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The Trouble with Belonging by Magdalena Stanhoff #BookReview

TheTroubleWithBelonging

Cover: The Trouble With Belonging by Magdalena Stanhoff

The author sent me an ARC of this book (epub format) in exchange for an honest review).

My rating:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)

Plot
(by Goodreads)

When those two first met as children, they brought light and hope into each other’s lives. Now they’ll have to find out if the bond between them can survive a catastrophe…and growing up.

New city, again. New language, new school, new people. Another place where he doesn’t belong. Chen Kehuan is a boy adrift: he has no mother, no friends, and no true homeland, and he doesn’t care much for anyone. Until one day that carefree street child appears on his path and turns his life upside down.
Little Niki roams around the city, making things out of nothing and talking to strangers on a whim. She’s stayed out of harm’s way so far, but how long will the good luck hold? And then that boy who doesn’t even speak her language enters her life and takes it upon himself to completely remake it.
Only, sometimes the best intentions can lead to a disaster. What will Kehuan do when Niki’s world is suddenly torn apart and she disappears without a trace?

Genre(s): > Coming of Age Fiction (Kindle Store)
> Contemporary Literary Fiction
> in Romance Literary Fiction
Series: n.a.
Length: 374 pages
Release date: 2021-11-18
   

Teaser

Niki in the meantime finished copying the character and was now drawing a cat next to it. It was a very simple drawing, as could be expected from a child of her age, and yet she managed to capture the features of the animal surprisingly well. When she finished, she turned around and poked Kehuan unceremoniously with the pencil.

Chen Xiao half-expected an angry reaction from the boy, or at least the usual scowl, but Kehuan turned round without protest and simply asked, “What word now?”

Niki thought for a moment and said a word in Polish, and Kehuan wrote the character for wolf.

“Why wolf?”, asked Chen Xiao with interest.

“We watched Princess Mononoke two days ago,” Kehuan said with a little smile, “and now she says I’m her wolf.”

My Opinion

This book introduces you to Kehuan, an eight-year-old lonely boy.

With “The Trouble with Belonging”, Magdalena Stanhoff has created an irresistible and unforgettable as well as intriguing story about a boy and a little girl. When Kehuan met Niki, he was not aware that his life was going to change. Most of the characters are complex, all are realistic with all virtues and flaws. The story comprises a variety of craftily elaborated characters with sufficient depth and interesting interactions until the last page. Magdalena Stanhoff introduces each character in a way that the reader automatically wants to read on – to get to know them better. I had a great time reading “The Trouble with Belonging” – it is a captivating read that warms you to Kehuan and Niki’s story. I was immediately drawn into the story, soon feeling very close to Kehuan and Niki. For me, “The Trouble with Belonging” is a surprising work of contemporary fiction (not one of my usual genres) – a story I will read again.

This is for you if you like contemporary fiction and/or coming-of-age fiction with a touch of romance, complex characters, and heart-warming stories.

Recommended.

In brief:

Cover ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Writing ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Plot ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Characters ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Mood Hopeful
Pace Steady
POV Third person – past tense
Language :mrgreen:  (decent)
Violence :mrgreen: – 😳  (there is some violence, not too detailed)
Sexual content :mrgreen:  (decent enough)
   

About the author

I’ve always loved books, and I’ve always wanted to see the world. ​But while I read compulsively in my childhood and teenage years, traveling used to be just an unrealistic dream. Many years had to pass before I could pack my bag and set off on my first journey abroad, but it happened in the end. Since then, I’ve visited many countries and met many amazing people of different nationalities and cultures. We worked, and learned, and played together, and I’ve gained some wonderful friends this way. My life would’ve been so much duller and paler without them. 
​Books and travels have made me who I am. ​And my family, of course, but that goes without saying. 
​As for my books, I write what I like to read: stories about people overcoming various difficulties, sometimes fighting their inner demons, sometimes struggling to fit in or starting anew from the scratch, and finding love and happiness with a little help from their friends and family. Throw in the motif of clashing cultures and world views, and the mess and growth that can come out of it. And since I’m an incurable dreamer, also the obligatory HEA. ​

P.S. As you may have already guessed, Magdalena Stanhoff is a pen name. My real name wouldn’t fit on any book cover, and besides, ​most of you wouldn’t be able to pronounce it anyway.

 

Connect with the Author:

Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you.  🙂

My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about “The Trouble with Belonging”? Or – if you did not yet read “The Trouble with Belonging” – are you now interested in reading it yourself?

