadows of suburbia, a halfway house haunted by an unorthodox kind of ghost, a hallucinogenic plant that compiles the most gruesome elements of past and future; penned by some of horror fiction’s best upcoming authors, these are just a few of the terrifying tales in ‘Under the Stairs: An Anthology of Homebound Horror.’ Please note that the stories in the audiobook version of this anthology differ slightly from the print and ebook versions.

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About the Author (and Editor), Adam Vine Adam Vine

Adam Vine was born in Northern California. By day, he is a game writer and designer. He has lived in five countries and visited forty. When he is not writing, he is traveling, reading something icky, or playing the guitar.

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My Thoughts Melissa - 2026

I listened to the audiobook edition of Under the Stairs, and I have to say that these stories feel even more unsettling in audio than they might on the page. There is something about hearing horror aloud that brings me right back to ghost stories shared at slumber parties or around campfires, where every creak in the house suddenly seems significant. I also appreciated the choice to use two narrators, alternating between stories and giving the collection an extra layer of texture.

The stories themselves range from quietly spooky to genuinely sinister, touching on subjects including domestic violence, hunger, and homelessness. Despite the variety of voices and styles, the anthology is held together by its central question: what happens when home is no longer a place of safety? That theme works remarkably well. As I listened, there were some pieces that didn’t resonate with me personally and others that felt eerily familiar—not in their actual content, but in their tone and worldview, occasionally echoing elements of my own writing.

Anthologies have always appealed to me because they invite a different kind of reading experience. You can dip in and out, listen for a while, set the book aside, and return later without feeling as though you’re trying to keep track of an intricate plot. Under the Stairs offers a satisfying mix of shorter and longer tales. There were certainly a few stories that I would happily have seen expanded into something larger, but for the most part, each one seemed to occupy exactly the amount of space it needed.

For listeners who enjoy horror that explores the uneasy spaces closest to us, this anthology offers a thoughtful reminder that sometimes the most frightening things are the ones waiting behind our own front doors.

Goes well with: crisp apples, sharp cheddar, and a handful of lightly salted cashews, along with a glass of wine or cup of tea.

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Flowerpot Romeo ebook cover- PNG - 15 June 2026

Review: Flowerpot Romeo by Simone Goodman – with Giveaway

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Flowerpot Romeo

 

About the book, Flowerpot Romeo Flowerpot Romeo ebook cover- PNG - 15 June 2026

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cloudesley Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 28, 2026
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 317 pages
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Warning: this is not a romance (but it is a love story)

Sebastian Wilson wasn’t aspiring to be anybody’s hero. He just wanted to be an actor.

Instead, spurred on by his unimpressed agent, he pretends to be an Irish busker. Charmingly drifting through London’s Islington, burdened by an inability to face himself, he unwittingly changes the lives of the women he meets.

A lonely dame of the stage and screen.
A single mother making ends meet.
An underworld wife on the brink of divorce.
And Fiona, whose best friend he’d sooner avoid…

Life rarely consults the script — especially when Romeo the cat enters the scene, a tiny agent of chaos.

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About the author, Simone Goodman Simone Goodman

Simone Goodman is a London novelist, reluctant romantic, and full-time CFO who spends her days in spreadsheets and her evenings turning questionable experiences into taller tales – always in the hope that things will somehow work out.

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*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Gleam box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

 


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My Thoughts Melissa - 2026

Some books grab your attention with dramatic twists. Others win you over because you simply enjoy spending time with the people on the page. Flowerpot Romeo is firmly in the second camp—a warm, funny, and quietly thoughtful novel about identity, belonging, and the unexpected ways our lives intersect.

 

Simone Goodman was a new-to-me author, but I slipped into her writing almost immediately. Her pacing is spot-on, allowing the story to unfold naturally without ever feeling rushed or dragging. Even with multiple storylines weaving together, everything remains easy to follow.

 

Sebastian Wilson is an aspiring actor whose latest “role” leads him into the lives of a wonderfully eclectic group of people. What I found especially interesting is that the male lead is a catalyst rather than the center of everyone else’s story. Without even realizing it, Wilson becomes exactly what several people need at pivotal moments in their lives, even as he struggles to accept himself for who he really is.

