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

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!

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

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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.

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

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!

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads 


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.

Connect with Lori

Website | Facebook | Instagram


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.

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookbub | Goodreads

 

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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.

Connect with Rob:

Website | Instagram | Amazon | Goodreads


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: A Madness Unmade by E.K. Larson-Burnett

About the Book, A Madness Unmade

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ E.K. Larson-Burnett (March 3, 2025)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 334 pages

A Madness UnmadeLaurel Rumbroom is the sole living resident of the Underhallow, where dead moths have been showing up at the gates in neatly wrapped packages.

Since the institution of the Revenant Accords, which prohibits ghosts from freely haunting the country, the Rumbrooms have acted as Guardians to the ghosts seeking refuge at their sanctuary. But when Laurel’s father suddenly passes, leaving her orphaned, the Underhallow falls in danger of losing its sanctions.

Bewildered by the mysterious deliveries of dead moths, starting to question her grip on reality, and gradually realizing the precarious position of her home and the questionable circumstances surrounding her father’s death, Laurel begs the help of the Underhallow ghosts animated by her powers, struggling to come into her own and unmake her madness.

With humor, whimsy, and elements of gothic mystery, A Madness Unmade is the first book in the Victorian-inspired Deathly Inheritance Duology, perfect for fans of Charlie N. Holmberg and S.L. Prater.

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads


My Thoughts: Melissa A. Bartell

The first book in E.K. Larson-Burnett’s Deathly Inheritance duology, A Madness Unmade, is a refreshing take on magic, ghosts, and the world outside our own perceptions where the latter find refuge.

 

I read the Kindle version of this book, and was thrilled when I encountered illustrations at the chapter breaks, because they were the icing on a beautifully flavored cake. Each layer of this novel was richer and more interesting than the next: first there’s the barefoot heroine Lauren, and her cat Goose. Then there are the house-ghosts – spirits who take care of her daily needs, including her education – Master Godwin take a bow. And there’s also the dead moths that keep appearing at Lauren’s door.

 

The final layer of this cake is the world-building. When I read about the first moving portrait, I was worried that this series would be a Harry Potter ripoff, especially since the blurbs all refer to that series. I was pleased to find that the Underhallow and its surrounding village are original, and refreshingly so.

 

If anything, this novel is most like an Edward Gorey drawing come to life. In fact, the images in my head as I read this were eerily similar to the 1980’s animated opening to the PBS Mystery series – except instead of a swooning woman, there’s Madame Rathert trailing seawater.

 

I’m not sure I’d want to live (or be un-alive) in the world Larson-Burnett has created, but I definitely enjoyed the visit.

 

Goes well with: hot tea, lemon tarts, and gingerbread.

Review: Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo

I’m so pleased to partner with WOW! Women on Writing as part of the blog tour for Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. This book is a perfect cozy mystery readers are excited to get into – and the best news is it’s the first book of a fabulous series!

About the Book, Murder by Milkshake Murder by Milkshake

  • Genre: Cozy Mystery / Amateur Sleuth / Young Adult/New Adult
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 15, 2024
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 220 pages

Life is sweet for high school senior and ice cream slinger Genevieve Winterland. Her father owns Sweet Dreams Ice Cream Parlour, the cutest confectionery shop in their little town of Pinewood, Arizona. Genevieve loves her job, but when her father hires a broody newcomer with a dark past to provide extra security on her closing shifts, Genevieve bristles. Is this part of her father’s plan to send her away to college, when all she wants is to stay in Pinewood and run the family business?

Meanwhile, everyone’s favorite new teacher at Pinewood High, Miss Love, is receiving death threats, and then she goes missing. Genevieve suspects the crabby substitute, Ms. Pierce, who seems murderous about being passed over for the position. Or is the culprit Mr. Garcia, the longtime instructor who Miss Love replaced after he was fired for assaulting a student? Just when Genevieve thinks she knows the answer, she stumbles across the dead body of another missing faculty member.