I am looking forward to reading your comments.  🙂

 

 

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Bells, Tails and Murder (A Dickens and Christie Mystery, #1) by Kathy Manos Penn #RBRT #BookReview @KathyManosPenn

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Cover: Bells, Tails & Murder (A Dickens & Christie Mystery, #1) by Kathy Manos Penn

The author sent me an ARC (mobi format) in exchange for an honest review (a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team).

My rating:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (5  stars)

Plot
(by Goodreads)

A Cotswolds village . . . a grieving heroine . . . two furry sidekicks . . . and a murder!
Do you like heroines who’ve lived a little? Who’ve suffered life’s ups and downs but kept on trucking? Then you’ll love Leta Parker and her new friends in the Cotswold village of Astonbury.
When tragedy strikes Leta Parker’s life, the successful banker and closet sleuth chases a lifelong dream to retire to England. Leaving her friends and neighbors in Atlanta, she settles into Astonbury with her talkative dog and cat, Dickens and Christie.

Picture her driving a refurbished London taxi to the bookshop and the tearoom, enjoying leisurely walks with Dickens the dog, and sipping coffee in the garden with Christie, her sassy cat.
When Leta stumbles across the dead body of a new acquaintance, her inner Nancy Drew comes out. Before you know it, she’s enlisted the help of Wendy, a retired English teacher friend—and even Wendy’s elderly mum.

Two whipsmart retirees, one spunky senior citizen, and a feisty dog and cat are on the case!
Who better to unearth clues from their friends in the village? Even Dickens and Christie get in on the act gathering intelligence from their four-legged friends and pointing out the obvious to Leta.

What do authors A. A. Milne, Arthur Conan Doyle, and J. M. Barrie have to do with all this?
Is their connection with the Cotswolds merely an interesting bit of trivia, or is it more? Will Leta and Wendy let their literary noses lead them astray?
You’ll be captivated as this unlikely team chases clues and ferrets out a long-buried secret—a scenario that would make any BBC cozy mystery producer proud.  No matter the clues uncovered by Dickens and Christie, you’ll be hard-pressed to guess who the villain is unless, like Leta, you’re able to “talk to the animals.”

Genre(s): > Cozy Culinary Mystery
> Mystery Series
> Cozy Crafts & Hobbies Mystery
Series: A Dickens & Christie Mystery, #1
Length: 230 pages
Release date: 2020-02-17

Teaser

I called Dickens to my side and coaxed him to sit before I moved closer. I’d watched enough BBC murder mysteries to know I shouldn’t disturb the scene, but I had to check for a pulse. I pressed my fingers to her wrist. Her skin was cold, and I couldn’t find a pulse.

Take a breath, calm down, what do you do now? I thought. My first inclination was to call Libby in the hope that Gemma was still at home. I stood staring at the body as I dialed the inn. “Libby, Libby, Libby,” I gasped. “Please tell me Gemma’s there.”

“Leta? What’s wrong? You sound frantic. And yes, she’s here. This is her day off. She was on her way out for a run.”

My Opinion

A little more than a year after her husband’s tragic bicycle accident, Leta needs a change of scenery. She and her husband have always liked the Cotswolds – so retiring there with her furry family would certainly find his approval.

With “Bells, Tails & Murder”, Kathy Manos Penn has created a nicely woven plot, an intriguing story of Leta, Dickens, Christie, and their new-found friends who need to deal with a murder in their midst. “Bells, Tails & Murder” comprises authentic main characters with sufficient depth, nice turns, and room for ‘sleuthing along’. I had a great time reading – this is a very entertaining compelling read; I was drawn into the story right away, close to Leta and her canine and feline friends. I liked Leta’s stubbornness, the teamwork, the warm-hearted characters, and the knowledge that there are more books in this series. I consider “Bells, Tails & Murder” a highly enjoyable read of the ‘feel-good’ category

This is for you if you like cosy mysteries, real communication between humans and animals, and authentic characters.

Highly recommended.

In brief:

Cover ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Writing ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Plot ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Characters ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Mood Suspenseful
Pace Steady
POV First person – past tense
Language :mrgreen:  (very decent)
Violence :mrgreen:  (a tad of violence)
Sexual content :mrgreen:  (very decent)

About the author

A Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal Winner for Book I in her Dickens & Christie cozy mystery series, Kathy Manos Penn went from crafting communications in corporate America to plotting page-turners in retirement.

Adhering to the adage to “write what you know,” she populates her mysteries with well-read, witty senior women, a sassy cat, and a loyal dog. The murders and talking pets, however, exist only in her imagination.

