Author Archives

Melissahttp://www.missmeliss.comWriter, voice actor, dog-lover, and bathtub mermaid, Melissa is the Associate Editor-in-Chief at All Things Girl. To learn more about her, visit her website, or follow her on Twitter (@Melysse) or Facebook. You can also listen to her podcast, "Bathtub Mermaid: Tales from the Tub" at Bathtub Mermaid or on iTunes.
Travelers Atlas of the World

Review: The Traveler’s Atlas of the World

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About the book, The Traveler’s Atlas of the World Travelers Atlas of the World

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ National Geographic
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 4, 2025
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 560 pages

The ultimate traveler’s reference, this gorgeous coffee table book features bucket list–worthy travel recommendations for every country in the world.

Featuring beautiful National Geographic photography and 250 illustrated maps, this big and bold volume offers expert advice for must-see sights and hundreds of must-do experiences.

Pack your bags for the ultimate world odyssey! Curated by the world-savvy travel writers and editors of National Geographic, this breathtaking volume features the ultimate experiences in every country of the world, coupled with iconic photography, more than 50 point-of-interest National Geographic maps, and destination overviews highlighting both tried-and-true sights and lesser-known experiences.
Plus, top 10 lists, highlights of cultural treasures, fascinating histories, and recommended itineraries will inspire you to plan your next adventure.

Spin the globe and find:

  • The ultimate flavors of India’s spice hub—and the markets where you can taste them all;
  • Natural beauty worth hiking for, including the Skradinski Buk waterfall in Croatia and El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico;
  • Safaris big (the Great Migration in Tanzania) and small (lions on Calauit Island in the Philippines);
  • Tasting tours of the world’s best wine regions from South Africa and France to Germany and Napa Valley;
  • Historical relics, from the Colosseum in Rome to the Maya treasures in Mexico;
  • And so much more!

Covering all seven continents and every country in the world, The Traveler’s Atlas of the World delivers essential information, fun road trips (Germany’s great castles, a journey down the Nile, a road trip through the United States’ national parks), and infinite inspiration through more than 300 spectacular photographs with signature storytelling and invaluable traveler’s secrets.

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About the author: National Geographic NatGeo

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC is one of the world’s leading nonfiction publishers, with an extensive list of titles in categories such as history, travel, nature, photography, space, science, health, biography, and memoir. A portion of its proceeds is used to fund exploration, conservation, and education through ongoing contributions to the work of the National Geographic Society.

My Thoughts  MAB-2025

There’s something about a map you can touch — the faint texture of the paper beneath your fingertips, the promise folded between borders and coastlines. The Traveler’s Atlas of the World brings back that tactile wonder, reminding us that exploration begins long before we board a plane.

This is no dry reference guide. It’s a visual feast — a blend of art and information that invites you to linger. Each page pairs National Geographic’s signature photography with maps that feel alive: textured, colorful, humming with possibility. It’s a book that begs to be spread open on a table, coffee in hand, a finger tracing routes you might someday take — or simply dream about.

What I love most about this atlas is the sense of old-school adventure it rekindles. In an age where GPS tells us exactly where to turn, The Traveler’s Atlas reminds us why we travel at all: to be surprised, to get a little lost, to imagine the world not as data points but as stories waiting to unfold. The digital map can get you there; this one makes you want to go.

It’s a celebration of curiosity — of countries we know by heart and those we might never reach, but can visit here, one breathtaking image at a time.

Goes well with: a cozy armchair, a steaming mug of chai, and an evening spent planning impossible journeys.

 

Review: National Geographic The Photographs: Iconic Images from National Geographic

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About the book: National Geographic The Photographs: Iconic Images from National Geographic National Geo- The Photographs

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ National Geographic
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 28, 2025
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
For tastemakers and citizens of the world, this iconic collection features the best of National Geographic’s world-class imagery across more than 250 cutting-edge photographs.

This glorious, large-format photography collection will immerse animal, science, and nature lovers in the unparalleled legacy of National Geographic’s best-in-class imagery. Featuring fan favorites like the Afghan girl and the sunken prow of the Titanic, as well as gems unearthed from the organization’s celebrated archive, THE PHOTOGRAPHS is for anyone passionate about discovering, protecting, and honoring the wonders of the planet.

In these pages, you’ll find dazzling images from every corner of the globe, including magnificent wildlife and human achievements in science, technology, exploration, archaeology, and adventure. Step into the lives of acclaimed National Geographic photographers like Brian Skerry, Anand Varma, and Jodi Cobb, and read interviews with legends and rising stars like Rob Clark, David Doubilet, Erika Larsen, Camille Seaman, and many more.