Can Genevieve find the killer terrorizing the teachers in her beloved hometown—before someone else gets iced?

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Amazon | Goodreads


About the Author, Elizabeth Maria Naranjo Eliazbeth Maria Naranjo

Elizabeth Maria Naranjo is the author of The Fourth Wall, The House on Linden Way, and What Was Never There. Her stories and essays have been widely published and nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best American Essays, and Best of the Net, and her short story, “Windows,” was selected for Best Microfiction 2023. She lives in Tempe, Arizona, with her husband and two children.

Connect with Elizabeth:

Website | Goodreads Author Page | X (Twitter)


My Thoughts MAB-Summer24

I’ve long maintained that YA/NA titles offer the best storytelling in contemporary literature, and Murder by Milkshake is no exception.

Author Elizabeth Maria Naranjo has given us a cozy mystery set around the ice cream parlor where protagonist, Genevieve Winterland works. When her favorite teacher goes missing, the seventeen-year-old trades her ice cream scoop for a (metaphoric) magnifying glass and decides to investigate. Its the perfect combination of teenaged determination and amateur sleuthing, and the story is both engaging and well-paced. Genevieve is a likeable character, smart without being precocious, and written with dimension. I applaud the author for making her young characters sound age-appropriate without resorting to an over-abundance of slang.

Worthy of note is the friendship between Genevive and Brandon. They’re best friends, and you never get the sense that either is pushing for that to change. I found this quite refreshing.

I also liked that the ice cream shop wasn’t just a throw-away setting. Rather, we see that Genevieve enjoys her job there, even creating her own flavors. (Also, some of her recipes are included, and sound scrumptious.)

Over all, this is a satisfying read that tells a complete story but also whets our appetites for further books in the series. It’s also a fast read – much like the perfect sundae, it’s best experienced quickly. I recommend it to teens and adults alike, because the characters may be youthful, but the story isn’t at all childish.

Goes well with: a banana split with two spoons so it can be shared with a friend.


Visit the Other Great Blogs on This Tour

September 9th  @ The Muffin

What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Join us at the WOW blog to celebrate the launch of author Elizabeth Maria Naranjo’s  Murder by Milkshake. You can read an interview with Elizabeth and enter to win a copy of the book.

https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

 

September 9th  @ StoreyBook Reviews

Leslie Storey reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Readers at StoreyBook Reviews will be dying to learn more about this cozy mystery!

https://www.storeybookreviews.com

 

September 10th  @ Goodreads with Karen Brown Tyson

Stop by Goodreads and find out what Karen Brown Tyson thinks of the latest cozy mystery by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Murder by Milkshake will leave readers wanting more stories by this talented author!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6741483799

 

September 10th @ Rockin Book Reviews

Lu Ann at Rocking Book Reviews shares her thoughts with readers about Elizabeth Maria Naranjo’s Murder by Milkshake – this is a fabulous cozy mystery readers won’t want to miss!

http://www.rockinbookreviews.com

 

September 11th @  Book Woman Joan

Joan Nienhuis – known at Book Woman Joan reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Readers won’t want to miss this opportunity to read more about this cozy mystery!

www.bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com

 

September 11th @  The Burgeoning Bookshelf

Veronica Joy reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Readers at the Burgeoning Bookshelf won’t want to miss this opportunity to read more about this cozy mystery!

https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/

 

September 12th @  Life According to Jamie

See what Jamie has to say as she reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Readers won’t want to miss this opportunity to read more about this cozy mystery!

www.lifeaccordingtojamie.com

 

 

September 12th @  Writer Advice

Fellow WOW! Author, B. Lynn Goodwin  reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Fellow authors leave some of the most helpful reviews – see how many stars Goodwin gives Naranjo!

https://www.writeradvice.com

 

September 12th @  Just Katherine

Katherine reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Readers at Just Katherine  won’t want to miss this opportunity to read more about this cozy mystery so they can add it to their own TBR pile today!

https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com

 

