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Mortgaged Goods Book Trailer
Beautiful, smart, alluring… Natalie Dreyer shone like a star in her professional world of corporate law. When she won the hand of the wealthy and charming Karl Albrecht, she thought she had it all.
Natalie is living the dream, but when tragedy strikes, her past comes back to haunt her and she must reassess what really defines a woman’s value.
Meanwhile, a crisis and confronting revelations challenge Karl to re-examine his standards and to question his deepest beliefs.
An epic novel, emotion-charged, tight with passion, and rich with sub-plots and intrigue, ”Mortgaged Goods” challenges us with heart-wrenching questions about our capacity to love and to forgive.
Seeker of Time
![Seeker of Time by [Buckler, J.M.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51POauJiQLL._SY346_.jpg)
Seeker of Time by J. M. Buckler is an enthralling and fascinating story of science fiction, relationships, and action. Seeker of Time follows the paths of Elara, a young and relatable protagonist whose struggles with navigating the social scene in high school. This should be painfully familiar to any reader who has attended high school in the United States. Cyrus is the handsome and athletic high school star and newfound friend to Elara, and Jax is a mysterious and enticing visitor in their lives. The novel merits a solid four-star rating (I’m tempted to say four and a half!), lacking only in that it cuts the action at the end too short, though admittedly Buckler does lay the scene for a perfect sequel.
As Buckler weaves readers through the intricate details of their lives, readers will almost forget that the novel is a work of fiction as Buckler is so skilled at crafting realistic yet mesmerizing story lines and characters, leading me to feel as if I really knew Elara, Cyrus, and Jax. The character development is where Buckler truly shines. Though the protagonists are young adults, ranging between eighteen and early-twenties, Seeker of Time does not feel like a novel just for other young adults. Reading about the struggles of high school from the perspective of two high school students is a refreshing breath of fresh air, and I experienced genuine amusement and terror as I watched some of the high school scenes unfold, feeling lucky that I am now beyond the terrors of angry and vindictive foreign language teachers. The main character, Elara, is superbly developed, and watching her character mature throughout the novel is engrossing, as readers watch her progress from shy and reserved into a strong protagonist they will cheer for her. Cyrus and Jax are also well-developed, multi-dimensional characters, ones that readers will surely want to learn more about in the sequel to Seeker of Time.
The mélange of the world as we know it and the supernatural that Buckler has invented tie together seamlessly. Buckler does an excellent job of quickly but not hurriedly explaining the otherworldly aspects of the novel, which allows her to progress the novel’s pace without leaving readers confused. The worlds that Buckler has created felt entirely unique to me, like nothing I have ever read before, which made the novel truly delightful to read, and I found myself rapidly flipping through the pages to find out what would happen.
Seeker of Time is action-packed and quick paced, yet I found the finale to be somewhat disappointing. Buckler introduces what readers will understand to be the main goal of the story approximately halfway through, so I was disappointed to reach the end of the novel and find that the action I anticipated would have to wait for another installment in the Elara, Cyrus, and Jax series. Though perhaps that is not a true flaw, as I was simply too excited about what was going to happen. Regardless, in Seeker of Time J. M. Buckler has created characters and worlds that will draw in any fan of fiction and leave them satisfied, intrigued, and perhaps even questioning their own worlds.
Pages: 240 | ASIN: B075MNZ7TB
Midwife of Normandy
Clare Dupres, ambitious young Huguenot midwife living in turbulent 17th century France, struggles to save her family and career from the terrors of tyrannical King Louis XIV.
On the brink of womanhood, she records in her journal the grand plan for her perfect life–marriage to the man she loves, renovation of mysterious Maison Dupres as her home, and a rewarding profession. The key to her plan lies in “the magic elixir,” her ancestors’ secret formula for pain-free childbirth, which she offers solely to wealthy aristocratic women.
But King Louis’ increasing pressure on Huguenots to convert to Catholicism shatters Clare’s dreams. Her lover forced to flee France, she is compelled to marry his boring brother. Then she is banned from practicing midwifery. Yearning to continue her profession coupled with fear that her children will be kidnapped by Papists, Clare tries to convince her stubborn husband to move to England, but he is blind to the growing menace. When danger lurks in the form of the King’s dreaded Dragonnade soldiers, she must summon all her strength and determination to save her family.
Can Clare succeed in getting her family safely out of France before it is too late?
Time’s Up: She’s Breaking the Ice
![Time's Up.: She's Breaking the Ice. (First. Book 1) by [Steele., Craig]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/510FK-qJTSL.jpg)
Craig Steele’s Time’s Up: She’s Breaking the Ice is a mile-a-minute crime mystery drama. Aussie Matilda is new in town and new to the force. She is teamed up with Jacqueline and makes fast friends with her. The two, along with their team, are investigating a string of murders with odd similarities. Dead and drained bodies are popping up with unexplainable circular wounds. Simultaneously, they are investigating street drug, Ice, and its effects. They want to know if they are connected. Storylines intertwine to connect the dots as they discover something more sinister than they could have imagined is afoot.