 

The characters are the heart of this novel. Each one feels like a fully realized person rather than a supporting player, and I found myself invested in all of them. There is plenty of humor throughout, but Goodman also explores universal questions about where we belong, whether we can truly be ourselves, and whether we’ll ever find the people who see us as we really are.

 

I also loved the layered nature of the title. As the story unfolds, you’ll find yourself wondering whether “Romeo” refers to Wilson, the mischievous cat, or perhaps both. It’s a clever touch that reflects the novel itself.

 

If you’re looking for a book driven by memorable characters rather than nonstop action, Flowerpot Romeo is a delightful choice. It’s charming, funny, heartfelt, and ultimately hopeful—a reminder that sometimes the greatest changes in our lives come from people who have no idea they’ve changed us at all.

 

Goes well with: Irish breakfast tea, a generous slice of lemon drizzle cake, and a dog (or cat) curled up beside you who occasionally insists on helping you turn the page.

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The Catalyst final cover design jpg

Review: The Catalyst by Andrea Goyan

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The Catalyst

 

About the book, The Catalyst The Catalyst final cover design jpg

When human bodies are found with scales and tails, DNA Detector Kat Crocker is tasked with determining what caused the victims’ abnormalities.

She’s teamed with Detective Greg Prescott, a partnership that neither of them is happy about. Prescott doesn’t believe she should be on a murder investigation, while she blames his father for mishandling the investigation into her father’s death years earlier.

But this is the opportunity Kat’s been waiting for. She wants to prove her DNA Detector—a device created by her late father—can revolutionize police investigations.

Then her device produces impossible results.

The first victim’s DNA is no longer entirely human.

When a second victim appears hours later with similar unimaginable results, Kat and Greg race to find the cause before more people die.

But even as they hunt for answers, someone hunts Kat. Unbeknownst to her, the people behind the mutations need Kat—at least a piece of her—to complete their plan. They will stop at nothing to get what they need.

Kat’s trail leads to a newly released VR game powered by impossible genetics—and to the scientist behind the mutations. The man who has put her in danger. The person she trusted more than anyone in the world.

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About the author, Andrea Goyan The Catalyst thumbnail_Andrea_500x500

Author Bio – Andrea Goyan is an award-winning author and an avid animal person who grew up being called Goat-Girl and Raccoon-Mama. She is a grateful part of a flock of collaborative Magpie Poets whose first collection, An Illegal Feast, was released in 2025. Andrea also co-hosts MetaStellar Magazine’s “Long-Lost Friends” and “Storytime.” In her spare time, she walks her dogs and loves to paint, especially animal portraits.

Many of her stories are available for free on her website.

Connect with Andrea:

Website | BlueSky | Facebook 

My Thoughts Melissa - 2026

Science fiction is often at its most satisfying when it combines imaginative ideas with believable human stakes, and Andrea Goyan’s The Catalyst does exactly that. The novel balances scientific intrigue with questions about responsibility, identity, and the unintended consequences of discovery, creating a story that’s as engaging intellectually as it is entertaining.

Rather than relying on spectacle, Goyan lets the tension build steadily. The scientific elements provide a solid foundation for the mystery, while the story continually expands its focus to examine how individual choices can have far-reaching effects. There’s a quiet confidence to the storytelling that makes the world feel authentic, allowing readers to settle into the narrative even as the stakes continue to rise.

Kat Crocker is an easy protagonist to root for. She comes across as capable, thoughtful, and refreshingly grounded, making her a strong guide through increasingly extraordinary events. I especially appreciated that the book opens with Kat collecting dog feces from a suburban lawn in order to make sure the offending owner was ticketed for the misdeed. The “Double-D” nickname for the DNA detective made me laugh out loud, and that touch of humor helps establish her personality before the larger mystery unfolds.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its pacing. Each revelation arrives at just the right moment, encouraging readers to keep turning pages without feeling manipulated. The scenes are vividly realized, and the various plot threads come together in a way that feels intentional and satisfying.