September 13th @  What is that Book About

In the spotlight today at What is that Book About is none other than: Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Readers won’t want to miss this opportunity to read more about this cozy mystery by this talented author!

www.whatisthatbookabout.com

 

September 14th @  Chapter Break

Today’s guest author at Chapter Break is Elizabeth Maria Naranjo who is touring with her latest cozy mystery, Murder by Milkshake. Readers will delight with today’s post titled: YA Cozy Mysteries: A Perfect Pairing! 

http://chapterbreak.net

 

September 15th @  Finished Pages

Renee Roberson is a big fan of  Elizabeth Maria Naranjo who is touring with her latest cozy mystery, Murder by Milkshake. Find out what Renee has to say and how many stars she will give!

www.FinishedPages.com

 

September 16th @  Fiona Ingram Author

Today’s guest author at Fiona Ingram’s website is Elizabeth Maria Naranjo who is touring with her latest cozy mystery, Murder by Milkshake. Readers will delight with today’s post titled: 5 Key Ingredients to Creating a Cozy Mystery. 

https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com

 

 

September 17th @  Bibliotica

Melissa  reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Readers at Bibliotica  won’t want to miss this opportunity to read more about this cozy mystery so they can add it to their own TBR pile today!

https://www.bibliotica.com

 

September 18th @  Frugal Freelancer

Sara  reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Readers at the Frugal Freelancer won’t want to miss this opportunity to read more about this cozy mystery; others are raving about this fantastic read!

https://saratrimble.wordpress.com

 

 

September 19th @ Knotty Needle Creative

Judy reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Readers at Knotty Needle Creative  won’t want to miss this opportunity to read more about this cozy mystery! Enjoy!

http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com

 

September 20th @   Boy’s Mom Reads

Stop by Boy’s Mom Reads and find out what Karen thinks of the latest cozy mystery by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Murder by Milkshake will leave readers wanting more stories by this talented author!

https://karensiddall.wordpress.com

 

September 21st @  Book Bunnies

Gizem reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Readers at Book Bunnies will love this opportunity to read more about this cozy mystery! Enjoy!

https://bookbunnies.blog/

 

September 23rd @  One Writer’s Journey

Sue Bradford Edwards at One Writers’ Journey reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Readers will delight in this cozy mystery!

https://suebe.wordpress.com/

 

September 24th @  Author Anthony Avina’s Blog

Fellow author Anthony Avina reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Fellow authors leave some of the best reviews – don’t miss Anthony’s thoughts on this cozy mystery!

http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com

 

September 27th @ The Faerie Review

Lily at The Faerie Review reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Readers will delight in this cozy mystery and won’t want to miss today’s review!

https://www.thefaeriereview.com

 

September 28th @ Boots Shoes and Fashion

Short and Sweet: The Joy of Bite-Size Books

Today’s guest author at Boots Shoes and Fashion is Elizabeth Maria Naranjo who is touring with her latest cozy mystery, Murder by Milkshake. Readers will delight with today’s post titled: Short and Sweet: The Joy of Bite-Sized Books!

https://bootsshoesandfashion.com

 

October 1st @ Words by Webb

Jodi at Words by Webb reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Readers will delight in this cozy mystery and won’t want to miss today’s review!

jodiwebbwriter.com/blog

 

October 4th @  My Beauty My Books

Nikki at My Beauty My Books  reviews Murder by Milkshake by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Stop by and see what Nikki has to say about Naranjo’s latest!

https://mybeautymybooks.wordpress.com/

 

 

Review: Just a Hat by Shanah Khubiar

BNR Just a Hat

 

About the book, Just a Hat Cover Just a Hat

  • Genre: Young Adult / Coming of Age / Jewish Fiction / Small-Town Texas / 1970s
  • Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
  • Page Count: 254
  • Publication Date: July 18, 2023
  • Scroll down for giveaway!