I enjoyed the relationship and humor between characters Matilda and Jacqueline. It’s nice to see the silly side of two highly trained and adept women. It makes the otherwise tough characters relatable. It shows their duality. They can have fun and joke and play around. They can also be independent and self-reliant and handle a weapon. I think readers, especially female readers, will appreciate that the women aren’t one-dimensional. Steele did a great job in developing the major characters.
Steele’s writing is very descriptive. This helped me picture the creatures in the sewer before I actually knew what they were. It also helped me picture the victims. This was not a read for those with weak stomachs. That being said, the gnarly details were relevant to the story. They were necessary in filling in details of the mysterious crimes.
The Ice storyline really hits home. It borrows from the front pages of newspapers and doesn’t paint over the ugly parts. Steele pulls in similarities to the current opioid crisis in America while tying it to Nazi-led drug experimentation of the past. The characters’ altered state while on Ice is scary, but an important cautionary tale. It serves as a warning of what could be, and readers will see similarities to our current climate.
I’ll admit the sight of 76 chapters and 600+ pages felt daunting. I’m afraid other readers may feel the same way, but I read the book over a week and it didn’t feel long and the plot flowed well. There are several instances where incorrect homophones are used, some sentence fragments due to misplaced periods, and some plural vs. possessive mistakes. But this does not detract from the overall entertaining story.
Craig Steele’s Time’s Up: She’s Breaking the Ice is well written and the characters are intriguing and deftly developed. The main characters were likeable, and the villains were easy to hate. I’d like to read more work by this author.
Pages: 333 | ASIN: B07F5X4782
The Story Will Evolve
J.C. Fields Author Interview
The Cold Trail follows Sean Kruger as he finally goes back to what he does best to solve an old cold case. Did you know how you wanted this book to start and end or did things change as you were writing?
I know how I wanted to begin. But since I don’t outline, my books start with a two or three-page concept. Once I am comfortable with the concept, I then start to write. While I use the original concept as a guide, the story will evolve as it is written. Once a first draft is complete, it is time to go back and see if the plot works. Both The Imposter’s Trail (Book 3) and The Cold Trail required major surgery after the first drafts were finished. Book 3 saw 30,000 words cut from an 85,000-word manuscript. Similarly, The Cold Trail needed numerous nips and tucks as the story evolved. In fact, the original ending was thrown out and completely rethought.
I really like how characters from past novels made a reappearance. Did you let the story dictate who came back, or did you pick certain characters to make a reappearance?
The characters I believe you are referring to are Roy Griffin, Ryan Clark, Jimmie Gibbs and Sandy Knoll. You are correct, I wanted all four in this installment. The reason is simple, they will play major roles in Book Five and Six. Additionally, I want to explore the Jimmie Gibbs character more in-depth. We discover more about him and some of his motivation in The Cold Trail, we learn even more in Book Five. First draft of Book Five is almost fifty-percent complete, so I have a good idea of what I want to do with these characters.
I believe the Jimmie Gibbs character is strong enough for a stand-alone novel. However, I have two stand-alone stories in the concept phase waiting for attention.
What was one challenging aspect of this novel, or at least something you thought long and hard about before committing to it?
The three missing college students from the first chapter was inspired by an incident in my hometown back in the early 1990’s. Three women, two who had just graduated from high school, disappeared from a home in the center of town. They have never been found, nor has anyone been charged with their disappearance. I was acquainted with the father of one of the women, he has since passed away. As a father myself, I cannot imagine the pain of not knowing where your child is, or if they are even alive. These thoughts still bring a chill to my heart.
The concept of this novel was developed several years ago. But I lacked a good avenue to pursue it. It was the perfect premise to bring Kruger out of retirement.
The final solution to the missing women, I use in the book, may or may not have a basis in reality. In most missing person cases, a body is usually found. Not in the case of the missing women I mentioned above. Something extraordinary occurred to these three souls.
It seems like Sean Kruger is finally back where he belongs with the FBI. Where will the next book find Sean and when will it be available?
A writer friend of mine told me Kruger retiring is getting old. So, keeping this critique in mind, I decided not to retire him again, at least until the series is complete. The Cold Trail leaves the reader with several questions left unanswered. This was done on purpose as Book 5 is based on answering these questions. There will be two incidents in Book Five which will be used to set up the sixth Kruger installment.