Both vivid and timeless, THE PHOTOGRAPHS is a must-have for anyone who loves photography, nature, and the human story.

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About the author

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC is one of the world’s leading nonfiction publishers, with an extensive list of titles in categories such as history, travel, nature, photography, space, science, health, biography, and memoir. A portion of its proceeds is used to fund exploration, conservation, and education through ongoing contributions to the work of the National Geographic Society.

JIMMY CHIN (foreword) is a National Geographic photographer, award-winning film director, renowned mountain climber, and bestselling author. His photography book There and Back became a New York Times bestseller in 2021; his documentary film Free Solo won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Nyad, his first scripted feature, starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, was nominated for two Academy awards.

My Thoughts Melissa

Before I ever learned to read, I learned to look. My grandfather kept neat stacks of National Geographic magazines in his den — golden spines lined like treasure, each issue a portal. I remember flipping through the glossy pages, the scent of paper and ink as much a part of the experience as the photos themselves. Faces, creatures, storms, and ruins — the world felt vast and intimate all at once.

The Photographs rekindles that same sense of wonder, distilled into one breathtaking collection. Across more than 250 images, National Geographic’s legendary photographers remind us what it means to see — truly see — our planet and ourselves. There’s the iconic Afghan girl, her gaze as piercing now as it was decades ago. The ghostly prow of the Titanic resting on the ocean floor. And there — a line of surfers, tiny yet fearless, framed against an impossible blue wave. That image, especially, feels like a heartbeat: humanity poised at the edge of nature’s vastness, daring and small all at once.

What makes this volume remarkable isn’t just its scope — though it spans continents and decades — but its restraint. Each image stands almost alone: no essays, no captions beyond a name, a place, a year. That sparseness lets the photography breathe, invites silence, reflection. The book itself is beautifully made, large enough to do justice to its subjects, and designed with reverence rather than spectacle.

For anyone who grew up tracing the edges of the world through National Geographic, this collection is both time capsule and testament. For newcomers, it’s a revelation — proof that the human eye, when paired with patience, empathy, and craft, can still surprise us.

The Photographs isn’t merely a coffee-table book. It’s a reminder that beauty has always been both fragile and ferocious — and that our world, still, is worth looking at closely.

Goes well with: a strong cup of Ethiopian coffee, a lazy Sunday morning, and a window that catches the light just right.

04 Cover, Narrow the Road

Review: Narrow the Road, by James Wade

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About the book, Narrow the Road 04 Cover, Narrow the Road

  • Genre: Southern Fiction, Literary Fiction, Coming of Age
  • Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
  • Pages: 306
  • Publication Date: 26 August 2025

In this gripping coming-of-age odyssey, a young man’s quest to reunite his family takes him on a life-altering journey through the wilds of 1930s East Texas, where both danger and opportunity grow as thick as the pines.

With his father missing and his mother gravely ill, William Carter is struggling to keep his family’s cotton farm afloat in the face of drought and foreclosure. As his options wane, William receives a mysterious letter that claims to know his father’s whereabouts.

Together with his best friend Ollie, a mortician in training, William sets out to find his father and bring him home to set things right. But before the boys can complete their quest, they must navigate the labyrinth of the Big Thicket, some of the country’s most uncharted, untamed land. Along the way they encounter eccentric backwoods characters of every order, running afoul of murderers, bootleggers, and even the legendary Bonnie and Clyde.

But the danger is doubled when the boys agree to take on a medicine show runaway named Lena, eliciting the ire of the show’s leader, the nefarious con man Doctor Downtain. As William, Ollie, and Lena race to uncover the clues and find William’s father, Downtain is closing in on them, readying to make good on his violent reputation. With the clock ticking, William must decide where his loyalties lie and how far he’s willing to go for the people he loves.

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About the author, James Wade James Wade headshot_photo credit Madelinne Grey

James Wade is the award-winning author of Hollow Out the Dark, Beasts of the Earth, All Things Left Wild, and River, Sing Out. He is the youngest novelist to win two Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America, and a recipient of the MPIBA’s prestigious Reading the West Award. His work has appeared in Texas Highways, Writers’ Digest, and numerous additional publications. James lives and writes in the Texas Hill Country with his wife and children.