Action-packed, humorous, and bittersweet, this 1970s-era coming-of-age novel is more relevant than ever–exploring how a second-generation immigrant kid in a new hometown must navigate bullying, unexpected friendships, and the struggle of keeping both feet firmly planted in two very different cultures.

It’s 1979, and thirteen-year-old Joseph Nissan can’t help but notice that small-town Texas has something in common with Revolution-era Iran: an absence of fellow Jews. And in such a small town it seems obvious that a brown kid like him was bound to make friends with Latinos–which is a plus, since his new buds, the Ybarra twins, have his back. But when the Iran hostage crisis, two neighborhood bullies, and the local reverend’s beautiful daughter put him in all sorts of danger, Joseph must find new ways to cope at home and at school.

As he struggles to trust others and stay true to himself, a fiercely guarded family secret keeps his father at a distance, and even his piano teacher, Miss Eleanor–who is like a grandmother to him–can’t always protect him. But Joseph is not alone, and with a little help from his friends, he finds the courage to confront his fears and discovers he can inspire others to find their courage, too.

Just a Hat is an authentically one-of-a-kind YA debut that fuses the humor of Firoozeh Dumas’s Funny in Farsi with the poignancy of Daniel Nayeri’s Everything Sad Is Untrue.

This book comes with an Educator’s Guide.

Click here to download your free educator’s guide.

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

Amazon | Blackstone Publishing | Goodreads


About the author, Shanah Khubiar Author Photo Khubiar

Shanah Khubiar is a retired law enforcement officer, and she is now self-employed as a subject matter specialist. She holds a BS and MEd in education from East Texas State University and a PhD in philosophy.

A student of her Persian ancestry, she incorporates (Mizrachi) Middle Eastern Jewry into her fiction, examining the historical challenges and triumphs of a different culture and narrative than what usually appears in literature. Khubiar is a sometime resident and always fan of most things Texas.

Connect with Shanah:

Website | GoodReads | Amazon | BookBub | X (Twitter) | Blackstone Publishing


My Thoughts MelissaBartell - photo

Shanah Khubiar’s new young adult novel, Just a Hat is a brilliant, sometimes discomfiting, portrayal of what it’s like to be “other” in America.

Set in the Texas of the late 1970s, with the Iran hostage crisis as its background, this story introduces us to teenaged Joseph (Youssef) Nissan, the only Jewish-Iranian boy in his class. We walk with him as he navigates the cultural differences he experiences – he’s brown skinned, so gets along with the Mexican boys, especially Roberto and Mateo who are both friends and defenders, but he’s not Latino. He’s Persian. He’s a piano student but practicing on Shabat is considered “work” and therefore disallowed. And then there’s the whole thing about not being allowed to touch girls, even casually. It’s a lot to handle when you’ve got feet in different worlds – the secular world at large, and the closer, religious world of his family.

As someone who is not Jewish, but sort of Jewish-adjacent (my stepfather was Jewish, and his mother, my Bubbie, was a special person in my life) I found the glimpses of Iranian Jewish traditions particularly interesting. I’m familiar with eastern-European (Ashkenazi) traditions, and have been recently learning more about Iberian (Sephardic) traditions, but it’s my understanding that most Iranian Jews are actually Mizrahi, and the specifics were new to me.

XTRA Ad Just a Hat

What I loved was the relationship Joseph had with Miss Eleanor – LaLa – the elderly piano teacher whom he helps out by buying groceries and other household tasks. I also appreciated that Joseph and his Baba – his father – managed to work through family history and family secrets and end up with a closer relationship after tackling difficult subjects.

The title can be taken literally – the different hats Joseph wears include his kippah (yarmulke) and his football helmet. But it also works as a metaphor, representing the different “hats” we all wear, – the roles we have in life – including those we use in order to hide our true selves for whatever reason.

Overall, I found this to be a very moving story, with interesting characters, and a well-paced coming-of-age plot. At times very serious, because it deals with fear, racism, and antisemitism, it’s also heartfelt and full of humor – the kind that comes from real life.

Goes well with: peach sharbet.