She lives in Atlanta with her husband and the two four-legged office assistants who inspire the personalities of Dickens & Christie. Why is Dickens a fiend for belly rubs? Because Kathy’s real-life dog is. The same goes for Christie’s finicky eating habits and penchant for lolling on top of the desk or in the file drawer. She gets it from the calico cat who rules the roost.

Connect with the Author:

Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading.  Now I am asking you.  🙂

My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you?  What did you think about “Bells, Tails & Murder”?  Or – if you did not yet read “Bells, Tails & Murder”  – are you now interested in reading it yourself?

I am looking forward to reading your comments.  🙂

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Dark is the Grave (DCI Bone Scottish Crime Thrillers, #1) by TG Reid #RBRT #BookReview @tgreidbooks

DCI-Bone_SCT_1

Cover: Dark is the Grave (DCI Bone Scottish Crime Thrillers, #1) by TG Reid

The author sent me an ARC (epub format) in exchange for an honest review (a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team).

My rating:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ star:  (5  stars)

Plot
(by Goodreads)

A dead cop. A damaged detective. A copycat killer on the loose.

When the chief suspect in the notorious Peek-a-boo cop killer case blew himself up, almost taking lead investigator DCI Duncan Bone with him, the psychologically damaged detective thought his days on the force were over. But when another PC is abducted and murdered in the same deranged Peek-a-boo fashion, Bone is persuaded to return to lead the new investigation. But as Bone and his team hunt a copycat killer, and with time running out before yet another cop is slain, Bone’s terrifying past returns to tear open old wounds and push him to very edge of the abyss.

Can DCI Bone end the killing before the killing ends him?

Set among the dramatic hills and glens of Scotland’s Campsie Fells, Dark is the Grave is the first in a series of edge-of-your-seat crime thrillers that will keep you guessing right up to the nail-biting, heart-stopping climax.

Perfect for fans of JD Kirk, Alex Smith, David J. Gatward and J.E. Mayhew.

Genre(s): > Police Procedurals (Kindle Store)
> Police Procedurals (Books)
> Suspense (Kindle Store)
Series: DCI Bone Scottish Crime Thrillers, #1
Length: 324 pages
Release date: 2021-07-01

Teaser

“So what have you found?”

“So we excavated the area. That took forever, trying not to disturb or contaminate the scene, which of course is bloody impossible. But we got there in the end, and sadly we unearthed a deceased female body approximately three metres down.”

My Opinion

The story starts in darkness; PC Hazel Garvey is bound and gagged, trying to remember what might have gotten her into this situation.

With “Dark is the Grave”, TG Reid has created an expertly woven plot, an intriguing story of  a damaged (not broken!) investigator and his team chasing a copycat killer. “Dark is the Grave” comprises authentic main characters with sufficient depth – they gain complexity throughout the story. I had a great time reading – this is a very compelling read; I was drawn into the story right away, close to Duncan Bone, freshly reinstated to chase a copycat killer. The plot offers clues, investigative progress and throwbacks, and it is a true edge-of-your-seat read. I liked Bone’s thoroughness and stubbornness, the teamwork, and the determination to stop the killer. I consider “Dark is the Grave” a remarkable mixture of police procedural, psychology, and close-to-home story-telling. It is good to know that the next book in the series is on its way – I know that I have to read it!

This is for you if you like thrilling police procedurals, occasional insights into the mental abyss, and authentic characters.

A remarkable story that requires reading the next in the series as well.

Highly recommended.

In brief:

Cover ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Writing ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Plot ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Characters ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Mood Suspenseful
Pace Steady
POV Third person – past tense
Language :mrgreen: – 😳  (some light to medium swearwords)
Violence 😳  (some violence that not everyone might be comfortable with)
Sexual content :mrgreen:  (the focus is clearly elsewhere)

About the author

TG Reid is a Scottish-born novel and short story writer, now living in exile in Bath, England. His award-winning novels and stories been published worldwide. TG Reid also writes dark literary thrillers under the pen name of Tom Gillespie. Tom (Gillespie’s) latest novel, The Strange Book of Jacob Boyce, has been praised by critics as ‘utterly spellbinding’, ‘brilliantly unsettling’, ‘obsessively compelling’, and ‘a masterful composition’.

The DCI Bone series is set in Tom’s hometown, among the the hills and glens of the Scottish Campsie Fells. This is Tom’s first foray into the murky, pulse-pounding world of police thrillers.