Connect with James:

Website | Instagram |  Newsletter |  GoodReads

My Thoughts Melissa

James Wade has a rare knack for writing landscapes that feel lived in—haunted, even. His latest novel, Narrow the Road, doesn’t just take place in Depression-era East Texas; it breathes there. The dirt feels redder, the air heavier, and the people more worn down by life than lifted by it. That’s the first thing that struck me: the place itself isn’t just backdrop—it’s the pulse under the prose.

What’s remarkable about Wade’s evolution as a writer is how he’s learned to make that atmosphere serve the story without ever letting it smother it. His prose is taut but musical, the kind of writing that knows when to linger and when to move. Every sentence seems shaped by the weight of the times—bleak, yes, but never dull, never flat. There’s momentum here, the kind that sneaks up on you. You start reading for the language and suddenly realize you’ve been carried three chapters deep without coming up for air.

This book moves the way real life moves when choices are scarce and hope is a luxury. It’s not a gallop; it’s a steady, purposeful walk into whatever comes next. The characters—men and women alike—live with the kind of quiet desperation that feels heartbreakingly familiar. Wade writes them without judgment, just empathy and precision, as if he’s holding a lantern for them while they figure out whether to run or rest.

04TaglinebannerNTR

He’s been compared to the great chroniclers of the American undercurrent—Steinbeck, McCarthy, Grubb—but what separates Wade from those heavyweights is his restraint. He doesn’t wallow in the mud or linger on the dust. He gives you just enough—the smell of rain before it breaks, the rough edge of a prayer half-remembered—and trusts you to fill in the rest. That confidence makes the world he builds more immediate, more human.

The result is a novel that hums with tension but never forgets its heart. Wade’s sense of justice and mercy, his understanding of grief and endurance, give the story an emotional ballast that keeps it grounded even in its darkest turns. He’s writing about survival, but also about grace—the tiny kind that hides inside ordinary acts.

Narrow the Road feels like the work of a writer at full command of his gifts. It’s intimate and immense, brutal and quietly hopeful.

Goes well with: black coffee gone cold, a record that crackles between songs, and the sound of wind pushing through pine trees just before the rain.

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Irresistible Calling Cover

Review: Irresistible Calling by Sean Mitchell

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About the book, Irresistible Calling Irresistible Calling Cover

  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 15, 2025
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 302 pages

Sean Mitchell was teaching English at a private school in Ohio when the New Journalism piqued his interest and lured him toward a profession that was much harder to crack than he imagined. After an editor in Washington, D.C. finally gave him a chance, he found a calling that would require and reveal multiple skills: editing an “underground” newspaper in his hometown of Dallas, writing magazine length stories about long distance truckers and Z.Z. Top, serving as the Dallas Times Herald’s first rock critic and then its theatre critic, winning national recognition for his reviews.

Moving to Los Angeles to cover Hollywood for the strangely singular and doomed Herald Examiner and then the Los Angeles Times, he profiled stars like Clint Eastwood, Ann-Margret and his irascible former St. Mark’s School of Texas soccer teammate Tommy Lee Jones. While examining the nation’s preoccupation with celebrity, he wondered if journalists like him were part of the problem or part of the solution?

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About the author, Sean Mitchell

Sean Mitchell grew up in Dallas, where he was editor of the city’s first alternative weekly, then a reporter and cultural critic for the Dallas Times Herald, before moving to Los Angeles to cover Hollywood for the Herald Examiner and Los Angeles Times. A graduate of St. Mark’s School of Texas and Brown University, he has also worked as an English teacher, videographer, and designer of custom wood fences.

My Thoughts MAB-2025

Some memoirs are pleasant enough to skim with a cup of coffee. This one? I devoured it in a single greedy gulp. Irresistible Calling is witty, engaging, and brimming with the kind of lived-in detail that makes you laugh, tear up, and—without even noticing—learn a lot.

Sean Mitchell may technically be a boomer, but his story is timeless. This GenXer found myself nodding along, hooked from page one. He opens in childhood, when a glossy holiday travel magazine inspired his parents to trade a fading Bethlehem, Pennsylvania steel town for the sun-soaked suburbs of Dallas. The 1950s details are spot-on, yet instantly relatable: family yearning for more, neighbors measuring success in conformity, and kids caught in the in-between.

Mitchell’s own path takes him from a prestigious Dallas boy’s school (where he forged friendships with classmates like Tommy Lee Jones) to college during the heyday of the 1960s, and eventually into journalism. His career arc—covering theater, film, and music in D.C., Dallas, and Los Angeles—offers a front-row seat to cultural history. The Hollywood interviews sparkle, but it’s his long, thorny, and wildly entertaining relationship with Jones that steals the show.