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Signed hardback copy of JUST A HAT

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Review & Giveaway: Amethyst, The Shallows, by Kellye Abernathy

BNR Amethyst, The Shallows PUBH

 

About the book, Amethyst, The Shallows

  • Genre: YA / Magical Realism / Coming of Age
  • Publisher: Atmosphere Press
  • Page Count: 296 pages
  • Publication Date: February 6, 2024
  • Scroll down for a giveaway!

“This is a night for being brave.”

In the aftermath of a devastating sickness that shatters their close-knit beach town, six lonely kids are drawn together during the unpredictable autumn equinox. Among them are fourteen-year-old Lorelei, who yearns to be an oceanographer, and her peculiar younger brother, Tad, who possesses an otherworldly curiosity.

When Lorelei has a strange and almost deadly encounter in a sea cave, her loyal boyfriend, Casey, cannot reconcile her fantastical experience with the rational world. Condi, Lorelei’s best friend, understands ocean magic but isn’t free to share what she knows. Kait, a girl from Ireland, regrets her impulsive move to America–all because of an odd occurrence involving her deceased boyfriend’s lost surfboard. When tides turn and the moon shifts, Isaac, the new kid in town who despises the ocean, is forced to face the truth–a profound and powerful magic lives in the deep.

Guided by a wise surf master, mystical old women known as the Beachlings, and an open-hearted grandmother, six kids embark on transformative adventures that challenge their beliefs about possibilities and the intense nature of love.

Amethyst, the Shallows is the companion novel to The Aquamarine Surfboard.

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About the author, Kellye Abernathy author photo Abernathy

Kellye Abernathy’s passions are writing and serving trauma survivors as a yoga teacher and practical life skills advocate. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary English Education from the University of Kansas. Her home is in land-locked Plano, Texas—where she’s dreaming of her next trip to the sea!

Connect with Kellye:

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My Thoughts MelissaBartell - photo

This second book in the Yellow Cottage series opens with the coastal community of Dipitous Beach  still reeling in the aftermath of the Sickness, which felt very much like an analog for Covid, though it’s presented as something with mysterious origins.

 

Returning and new characters reflect what was like for young people during a statewide lockdown, maintaining friendships through digital communications, and suffering through the closure of beaches. It’s appropriate then, that the story begins on the day the beaches reopen.

 

This story continues from The Aquamarine Surfboard,  but the focus shifts somewhat. Condi, from the first book, is still present, but this story focuses on Lorelai, and also brings in her younger brother Tad, who is neurodivergent. His presence is just part of the way author Kellye Abernathy has addressed mental health issues, including anxiety and depression in this story – weaving them into the narrative as the very normal parts of life that they are, and doing so with grace and understanding.

 

Of course, surfing and the sea are still prominent in the story, and we not only get to spend more time with the Beachlings, a group of elderly women who live near (or on) the beach (I want to be one of them when I’m older), and an octopus who embodies wisdom.

 

As with the previous installment of this series, Abernathy blends fantasy, science fiction, and magical realism into a cohesive whole, leaving you with the scent of salt air and the feeling of having spent time in the water.

 

While this book is best appreciated if you’ve read the previous one, it also stands alone quite well. Overall, it’s an enchanting tale of friendship and community with other humans and the sea.

 

Goes well with: mahi tacos and pineapple-mango salsa.


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The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent – Playlist and Giveaway

BNR Coldest Winter I Ever Spent

 

About the book, The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent Cover Coldest Winter Full size

  • Genre: YA / Contemporary / Suicide & Family Issues
  • Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
  • Date of Publication: March 7, 2023
  • Length: Print – 352 pages / Audio – 9 hours, 11 minutes
  • Scroll down for Giveaway!

Eighteen-year-old Del is in a healthier place than she was a year and a half ago: She’s sober, getting treatment for her depression and anxiety, working in her Aunt Fran’s San Francisco art gallery, and volunteering at a suicide-prevention hotline. Her own suicide attempt is in the past and living with her beloved aunt has helped her see a future for herself.