If I have one reservation, it’s that I wanted the novel to venture even further into its scientific foundations. The central concept is fascinating, but I found myself wanting a deeper explanation of the biological mechanisms at work, particularly how genetic material could move between organisms in the way the story suggests. Readers who prefer harder science fiction may find themselves asking the same questions. Similarly, expanding the world-building just a bit more would have given the speculative elements even greater impact.

Even with those reservations, The Catalyst is a compelling read. Its intriguing premise, memorable protagonist, and carefully constructed suspense make it an enjoyable science fiction thriller that keeps its focus on both ideas and people. While I would have welcomed a little more scientific depth, the novel’s strengths easily outweigh that omission, making it one I’d happily recommend to fans of speculative fiction with a mystery at its core.

Goes well with: A perfectly grilled steak with asparagus tips, enjoyed outdoors under the ever-watchful eyes of a dog absolutely convinced that every bite belongs to them.

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Time of My Life Promo

Book Spotlight: The Time of My Life by Samantha Tonge

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The Time Of My Life

 

About the book: The Time of My Life

How far would you go to change your life?

When Eliza Woods sees an advertisement for someone’s whole life for sale – their house, car, all their belongings, even their clothes and cat – not to mention a trial-run in their job and an introduction to their friends… she decides it’s fate.

Grabbing a different life with both hands is exactly what she needs. Even if 26-year-old Carrie’s wildly-social life and job in a bar couldn’t be more different from Eliza’s quieter existence.

As for Carrie, she’s heading off to Greece, desperate to run away from everything she’s familiar with in England. The two women message each other after the deal has gone through, with Eliza excited to go for cocktails with Carrie’s friends before her first shift at her new job.

What Carrie doesn’t tell her is why she put her life up for sale. And what Eliza doesn’t tell Carrie is that she’s about to turn 75. And that isn’t her only secret…

Don’t miss this absolutely brilliant, escapist read. Available now!

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Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/TheTimeofMyLife

The Time of My Life Is currently available for only 99p!  (99 cents in the US!)

About the author: Samantha Tonge Sam Tonge TTOML

Samantha Tonge lives in Manchester UK. She studied German and French at university and has worked abroad, including a stint at Disneyland Paris. She has travelled widely.

Samantha has sold many dozens of short stories to women’s magazines. She is represented by Darley Anderson Agency & Associates. In 2015 her summer novel, Game of Scones, hit #5 in the UK Kindle chart and won the Love Stories Awards Best Romantic Ebook category. In 2020 one of her novels won the RNA’s Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller Award. Currently Samantha writes uplifting, emotional women’s fiction for Boldwood Books. She seeks to raise a smile, and make a reader feel they are not alone with the challenges of life.

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Book Review: On the Bayou, By Sean Bridges

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On The Bayou - Campaign

 

About the book: On the Bayou On The Bayou by Sean Bridges

  • Suspense, Thriller, Mystery
  • Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
  • Publication Date: 25 May 2026
  • Scroll down for Giveaway

A stake-out at a trafficker way-station ends with Special Agent Jennifer Nash placed on forced leave. Until a government insider offers her a chance at redemption.

All she has to do is accompany an elite Louisiana SWAT team on a takedown mission. But as she’s shuttled by boat into the Atchafalaya Basin, she believes some of the unit might be compromised.

The raid ends in disaster. And the police find themselves outnumbered in the middle of a criminal operation, with a connected Cajun community and ruthless cartel members determined to put them down at all costs.

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Amazon | Wildrose Press  |  Walmart  |  Bookshop.org | Goodreads 

About the Author: Sean Bridges Sean Patrick Bridges

Sean Patrick Bridges is an award-winning screenwriter and film producer. He graduated from Schiller International University in Heidelberg, Germany. He’s been a Finalist and Semi-Finalist for the Nicholl Fellowship. Had a project invited to the Sundance Institute. He’s produced and directed two documentary short-subjects in the Caribbean.

He’s written novels, screenplays, short stories and produced audiobooks. He’s appeared as some form of Law Enforcement in a few TV episodes and film. And he’s worked on various projects with Robert Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios.

He’s the owner of Audible Parade Productions in the Texas Hill Country. Their latest audio story is TRIPLE SIX, a five-episode presentation. For current information, check out audibleparade.com.