Threaded through the anecdotes is a thoughtful meditation on American life: the promise and collapse of the counterculture, the longing of his parents for “something more,” and his own drive to make a mark in the shifting world of newspapers. I especially loved his mother’s journey toward joy and passion, and felt the weight of his father’s quiet disappointment.

Mitchell writes with humor, candor, and a critic’s eye for the telling detail. The result is more than one man’s life story—it’s a cultural time capsule of America from the 1950s through the 1980s.

Verdict: Highly recommended for fans of memoirs, American cultural history, or simply anyone who appreciates a smart, funny, beautifully written life story.

Goes well with: A bottomless diner mug of coffee and a Sunday paper, spread all over the table.

The-Girl-Who-Trusted-Ghosts-Amazon

Review: The Girl Who Trusted Ghosts, by K.C. Tansley

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About the book, The Girl Who Trusted Ghosts The-Girl-Who-Trusted-Ghosts-Amazon

  • Series: Unbelievables (Book 4)
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beckett Publishing Group LLC
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 15, 2025
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 344 pages

The key to my future is hidden in the past. But can I face the dark family secrets buried in 1591 and make it back in time to save everyone I love?

The Kingsley, Mallory, Radcliffe heirs and I (the Langley heir) journey to our family estates on a mission. We must each gather a unique ingredient tied to our family’s elemental abilities for a long hidden incantation that will reveal what bound our families together centuries ago.

Across the ages, I’ve seen firsthand how dark magic has attacked our families and grown more powerful every time it hurts us. We need this vicious cycle to end, and the key to fighting our enemies is hidden in our history. Danger stalks us at every turn, and someone I love is kidnapped. I have no idea who took my loved one or where they went. But I know how far my enemies will go to prevent me from casting this spell, so I must do it.

The spell unexpectedly transports us back to 1591 England. To a time when our ancestors worked together with the Fitzgeralds to reseal an ancient evil, the Dark One. Can we unlock our families’ hidden histories and uncover how to fight this enemy, along with the Fitzgerald’s dark warlock back in our own time?

If you’re seeking magical family sagas that stretch across a thousand years and will keep you reading past midnight, love that endures for centuries, and exciting quests through time, join Kat on her next pulse-pounding adventure!

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About the author, K.C. Tansley KC Tansley

K.C. Tansley lives on a hill somewhere in Connecticut with her guardian Shih tzus, Bentley and Akira, who alert her to every squirrel and delivery person who dares to enter their domain. She tends to believe in the unbelievables–spells, ghosts, time travel–and writes about them.

Never one to say no to a road trip, she’s climbed the Great Wall twice, hopped on the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, and danced the night away in the dunes of Cape Hatteras. She loves the ocean and hates the sun, which makes for interesting beach days.

The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts is her debut YA time-travel murder mystery novel. As Kourtney Heintz, she also writes award winning cross-genre fiction for adults.

Connect with Kourtney:

Website | Newsletter Signup | Facebook 

My Thoughts Melissa

I’ve been following Kat Preston and her friends since the very beginning of K.C. Tansley’s series, and I’m always glad to step back into their world of haunted heirlooms, family curses, and time slips that send you tumbling into history before you’ve quite caught your breath.

 

This fourth installment, The Girl Who Trusted Ghosts, wastes no time plunging Kat, Evan, and the other heirs into danger. Their task sounds deceptively straightforward: gather the ingredients needed for a long-hidden spell that might finally reveal what bound their families together centuries ago. Of course, nothing is ever simple in Kat’s world. Dark magic stalks their every move, kidnappings raise the stakes, and one ill-fated incantation hurls them straight into 1591 England — a time when their ancestors faced off against the Dark One himself.

 

What I continue to love about this series is the sense of continuity. Each book has its own adventure, but the threads of family history, betrayal, and legacy weave tighter and tighter the further we go. You can read this one on its own, but the experience is infinitely richer if you’ve been along for the whole ride.

 

Kat herself is growing in fascinating ways. She’s braver, more determined, and her connection to both her ancestors and her own abilities deepens here. Evan, too, comes into sharper focus, and their relationship—complicated by curses and centuries-old secrets—adds both tenderness and heartbreak. Watching them together makes the looming question of whether they’ll ever get a happy ending all the more poignant.

 

Tansley keeps the pacing taut, but what lingers for me are the details: the way ancestral ghosts become guides, the discovery of why some of the original families were destroyed, and the truth behind the split from six to four. These moments give the story weight, reminding us that the battle against darkness is never just about spells and enemies; it’s about the choices people make, generation after generation.