But when Aunt Fran is diagnosed with terminal cancer, Del’s equilibrium is shattered. She struggles to help care for her aunt—while also dealing with a crush, her looming first semester at college, and her shifts at the crisis line. After Aunt Fran asks for her help with a mind-boggling final request, Del must confront her own demons and rethink everything she thought she knew about life and death.

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About the author, Ann Jacobus 

Author Photo JACOBUS bio medAnn Jacobus is the author of YA novels The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent and Romancing the Dark in the City of Light. She earned an MFA in writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has published articles, essays, short fiction, and poems. She teaches writing and presents at workshops and conferences. A former suicide crisis line counselor, she’s a mental health advocate and speaks to teens about writing and suicide prevention both. Born in Texas and a life-long Tex-Mex addict, she and her family divide their time between California and Massachusetts.

Connect with Ann:

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Listen to a Playlist Associated with The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent

Ann Jacobus’s Playlist to

The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent

 

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Track List:

“September” by Earth, Wind, & Fire

“(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco” by Tony Bennett

“Intoxicated” (radio edit) by Martin Solveig, Good Times Ahead

“Shower the People” by James Taylor

“Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac

“Imagine” by Jack Johnson

“Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum

“Stayin Alive” by Bee Gees

“That’s the Way of the World” by Earth, Wind & Fire

“Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind & Fire; The Emotions

“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Johann Sebastian Bach, Leon Fleisher

“Dream On” by Aerosmith

“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” by Blue Öyster Cult

“Amazing Grace” by Carrie Underwood

“I’m Always Drunk in San Francisco” by Cosmo Alleycats

“Save Me, San Francisco” by Train

“Clocks” by Coldplay

“Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars)” by Mark Ronson, Bruno Mars

“The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis & The News

“We Found Love” by Rihanna, Calvin Harris

“How Deep Is Your Love” by Bee Gees

“How Deep Is Your Love” by Calvin Harris, Disciples

“Texas (When I Die)” by Tanya Tucker


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09/26/23 StoreyBook Reviews Review
09/26/23 Hall Ways Blog BONUS Stop
09/27/23 Boys’ Mom Reads Audiobook Review
09/27/23 LSBBT Blog BONUS Stop
09/28/23 Forgotten Winds Excerpt
09/29/23 The Plain-Spoken Pen Review
09/30/23 Shelf Life Blog Author Interview
10/01/23 Bibliotica Playlist
10/02/23 Chapter Break Book Blog Audiobook Review
10/03/23 Book Fidelity Deleted Scene
10/04/23 The Real World According to Sam Review
10/05/23 Jennie Reads Review

 

 

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Book Review: Vaulting Through Time by Nancy McCabe

About the Book, Vaulting Through Time vaulting-through-time-cover-360x570

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CamCat Publishing; Large Print edition (July 25, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 522 pages

Can she perform the vault of her life to save her loved ones―and herself?

Sixteen-year-old gymnast Elizabeth Arlington doesn’t care that her mother is older than the other girls’ moms or that she doesn’t look anything like her parents. She has too much other stuff to worry about: an embarrassing crush on her ex-best-friend Zach, and changes in her body that affect her center of gravity and make vaulting and tumbling more terrifying than they used to be. But when she makes a discovery that throws her entire identity into question, she turns to Zach, who suggests a way for her to find the answers her mother won’t give her: a time machine they found in an abandoned house.

As Elizabeth catapults through time, she encounters a mysterious abandoned child, an elite gymnast preparing for Olympic Trials, and an enigmatic woman who seems to know more than she’s revealing. Then when a thief makes off with an identical time machine, Elizabeth finds herself on a race to stop the thief before the world as she knows it―and her own future―are destroyed.