Connect with Sean:

Website  |  Instagram | LinkedIn | Amazon | GoodReads | FaceBook

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My Thoughts: Melissa - 2026

Sean Bridges’ On the Bayou drops readers into a world where danger comes from every direction, but what impressed me most wasn’t the body count or the relentless action. It was the people.

Bridges has a knack for making even a large ensemble cast feel distinct. The members of the SWAT team are more than interchangeable tactical operators; each arrives with a recognizable personality, perspective, and place within the group. Their camaraderie, disagreements, and dark humor create the sense that these are people who have spent years working together under pressure. Jennifer Nash stands at the center of it all, carrying the emotional weight of a previous operation gone horribly wrong. Rather than reducing her to trauma, Bridges allows her resilience and determination to define her just as much as her losses.

This is also a thriller that understands momentum. Once events are set in motion, the pace rarely eases off. Scenes flow naturally into one another, keeping the tension high without feeling chaotic. The Louisiana setting becomes far more than scenery. The bayou itself feels alive—humid, oppressive, unpredictable, and increasingly claustrophobic. Bridges uses the landscape to amplify the suspense, turning the swamps into a place where uncertainty lurks behind every patch of reeds and every stretch of dark water.

The first-person present-tense narration adds to that immediacy. Reading this novel often feels less like observing events and more like being dropped directly into them. The sensory details are vivid enough that you can practically feel the insects, the heat, and the mud. As the situation deteriorates and the danger escalates, the sense of vulnerability becomes increasingly effective.

Read ON THE BAYOU today

One aspect that stood out was the attention devoted to developing the primary antagonist. Bridges spends time exploring the forces that shaped him, creating a villain who is frightening not because he is mysterious, but because his brutality feels entirely believable.

My primary criticism is that the book would have benefited from another round of editing. Grammatical errors appeared often enough to pull me out of the story from time to time.

I also found myself conflicted by some of the language used by the criminal characters when referring to women. While it likely reflects the attitudes of the kind of men Bridges is portraying, the frequency of those insults occasionally became distracting. What makes that tension interesting is that the same novel gives us Jennifer Nash—a capable, layered protagonist I genuinely enjoyed spending time with. Despite my reservations, she is a character I would gladly follow into another installment.

Goes well with:  a cold beer, a bowl of spicy gumbo, and a healthy respect for anything lurking beneath the water’s surface.

To learn more about the book, look for #LSLLOntheBayou on your preferred social media platform.

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The Golden Hearts Club

Review: The Golden Hearts Club: A Novel, by Cinda K. Swalley

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About the book, The Golden Hearts Club The Golden Hearts Club

Title: The Golden Hearts Club: A Novel
Author: Cinda Swalley
Pages: 420
Publisher:
Publication Date: Feb. 2021
Categories:  Genre Fiction, Sister Fiction, Romance

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A charming story about dreams, hope, and how human compassion can help make the world a kinder place. This magical journey is rich with sweet life messages and inspiration that lead a young woman on a quest to discover her destiny. It is a memorable and meaningful story I didn’t want to end.” Angela Aja, author of Summoned To Soar.

The cross-country road trip began innocently enough–but unexpected detours lead them down a road that will change their lives.

Megan and Katie Summers are leaving on their long-planned road trip and are thrilled when the departure day finally arrives. But Katie is apprehensive because her dreams are confusing; a mysterious fire, two sisters screaming, an Indian woman with a long grey braid, a white horse, and trees that want to hurt her. She didn’t know how to interpret them.

Katie believes her mission in life is to spread the word that kindness toward others can change people’s lives, so she creates a club called The Golden Hearts Club and initiates new members when they do something nice for others. When she becomes ill, they stop at a run-down motel and meet Rose, an American Indian woman who nurses her back to health. The sad story of Rose’s family lost to tragedy sparks Katie’s determination to return to Arizona to help Rose find a new home so she will have a family again.

Things get complicated when they trespass on a California horse ranch and meet Jay and Luke Larone. Suddenly they are entangled with a family of a pharmaceutical empire that also includes a world of deception and family struggles. But when a tragic accident threatens to shatter many lives, the family unites to help a young woman they hardly know.