 

By the time I turned the last page, I felt like I’d been on a roller coaster—twists, plunges, and breathless pauses where you’re sure the next drop will finish you, only to find you’re strapped in for one more plunge. It’s exhilarating, and it leaves me more than ready for the conclusion in Book Five.

 

A great read, thoroughly engaging and captivating. If you’re looking for a magical family saga with stakes that stretch across a thousand years, and a heroine who has truly come into her own, this series delivers. I’m already signed up for wherever Kat’s journey takes us next.

 

Goes well with:  beef and barley stew, rustic bread, and a strong mug of black tea.

Giveaway - The Bulls of Bashan

Review: The Bulls of Bashan, by Jodi Lea Stewart

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Bulls of Bashan Campaign

 

The Bulls of Bashan CoverAbout the book: The Bulls of Bashan

  • Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery Action and Adventure, Quest Fiction
  • Publisher: Progressive Phoenix Rising
  • Publication Date: June 17, 2025
  • Scroll down for giveaway. 

In a diner on the edge of a dusty Texas border town, a young waitress’s life takes an unexpected turn when she is swept into a high-stakes adventure. Recruited by a charismatic former World War II Army major, a glamorous New York socialite, and a charming daredevil who effortlessly flies planes and rides bulls, she embarks on a shadowy mission that promises both wealth and danger.

This unlikely team will plunge into the heart of the perilous Amazon rainforest, navigate the depths of the world’s most treacherous canyon, brave the open seas, and traverse the ruins of postwar Europe. Their quest? To retrieve a set of mysterious keys while evading a relentless pursuer who seems to be one step ahead at every turn. Who is this enigmatic figure stalking them, and what sinister agenda does he have planned in Budapest?

As they race against time, each member of the team must confront his or her own demons and hidden truths. With the fate of their mission hanging in the balance, they inch closer to the elusive head of operations—the only one who can unlock the secrets of The Bulls of Bashan.

Prepare for a suspenseful journey filled with danger, intrigue, and self-discovery, a globetrotting historical thriller with evocative international settings, strong female arcs, and cross-generational themes.

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Jodi Lea StewartAbout the author: Jodi Lea Stewart

Jodi Lea Stewart is a multi-award-winning fiction author who believes in and writes about the triumph of the human spirit despite adversity through grit, humor, and stubborn tenacity. Her lifetime friendships with all nationalities, different social stratas, cowpunchers, the Southern gentry, the California crazies (she was once one, too … well, sort of, LOL!), not to mention outliers, allow Jodi to write comfortably about, oh … practically anything.

Connect with Jodi:

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My Thoughts Bibliotica mermaid

First-person narration can be tricky to pull off, but Jodi Lea Stewart absolutely nails it in The Bulls of Bashan. From the very first pages, Savannah’s voice is strong, vivid, and engaging—equal parts vulnerable and determined. The novel blends coming-of-age with classic adventure, striking a balance that kept me turning pages late into the night.

The story, set in the 1950s, follows Savannah and a small group of companions as they set out on a quest to recover keys scattered around the world. At the start, Savannah reflects that her dreams and desires shifted seemingly out of nowhere—a moment I found instantly relatable. Sometimes, life really does veer off its expected path without warning.

Savannah herself is a compelling character. She comes from a rough background, but instead of letting that define her, she seizes the chance to change her destiny. Her impetuous choices could have led anywhere, and while danger lurks, the world of the novel has a kind of mid-century innocence that makes her boldness feel both risky and exhilarating. I especially enjoyed the way her hidden talents—like her skill with a gun—come into play when least expected.

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In contrast, I struggled more with Shifrah. At first she comes across as the quintessential socialite: spoiled, self-absorbed, and quick to assume the world owes her. But Stewart doesn’t let her stay flat. Over the course of the novel, Shifrah matures, revealing layers of insecurity and secrets that make her more sympathetic, even if she still wasn’t my favorite.

The group’s dynamic is rounded out by Monroe, the well-connected leader, and Reno, his capable second with military experience. Together, they form a found-family of sorts, each with their own strengths and blind spots.

One of the novel’s delights is how well-researched it feels. Details like buttons once being made from mussel shells (something I confirmed with my sewist mother, who shared that these were sturdier than traditional abalone)  stood out, and the vivid descriptions of settings made me feel immersed in every stop along the journey. I especially appreciated the maps at the start of each chapter, tracing the path from Texas outward, and the way the key-collecting framework gave the narrative shape.