Buy, read, and discuss this book:

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About the Author, Nancy McCabe NancyMcCabe - headshot

Acclaimed author, Nancy McCabe, is best known for her work in non-fiction writing on the subjects of Chinese adoption with nine years of accolades from The Best American Essays, she debuts her young adult novel featuring her expertise in adoption, her relationship with her daughter, as well as engaging storytelling that Margaret McMullan, author of Sources of Light, calls “evocatively written, McCabe weaves a heartwarming and absorbing journey. Great mother-daughter read!”

Connect with Nancy:

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My Thoughts MissMeliss - 2023

Vaulting Through Time is a refreshing take on both time travel and the search for identity that hits so many of us as we begin the transition from girls to young women.

Elizabeth Arlington is a sixteen-year-old gymnast who has developed a fear of vaulting after an injury. At the same time, her body is beginning to betray her, with the inevitable physical changes that come with maturity changing her center of gravity so that what was once effortless is becoming less so.  Her coach’s request for her birth certificate (necessary for entry into USAG events) re-kindles her lifelong search for who she is, because she doesn’t look anything like her mother. When her friend Zach presents her with a watch he claims is really a time machine, Elizabeth’s adventures go into high gear.

What I loved about this book was that author McCabe perfectly captured the mother-daughter dynamic, the in-jokes that are so ingrained that they happen automatically and turn anger into laughter, the favorite foods, and the knowing of each other’s habits. I also appreciated the author’s use of age-appropriate dialogue. Elizabeth’s habit of mixing up words only when she’s around Zach was a delightful detail, and done so well.

Putting this novel into the context of gymnastics and using Olympic years as touchstones was a creative way to track travel through time, and also added to the rich texture of this novel. I liked that Elizabeth’s search for her family roots also helped her find her true desires in life, and felt that the plot addressed both parts of the story in a balanced way.

I often say that the young adult / new adult genre has some of the most provocative stories in contemporary literature, and Vaulting Through Time is proof of that. It’s a well-written story that feels much shorter than it’s 500+ pages, and I recommend it to readers of all ages.

Goes well with: peanut-butter toast, sliced apples, and chocolate milk.


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Review and Giveaway: Blue Running, by Lori Ann Stephens

BNR Blue Running

 

About the book, Blue Running

  • Genre: Dystopian Fiction / Coming of Age / Suspense
  • Publisher: Moonflower Publishing
  • Date of Publication: November, 2022
  • Number of Pages: 334 pages
  • Scroll down for Giveaway!

Cover Blue RunningIn the new Republic of Texas, guns are compulsory and nothing is forgiven. Blue Running is a gripping coming-of-age thriller set in post-secessionist Texas. A fast-paced, page-turning book, it looks unflinchingly at what the future could hold, and finds hope there.

Fourteen-year-old Bluebonnet Andrews is on the run across the Republic of Texas. An accident with a gun killed her best friend but everyone in the town of Blessing thinks it was murder. Even her father – the town’s drunken deputy – believes she did it. Now, she has no choice but to run. In Texas, murder is punishable by death.

On the road she meets Jet, a pregnant young woman of Latin American heritage. Jet is secretive about her past but she’s just as determined as Blue to get out of Texas before she’s caught and arrested. Together, the two form an unlikely kinship as they make their way past marauding motorcycle gangs, the ever-watchful Texas Rangers, and armed strangers intent on abducting them – or worse. When Blue and Jet finally reach the wall, will they be able to cross the border, or will they be shot down in cold blood like the thousands who have gone before them?

Some things are worth dying for.

Praise for this book:

  • “Brilliant.”  —Heat Magazine
  • “A fast-paced story that races along, and stays with you long after you’ve finished it.” — The American
  • “An important and unforgettable read.” — Armadillo Magazine

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Watch the Trailer for Blue Running

 


About the author, Lori Ann Stephens Author Photo Stephens

Novelist, librettist, lecturer Lori Ann Stephens grew up in North Texas, where she developed an addiction to the arts. Her novels for children and adults include Novalee and the Spider Secret, Some Act of Vision, and Song of the Orange Moons, and her award-winning work has been noted by Glimmer Train Stories, The Chicago Tribune, and the English National Opera. She teaches Writing and Critical Reasoning undergraduate courses, as well as creative writing graduate courses, at Southern Methodist University. She lives in Texas and is a bit mad about her cat.