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Amazon (paperback) | Amazon (kindle) | Goodreads 

About the author, Cinda K. Swalley Cinda K Swalley

Cinda grew up in Galion, Ohio with her parents, three brothers and sister, and many generations of family all living close by. She attended Columbus Business University and then Capital University Law School for her Paralegal Certification. Shortly after graduation she and her sister set out on a cross-country road trip that would change the direction of their lives. During that trip, Cinda interviewed with and later began her career with Continental Airlines as a flight attendant. Working for the airlines afforded her many opportunities to travel around the world; from New Zealand and Guatemala to Europe, Russia and Africa. She also embraced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend Paris Fashion Institute and live for an exciting month in Paris during their most famous fashion week.

This story was inspired by the cross-country adventure she took with her sister. Cinda plans to promote world-wide kindness to businesses and community organizations by offering Golden Heart contests and scholarship awards to encourage people to embrace the opportunity to offer kindness toward others to help make the world a kinder place.

Connect with Cinda:

Website | Facebook 

My Thoughts Melissa - 2026

The Golden Hearts Club: A Novel by Cinda Swalley begins with a premise I genuinely loved: a sisterly road trip built around the idea that ordinary acts of kindness can ripple outward and change lives. What starts as a cross-country adventure slowly shifts into romance after Megan and Katie trespass onto a California horse ranch, and while I enjoyed parts of both storylines, I ultimately felt as though the novel was trying to tell two different stories at once.

 

The “Golden Hearts Club” concept itself is lovely. In a world that often feels exhausting and cynical, there was something comforting about Katie’s belief that kindness matters, even in small ways. Not grand gestures. Not dramatic heroics. Just everyday humanity: holding open a door, sharing a buy-one-get-one coupon, offering someone working outside a cold bottle of water on a hot day. That thread felt warm, hopeful, and deeply needed.

 

I’m also an easy audience for stories about young people traveling, especially when beaches, horses, and unexpected detours enter the picture. I may be firmly anti-camping in real life, but even I had to admit that beach camping sounded tempting here. Katie and Megan’s enthusiasm for stopping to meet horses wherever they traveled was honestly one of the more charming recurring details in the book.

 

Where the novel lost me somewhat was after the romance storyline took center stage. Once the ranch and the Larone family entered the narrative, the original emotional spine of the Golden Hearts Club began to fade into the background. The kindness mission that initially made the story feel distinct became less central, and the book shifted toward family drama and romance in a way that never fully blended with the earlier themes.

 

Cinda Swalley’s writing style feels very much like that of a debut author. The prose is simple and straightforward, which is not inherently a criticism. Laura Ingalls Wilder and Ernest Hemingway both proved that uncomplicated language can still be powerful. Here, though, there were moments where deeper research or stronger editorial guidance would have strengthened the story considerably.

 

One issue was characterization. Katie and Megan are women in their twenties — Katie has completed college and Megan has earned an associate degree — yet they are often written with the emotional tone and explanatory dialogue of much younger teenagers. Medical scenes especially suffered from this simplification. Characters explained concepts that most adults would already understand, and Todd, the neurologist specializing in traumatic brain injury, never fully felt convincing as a physician. The dialogue surrounding the medical situations often felt overly simplified rather than natural.

 

The novel also would have benefited from tighter line editing. Homonym mistakes — there/their/they’re and similar errors — appeared multiple times, enough to pull me out of the story. There was also a curious vagueness surrounding the setting’s time period. No dates are given, but the absence of cell phones and reliance on paper maps, road guides, and travel books creates a strange almost-outside-of-time atmosphere that occasionally made the story feel unintentionally dated.

 

I think my biggest takeaway is that while this book is marketed as general fiction or women’s fiction, it reads much more like YA crossover fiction. Readers who enjoy gentle romances, inspirational themes, emotionally earnest storytelling, and a softer, younger narrative voice may connect with it more strongly than I did.

 

That said, I do think Cinda Swalley has good instincts as a storyteller. The core idea behind The Golden Hearts Club is compassionate and heartfelt, and there’s enough sincerity here that I would absolutely be willing to read more from her as her craft continues to develop.

 

Goes well with: a chilled California chardonnay, grilled chicken fresh off the barbecue, and a big scoop of potato salad eaten outside just before sunset.