In the end, The Bulls of Bashan turned out to be a much richer and more interesting read than I expected. It’s adventurous, thoughtful, and deeply human. If you enjoy stories that blend history, heart, and a touch of danger, I highly recommend giving this one a chance.

Goes well with: a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate malt at your favorite hometown diner.

 

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Giveaway - Canyon of Deceit

Review: Canyon of Deceit by DiAnn Mills – with Giveaway

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Canyon of Deciet

About the Book, Canyon of Deceit Canyon of Deceit Cover

  • Genre: Romantic Suspense
  • Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
  • Pages: 338
  • Publication Date: September 9, 2025
  • Scroll down for giveaway. 

A child. A deadly conspiracy. A race against time.

When survival expert Therese Palmer is called to find a kidnapped girl, she quickly realizes the truth is more dangerous than she imagined. Enlisting the help of Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, they track the girl’s last known location deep in the Guadalupe Mountains—where every clue leads to more deception. As Russian organized crime and a deadly assassination plot come to light, Therese and Blane must fight against ruthless enemies and their growing attraction. Will they find the girl before time runs out, or will she become a pawn in a much bigger game?

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About the Author, DiAnn Mills DiAnn Mills

Award-winning author DiAnn Mills is known for her gripping romantic suspense novels where readers can Expect An Adventure. With multiple Christy Awards and numerous bestsellers, her stories captivate readers with their depth and intensity. A passionate storyteller and dedicated mentor, DiAnn is also a coffee connoisseur and proud grandmother living in Houston, Texas.

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My Thoughts MAB-Summer2025

Set against the rugged beauty of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Canyon of Deceit is a fast-paced romantic suspense novel that blends danger, faith, and second chances. When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer’s former colleague calls for help finding his missing daughter, she can’t refuse—even though he insists on keeping the police out of it. Knowing she can’t go alone, Therese turns to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whose specialized training (and growing affection for her) make him the perfect partner in a desperate search.

What follows is a tense race against time, with nature itself adding to the dangers they face. Mills’s trademark blend of action and heart shines here: kidnappings, organized crime, and hidden agendas unfold alongside Therese’s struggle with past guilt and Blane’s quiet persistence. I especially appreciated the alternating perspectives, which made the suspense feel immediate and layered.

Two lines in particular stuck with me: “My straw-thin hold on God got me into trouble once, and I refused to bridle that horse again,” and, “Tragedies don’t define us unless we give them permission.” Even as a reader who doesn’t strongly identify as Christian, I found those words resonant and authentic rather than heavy-handed.

Plenty of action, believable characters, and a setting I’m eager to experience beyond the page kept me turning pages late into the night. Fans of clean romantic suspense won’t want to miss this one.

Goes well with: mesquite-grilled steak with roasted peppers. 

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Sterling Fierce and the Lost Dragons

Review: Sterling Fierce and the Lost Dragons, by Lori Tchen

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Sterling Fierce and the Lost DragonsAbout the Book, Sterling Fierce and the Lost Dragons

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wise Wolf Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 24, 2024
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 214 pages

Embark on an exhilarating and unforeseen odyssey alongside witch hunter Sterling Fierce as he undertakes a perilous quest to protect the balance of power in the lands of Everen.

Sterling Fierce is the ultimate guardian in the enchanted realm of Everen. As the sole survivor of the ancient witch hunters, he holds the key to preserving the delicate balance of power. In a shocking revelation, he discovers that a wicked curse has befallen all the majestic dragons, with one exception—the extraordinary dragon child, a rarity beyond imagination.

Time is of the essence as Sterling and his newfound companions race against the clock to evade the clutches of malevolent creatures lurking in the shadows. Failure to act swiftly will result in the demise of Sterling, his courageous allies, and the last remaining dragons.

Unlock a mesmerizing tale filled with courage, magic, and the boundless wonders of Everen. Join Sterling Fierce in this epic battle against dark forces and embark on a thrilling journey like no other. Grab your copy now and immerse yourself in a spellbinding adventure that will leave you breathless!

Can Sterling summon the inner strength to combat the relentless forces of darkness? Get your copy and discover the answer today!

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About the Author, Lori Tchen Lori Tchen.

Lori Tchen was born and raised in the Texas hill country where shaking out one’s shoes for scorpions was part of the daily norm. She writes fiction in the evenings, her highly prized downtime outside of work while raising her two sons.