Connect with Lori Ann

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My Thoughts

MissMeliss

MissMeliss

I’ve often found that the New Adult / Young Adult genre includes some of the most thought-provoking work in contemporary fiction, and Lori Ann Stephens’s latest novel, a dystopian thriller set in a near-future (or alternate reality – the distinction is unclear), frighteningly plausible version of Texas. Blue Running is so well crafted, it’s nearly unputdownable.

In this novel, Blue (Bluebonnet) Andrews, is running away from her hometown of Blessing because an accident with a gun killed her best friend, and even her father the town’s deputy (usually drunk) thinks she did it.

But the version of Texas this young woman must navigate is one that has seceded from the Union. Open-carry of guns isn’t just legal, it’s required, the state has become the very Christian Republic of Texas, replete with a wall to keep Texans in (and “scalers” out), and where undocumented immigrants are shot on sight by the Border Patrol, and death is the typical punishment for abortion. With the entirety of the Republic declared a no-fly zone, trains are the only way to cross the state without having to drive yourself.

Fortunately, Blue runs into Jet, a young Latina woman who is pregnant, and equally desperate to escape into the country beyond the wall: America. Along the way, the two encounter green-bandanna-wearing motorcycle gangs who are more ruthless than the Border Patrol, communities of convenience, including one called The Neighborhood, where they find temporary respite and new challenges, and even some artists who encourage Blue’s drawing talents. They also try to avoid the lethal Texas Rangers.

Both Blue and Jet feel like real young women caught in a horrible situation. Throughout the story they keep parts of themselves hidden from each other, but still aid and support each other. Jet has the better street smarts while Blue is better at blending in. They make a great team, and while it’s never made explicit, it’s likely that they will remain friends – or more – long after the story ends.

Author Stephens has written this book in a way only a native (or long-time resident) of Texas can. You can feel her love for the Lone Star State in the descriptions of the land and people, but you can also sense her dissatisfaction with the current political climate, and how it might expand in a worst-case scenario. This includes reproductive freedom as well as gun laws. Both issues were handled with delicacy, but sensitive readers should be prepared.

My review is based on the audiobook version of this story, which is read by Ashley Rose Kaplan who uses the perfect drawl – just enough Texas in her voice but not so much that her accent becomes a caricature. She changes her accent when Jet is speaking, adding to differentiate the characters, and alters her tone well for other characters, including the various men the young women run into.. It’s a perfect combination of story and narrator, and I felt her voice enhanced the experience of the novel.

Overall, this is a gripping story – part road trip, part flight for life – with a healthy dose of coming-of-age. I would not want to live in the version of Texas depicted in Blue Running, but I will happily read any future novels in this series.

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Paperback of Blue Running

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Visit the Other Great Blogs on this Tour

Click to visit the Lone Star Literary Life tour page for this book, or visit each blog directly.

05/09/23 Hall Ways Blog Audio Review
05/09/23 LSBBT Blog BONUS Stop
05/10/23 Forgotten Winds Excerpt
05/10/23 Bibliotica Audio Review
05/11/23 Book Fidelity Audio Review
05/12/23 StoreyBook Reviews Playlist
05/12/23 The Plain-Spoken Pen Review
05/13/23 The Real World According to Sam Review
05/13/23 Boys’ Mom Reads Guest Post
05/14/23 Shelf Life Blog Author Interview
05/15/23 All the Ups and Downs Scrapbook Page
05/15/23 It’s Not All Gravy Review
05/16/23 Reading by Moonlight Review
05/17/23 Sybrina’s Book Blog Guest Post
05/17/23 Librariel Book Adventures Audio Review
05/18/23 The Clueless Gent Review
05/18/23 Rox Burkey Blog Audio Review
     

 

 

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