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Book Review: May Flowers at the Three Coins Inn by Kimberly Sullivan

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May Flowers at The Three Coins Inn

About the book, May Flowers at the Three Coins Inn  Three coins inn-mayflower

fter a successful seasonal opening in April, friends Emma and Annarita are eager to welcome a new set of guests to their Umbrian inn during the full bloom of May.

Upstate New Yorker Lisa needs an escape from betrayal and the prying eyes of her smalltown neighbors. Elderly, reclusive artist Antonio hopes leaving Milan for a country sojourn will spark his long dormant creative muse. Manhattan socialite mother Sharon grudgingly embarks on a country holiday with her young son, Josh, with whom she shares few interests. Roman author Margherita prefers time spent alone, but her career may depend on a stay in bucolic Todi among fellow guests. And Emma and Annarita are anxious to embrace their close friend Tiffany on her brief stay in the heart of Umbria.

The swallows may have returned and colorful petals now dot the countryside, but will the inn’s atmosphere allow hurts to heal and friendships to blossom?

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: Amazon.com: May Flowers at The Three Coins Inn eBook : Sullivan, Kimberly : Kindle Store

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0GLTQ967Q

All links: May Flowers at The Three Coins Inn | Kimberly Sullivan

Until 31st May you can purchase May Flowers at the Three Coins Inn for a special release price of 99 cent/99 pence.

About the author,  Kimberly Sullivan Kimberly Sullivan in Prague

Kimberly is the award-winning writer of six novels and one short story collection. Kimberly is also the co-editor of two historical fiction anthologies in the Feisty Deeds series. She writes the women’s fiction stories she loves to read, both contemporary and historic tales of women and the rich lives they lead along their journeys of self-discovery. A lifetime admirer and longtime resident of Italy, Kimberly is often guilty of sneaking the bel paese into her stories.

Connect with Kimberly: 

Website: Kimberly Sullivan

Instagram: Instagram

Pintarest: Pinterest

Goodreads: Kimberly Sullivan (Author of Dark Blue Waves) | Goodreads

BookBub: Kimberly Sullivan Books – BookBub

YouTube: Kimberly Sullivan – YouTube

My Thoughts Melissa - 2026

Kimberly Sullivan’s May Flowers at the Three Coins Inn turned out to be exactly the sort of novel I needed. Even though I haven’t read the earlier books in the series, I never felt adrift; the story works beautifully on its own while still hinting at a larger world and history surrounding the inn and its regulars.

While Lisa is the first guest we really come to know, it was Antonio — prickly, aging, artistic Antonio — who held my attention most completely. Sullivan creates characters with rich emotional interiors, and I found it wonderfully easy to settle into each shifting perspective. Every guest arrives carrying something tender or unresolved, yet none of them feel flattened into clichés or simple archetypes. They feel lived in.

What stayed with me most was how recognizable each character’s struggles felt, even when their lives looked nothing alike on the surface. Antonio’s reflections on growing older and carrying the weight of past choices had real emotional depth. Sharon’s attempts to bridge the widening distance between herself and her son felt achingly familiar. Margherita’s instinct to withdraw from the world rather than risk disappointment especially resonated with me as someone who understands the temptation to disappear into solitude. Sullivan approaches all of these characters with compassion, quietly reinforcing the idea that hardship, longing, and self-doubt are universal human experiences.

This novel shines in its quieter moments. Shared meals, tentative conversations, small gestures of kindness, and the slow easing of emotional loneliness become the heartbeat of the story. The setting in Todi only deepens that atmosphere. Sullivan writes about the Umbrian countryside with such warmth and affection that the entire novel feels restorative, filled with sunlight, fresh air, and the promise that people can still surprise one another in beautiful ways.

More than anything, May Flowers at the Three Coins Inn is a deeply comforting story about friendship, vulnerability, and the importance of letting ourselves remain open to connection. It left me feeling calmer, softer, and reminded of how much healing can happen simply by being seen and welcomed exactly as you are.  

Goes well with: Umbrian lentil soup, warm rosemary focaccia dipped in olive oil, a slice of pecorino, and a glass of Montefalco red enjoyed slowly while the evening light fades.

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