Connect with the Author:

Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading.  Now I am asking you.  🙂

My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you?  What did you think about “Dark is the Grave”?  Or – if you did not yet read “Dark is the Grave”  – are you now interested in reading it yourself?

I am looking forward to reading your comments.  🙂

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I Am Mayhem (The Mayhem Series, #4) by Sue Coletta #RBRT #BookReview @SueColetta1

Mayhem_04

Cover: I Am Mayhem (The Mayhem Series, #4) by Sue Coletta

The author sent me an ARC of this book (mobi format) in exchange for an honest review (a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team).

My rating:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)

Plot
(by Goodreads)

As bloody, severed body parts show up on her doorstep, Shawnee Daniels must stop the serial killer who wants her dead before she becomes the next victim.

But can she solve his cryptic clues before it’s too late? Or will she be the next to die a slow, agonizing death?

With crows stalking her every move, Shawnee can barely function. Things worsen when body parts show up on her doorstep. An unstoppable serial killer wants her dead. Mr. Mayhem threatens to murder everyone she loves, sending Shawnee a piece at a time.

As Mr. Mayhem sits in judgement, his cryptic clues must be solved before the final gavel drops. The game rules are simple—win the unwinnable or submit to a slow, agonizing death.

When Shawnee tries to fight back, she discovers her very existence is based on lies. But the full impact of the truth might become the headstone on Shawnee’s grave.

Genre(s): > Witch & Wizard Mysteries
> Women Sleuths (Kindle Store)
> Women Sleuths (Books)
Series: The Mayhem Series, #4
Length: 249 pages
Release date: 2021-04-20

Teaser

No wonder Poe didn’t deliver a photograph. The handless girl wasn’t his intended target. She was a means to an end, a ploy to get me to comply. It worked, too. Somewhere Mr. Mayhem left a clue. Bitterness coated my tongue as I slipped my fingers into black latex gloves. Gulped, and raised the severed hands to eye-level. Inked GPS coordinates marred the right palm. Across the left, block lettering read, “See you soon, Cautious Cat.”

My Opinion

This book re-introduces you to Shawnee Daniels, still her stubborn self – perhaps even more than before – not helpful with a serial killer close by.

With “I Am Mayhem”, Sue Coletta has outdone her previous work by creating an incredibly chilling thriller series finale with a stubborn young woman and a serial killer who wants revenge. It is a highly compelling read, inevitably drawing you in as the story proceeds. Sue Coletta paints a clear picture of the main characters’ mindsets – making the readers acquainted with them – while the story evolves. I was drawn rather close to Shawnee (despite her stubbornness), Levaughn, and even Mayhem; still could not warm up to Nadine, though. The main characters are very complex – three-dimensional, believable with their flaws and virtues; sometimes too believable and intense for comfort. The story is cleverly elaborated and has a great flow; I do not state this often – but this was an edge-of-your-seat experience for me. Sue Coletta’s thorough research shows; you find proof throughout the story.

This is a book for you if you like psychological suspense, thrillers with serial killers, stubborn characters, food for thought, and if you are a fan of excellently researched topics. If you liked the series so far – you will love this amazing finale.

Highly recommended – enjoy the thrill!

In brief:

Cover ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Writing ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Plot ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Characters ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Mood Suspenseful
Pace Fast
POV First person – past tense
Language :mrgreen: – 😳  (some mild and few medium swearwords)
Violence 😳 – 😡  (several murders involving blood and more)
Sexual content :mrgreen: – 😳  (some mentions without details)

About the author

Member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers, Sue Coletta is the author of Wings of Mayhem (Crossroad Press), MARRED (Tirgearr Publishing), The Rendering, Crime Writer’s Research, and 60 Ways to Murder Your Characters.

A multi-published author in numerous anthologies, her forensics articles have appeared in InSinC Quarterly; her flash fiction in OOTG Flash Fiction Offensive, One Hundred Voices (Centum Publishing), and in the upcoming dark fiction anthology, RUN.

In addition to her popular crime resource blog, Sue’s the communications manager for the Serial Killer Project and Forensic Science, and founder of #ACrimeChat on Twitter.

You can learn more about Sue and her books at:  www.suecoletta.com

Connect with the author:

Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading.  Now I am asking you.  🙂

My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you?  What did you think about “I Am Mayhem”?  Or – if you did not yet read “I Am Mayhem – are you now interested in reading it yourself?