Lori’s career began in criminology, working deep nights in a detention facility, then investigating crimes as a Texas State Enforcement Agent. After observing the underbelly of society, her fantasy stories allow her and her readers to escape into imagined worlds and inspire bravery in children (and adults alike) to face some of life’s evil characters.

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My Thoughts MAB-Summer2025

It’s rare to stumble upon a middle-grade fantasy that hits all the sweet spots—clean prose, crisp pacing, and a heartfelt emotional core—but Sterling Fierce and the Lost Dragons absolutely delivers. Lori Tchen’s novel doesn’t just check boxes; it creates its own niche, where high fantasy meets emotional maturity in a story that’s as much about inner growth as it is about outward adventure.

Sterling, our young witch hunter, is no moody teen stereotype. He’s perceptive, principled, and refreshingly sincere. There’s a quiet emotional intelligence pulsing through this book, and it’s most evident in how Sterling learns to let others in. Found family is a well-worn trope, but here it feels honest and unforced—organic, even. Tchen doesn’t rush her character dynamics. The bonds between Sterling and his companions bloom with subtle tension and believable warmth. You feel the stakes, not just in the looming magical threat, but in the fragile trust these characters extend to one another.

This is also one of those rare books where the world-building serves the story instead of overshadowing it. Everen is lush without being overwhelming, magical without becoming saccharine. Tchen strikes a fine balance between wonder and danger; every enchanted glade feels like it could turn deadly at a moment’s notice. And the dragons—ah, the dragons—are treated with reverence and gravitas, never reduced to mere plot devices. The result is a setting that feels as alive as the characters who populate it.

For all its action (and yes, there are sword-swinging, spell-slinging battles galore), the novel’s strength lies in its heart. Courage here isn’t brute force—it’s vulnerability, connection, the willingness to admit you can’t do it alone.

If you’re looking for a richly imagined fantasy that respects its audience—young or not—and you’re a sucker for stories where magic is matched by emotional depth, Sterling Fierce and the Lost Dragons deserves a spot on your shelf. I, for one, can’t wait to see where Sterling’s story takes him next.

Goes well with: chicken pot pie and  apple cider.

Review The Rise of the Mad March by Robert Espenscheid, Jr.

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About the book, The Rise of the Mad March  Rise of the Mad March

  • Genre: New Adult / Coming of Age / Friendship
  • Publisher: Stoney Creek Publishing
  • Pages: 374
  • Publication Date: May 9, 2025

This one is for all the rock bands who never headlined the big stage, who never needed protection getting to the limo, who never made any money, who never got signed, who had no answer to the cry of  “why aren’t you guys famous?” It’s for those who wrote killer songs never heard on the radio, who never made a Rolling Stone cover—or even a mention inside. It’s for those whose collars were always blue, who were promised this and wound up with that, who always opened and never closed.

America, 1973. Christine on lead, Henry on rhythm, Gretchen on bass and Melissa on drums. A chaotic rise, fighting amongst themselves, battling self-destruction, finding their sound, learning to trust, finding a helping hand, overcoming convention (girls can’t play guitar) to become one band, on one tour, for one month – New York to LA and all the stories in between.

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About the Author, Robert Espenscheid Jr.  04 Author Espenscheid

Rob Espenscheid, Jr. is a Connecticut native and a 1966 Wake Forest College graduate. After an Army RVN stint in 1969, Rob pulled up stakes and moved to the rural Midwest, settling in southern Iowa in the early 1970s. Prairie life provided a career tuning and repairing pianos from cattle country small towns to collegiate concert halls. When not tinkering on a piano, he can usually be found either on a golf course or working on a manuscript. In 1998, family connections led to a move, with his wife Sharon, to Smithville, Texas.

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My Thoughts MelissaBartell - photo

It’s hard for me to consider a book that takes place after I was born “historical,” but apparently The Rise of the Mad March, which takes place in 1973 is in that class now.

Categorization aside, this book is a fascinating romp through the creation and early touring years of a rock band.

The creation part, which is set in a halfway house, introduces us to Henry the piano tuner who dumps an out-of-fashion beast of a piano on the premises on the condition that he’ll come and repair it as necessary. It’s there that he meets two of the criminal residents, Melissa – mostly referred to as Mel – on drums, and Gretchen on guitar. We meet Christine both before and after these initial coming together scenes, but we meet her separately.

As a musician myself, these early scenes were some of the most interesting for me, because I got to see each character’s first wobbly attempts to play, and then to improve, and finally to mesh with the others.