I am looking forward to reading your comments.  🙂

Karen_RBRT

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The Mother We Share by Jennifer Soucy #BookReview #RBRT @bansheetales

TheMotherWeShare

Cover: The Mother We Share by Jennifer Soucy

The author sent me an ARC of this book (epub format) in exchange for an honest review (a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team).

My rating:  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)

Plot
(by Goodreads)

She yearned for the mother she never knew, wishing for a whole family. Something heard and replied…

Evie Bonaventura is terrified when a strange girl breaks into her room, a creature with her dead mother’s eyes. Dad confesses Evie had a twin, but she died along with their mother who was unable to survive the devastating childbirth. Mom swore on her deathbed that her baby was kidnapped by fairies—a changeling, but that was impossible. Myths aren’t real.

Yet the otherworldly girl continues to stalk Evie before attacking their father and others. Beltane approaches, their 18th birthday and the night when fairy powers peak. Evie’s determined to protect her family, confident because heroes always win—don’t they?

Tragedy strikes, forcing Evie to act. She embarks on an adventurous rescue mission from Boston to Ireland, aided by an unlikely band of brave friends, legendary creatures, and a colorful coven of witches. Evie has a choice: destroy her twin sister or save her, in honor of the mother they once shared.

Genre(s): > Fairy Tale Fantasy (Kindle Store)
> Mythology & Folk Tales (Kindle Store)
> Mythology & Folk Tales (Books)
Series: n.a.
Length: 308 pages
Release date: 2021-04-06
   

Teaser

Dad called the school for me, making up a lie that I was sick. Not a lie after a sleepless night with my face and neck resembling a cat’s scratching post. The jagged lines weren’t too deep on the right cheek. My throat, however, was a rainbow ring of raw and swollen skin. No way I wanted people asking all sorts of uncomfortable questions.

I had an idea, and Mike agreed to help. He would pick me up after school so I could speak to Ms. Moynagh.

It was risky to involve another adult, who also might not believe me, but the image of her fairy charm dangled in my mind, taunting me with the promise of information beyond what was available on the internet. She must’ve learned something about changelings and – as an Irish immigrant, herself – she might be sympathetic about my mother’s deathbed rants concerning the monsters from their shared folklore.

My Opinion

This book introduces you to Evie Bonaventura who meets her dead(?!) twin sister; her friends believe her, her father wants her to see a therapist.

With “The Mother We Share”, Jennifer Soucy has created an intriguing story about a young woman stalked by her dead twin sister. She begins a journey to find out the truth and save the ones she loves. Most characters are complex, all are realistic with all virtues and flaws. The story comprises a variety of craftily elaborated characters with sufficient depth and interesting interactions until the last page. Jennifer Soucy introduces each character in a way that the reader automatically wants to read on – to get to know them better. I had a great time reading “The Mother We Share” – it is an intriguing read that led me right back to the country and places I truly miss. I was immediately drawn into the story, soon keeping my fingers crossed for two very special characters. For me, “The Mother We Share” is contemporary fiction told through the eyes and mind of a young American woman who is suddenly confronted with stuff that fairytales are made of; this viewpoint – not yet twenty, American with Irish ancestry – makes for a charming read. It is a story to read again.

This is for you if you like contemporary fiction with Irish mythology, a young determined heroine, food for thought, and if you are interested in seeing more myth than modern-day visitors normally see on a trip to Ireland.

Recommended.

In brief:

Cover ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (four stars)
Writing ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (four stars)
Plot ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Characters ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐  (five stars)
Mood Suspenseful, hopeful
Pace Steady
POV Third person – past tense
Language :mrgreen: – 😳  (decent enough; mild swearwords)
Violence 😳  (there is some violence, not too detailed)
Sexual content :mrgreen:  (decent enough)
   

About the author

Jennifer Soucy is just a regular girl with an abiding love for the supernatural/paranormal–a proud nerd of anything involving horror & dark fantasy. Born in Connecticut and forever a New Englander at heart, she moved away at 19, unable to resist the call of adventure. She settled again in the Atlanta area with her family and delights in being called a “Damn Yankee.” She also lived nearly two years in Las Vegas, her home away from home. Back in Georgia now, she started writing again to fulfill her childhood dreams. This writer, assistant editor, and 25-year veteran of the service industry hopes to continue publishing books that occasionally make people sleep with the light on..

 

Connect with the Author:

Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you.  🙂

My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about “The Mother We Share”? Or – if you did not yet read “The Mother We Share” – are you now interested in reading it yourself?

I am looking forward to reading your comments.  🙂

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