When the book shifts from the creation of the band to the band touring, I was interested for other reasons. Certainly, the name dropping of all the real people – 70s icons like Billy Crystal and The Ramones – they encountered was fun. Each name was a little like an easter egg, but also a glimpse into what and who resonated with the author. More than that, every now-famous person or group they encountered affected their band’s own future.

And speaking of the author, Robert Espensheid, Jr, has a gift for dialogue and I really appreciated how natural all of the characters sounded, but especially that Mel, Gretchen, and Christine sounded like real women and not manic-pixie-dreamgirl prototypes or mindless, jaded, old-beyond-their-years women. The male characters were drawn equally well.

I also appreciated the interstitial scenes with thirteen-year-old high school journalist Jersey Moon who was given the gift of keeping a tour journal of the band. I identified with her far more than someone in their fifties ought to, even though we didn’t see that much of her.

Overall, this is a solid novel if you like the feel of behind-the-scenes music dramas, or the 70s music scene.

Goes well with: rice pudding and strong coffee, served in heavy porcelain with faint blue or green lines around the rims. Preferably at 2 am in a vintage diner.

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Review: The Calendar, by WM Gunn – with Giveaway

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The Calendar Blog Tour

 

About the Book, The Calendar 04 Cover, The Calendar

  • Genre: Science Fiction
  • Pages: 302
  • Publication Date: April 3, 2025
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Long-range monitors detect a massive rock plunging through space on a path toward Earth. Will it miss our planet, deliver a glancing blow, or destroy Mankind? And how will people react to an uncertain future? Or will they be told?

What if everything and everyone you cherish vanished in a heartbeat? What if you knew the very day your world would cease to exist? What if you could not save those you love? What if all your dreams and hopes of a brighter tomorrow would never be realized? How would you react if there was nothing you could do to delay it or prevent it? What would you do?

Prepare yourself for the upcoming end of all that is right and wrong. Prepare yourself for the fear and uncertainty of the unknown. Prepare to feel the tension grow and grow.

Prepare to read The Calendar.

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About the author, WM Gunn Author WM Gunn

WM Gunn is a native Texan who spent many years in the pharmaceutical industry in sales, sales management, and training and development. He is active in writing groups and volunteering with non-profit groups. He lives in his hometown in Texas with his high school sweetheart bride of many years. To date, he has written hundreds of short stories, three novellas, and two novels. Holmes, Moriarty, and the Monkeys and Chasing the Sun are two novellas released earlier in 2024. His debut full-length novel The Two Terrors of Tulelake was released in October 2024, as an e-book and as a paperback. The Calendar is his newest novel available in April 2025 as an e-book and in paperback

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My Thoughts Melissa A. Bartell

Part thriller, part human drama, The Calendar is a truly original novel about a classic science fiction trope: what would you do if you knew a giant meteor was about to slam into the Earth. 05 Social Media 3

But in WM Gunn’s deft hands, this book defies the tropes, forgoing (mostly) the expected flash and bang for quieter moments. The plot progresses not with one protagonist, but in a series of vignettes told over the course of a calendar year, showing us not only who changes when faced with impending doom, and who stays the same.

The early chapters introduce us to the characters – lawyers with marital issues, doctors with challenging patients, criminals, do-gooders, and world leaders faced with what to tell their various constituents. As the novel progresses, details are filled in both with the external crises of the traveling asteroid, nicknamed Goliath, and the more immediate goings-on at home. Each flip of the calendar page (or new chapter) heightens the tension and makes the characters increasingly more dimensional, until they are as real as anyone we readers might know.

The story of the pizzeria owner, Max, who offers free pies to his city’s unhoused population, really struck a chord with me, reminding me of my own local pizza maker who fired up her oven in a shop without electricity to feed first-responders and those who’d lost their homes after last year’s back-to-back hurricanes on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It’s that kind of resonance that makes this novel so compelling.

One detail that makes it even more relatable is the addition of a song that goes with each month, with lyrics quoted in the text and a playlist provided at the end. It’s a nice touch and really added to my appreciation of the author’s work.

It’s not a spoiler to say that this book doesn’t have a happy ending. We’re told in the blurb that Earth won’t survive. But despite the fact that there’s no neat sci-fi solution, this book isn’t sad. It’s uplifting. It’s hopeful. In a world that seems increasingly dark, it reminds us that there are good people all around us. The Calendar should be on every discerning reader’s summer TBR list.

Goes well with: pizza, obviously, the Neapolitan kind with a crispy crust and blistered cheese, and beer or sweet tea, your choice. 

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