My plans are to release Book 5, the current working title is The Predator’s Trail, in late December of 2018 or early January 2019. My goal is to have Book 6 out eight to nine months later. After that, as I mentioned, I have several stand-alone stories I want to tackle. But, I can assure everyone, there will be more than six Sean Kruger novels as long as I can keep the stories fresh and exciting.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Facebook
![The Cold Trail (The Sean Kruger Series Book 4) by [Fields, J.C.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51odsFX%2BqNL._SY346_.jpg)
With the help of his friend, JR Diminski, retired FBI profiler Sean Kruger rescues a female graduate student after she is kidnapped from the university campus where he teaches. He finds the abduction too familiar. From 1999 through 2002 six female college students vanished, without a trace, from four different college campuses across the country. As the lead FBI investigator on those now cold cases, his failure to find the women and the person responsible still haunts him.
When JR discovers a clue to the identity of the kidnapper, Kruger comes out of retirement to re-examine the abductions. His ensuing investigation will lead him down a dark trail: one of dark money and even darker passions.
Will Sean succeed or will the past repeat itself?
Tightly plotted with the trademark twists and turns of a J.C. Fields’ novel, The Cold Trail will keep you turning pages late into the night.
The Scented Bones: The Svabodina Case Files
![The Scented Bones: The Svabodina Case Files by [Kerner, Angelina]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51sv4HsgrFL._SY346_.jpg)
The Scented Bones is an outstanding contribution to the world of paranormal and light-hearted romance. The author, Angelina Kerner, provides a novel which opens up a whole range of emotions and mysteries. The unique plotline of The Scented Bones is both humorous, enticing and intense. Kerner’s nerve-wracking story line is perfect for those who are thrill seekers that enjoy all things odd, weird and truly abnormal.
From shape-shifters, to witches, to vampires and werewolves, The Scented Bones really does captivate all key elements of the paranormal world. Nothing beats a book that is full of mystery, tension and the unknown. Angelina is able to write a fluent and creative plot. Her heroine, Angel, is a forensic anthropologist when her life is turned upside down when the skeleton that she has been working on vanishes. This book follows case files to help solve what happened to the skeleton. But along the way, Angel has to face all sorts including the Fae Queen. Can she solve the case with the help of different paranormal families?
Angelina Kerner does a fantastic job at writing fluently with regards to her characters. Right from the offset, I was instantly drawn into the heroin, Angel, and her Grandma. The characters are well described, well thought out, and appeal to all types of reader. Kerner continues to keep the reader’s attention with both humans and paranormal characters, providing the ultimate paranormal novel.
One of the great things that Angelina Kerner articulates in her writing is the ability to look beyond reality and enter a world of pure make-believe. The author of The Scented Bones reinforces ideas such as the paranormal and the unknown – something that all of us are slightly bewildered by.
The Scented Bones is a book that is easy to follow and written with unique style and creativity. What is even more, is that the author has gone out of her way to create a vocabulary section at the beginning of her book to ensure readers know the meaning of bizarre words and/or phrases.
After reading The Scented Bones, I can safely say that this book took me out of my comfort zone. However, I can honestly say that I enjoyed the narrative, plot twists and characters. Angel plays the perfect heroine throughout this book, and I loved reading how her journey played on. From beginning to end, Angleina Kerner kept me on the edge of my seat. This is the first book that I have read by Kerner, and I can safely say that I will be back for more of her books.
An articulate, creative and highly imaginative novel blending an array of themes and emotions with the unnatural world. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Scented Bones and I believe this book has lots of things to offer a wide range of readers. You will not be disappointed with what this book has to offer! Trust me!
Pages: 156 | ASIN: B07DHZFBD4
Kidnapped: A Personal Account of John Doe #2, Oklahoma Bombing, April 19, 1995
This is a personal account of a young women’s journey of being kidnapped and surviving dangerous encounters with this man. Juan Carlos Parraga. From Carlos’s personal connections to El Salvador and his training by Che Guevara as a young boy of fourteen in the jungles of Guatemala. Carlos is a violent man destined to live on the edges of crime and violence. Judith not being allowed to communicate with others lives in silence but is observant of all activities he did around her. Changing her name to save her life and living a secluded life to protect herself from being kidnapped and murdered by Carlos was her life after being his victim. Realization of how dangerous he became was revealed on April 19, 1995, as Judith watched the unfolding and recognition of Juan Carlos Parraga as John Doe #2. Judith turning him into the FBI and letting him go her home in White Rock, British Columbia was arson with the intent to murder her per the RCMP investigation.
Unstoppable: Challenge Accepted
![Unstoppable: Challenge Accepted by [Bogale, Tariku]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/416tMpX9yJL._SY346_.jpg)
Life is not meant to be a straight and smooth road. It is always inspiring to meet someone who has survived the obstacles from travelling a long and bumpy road. Tariku Bogale is one such person. He is not shy about letting the reader into his world, about letting the reader see the great, the bad, and the downright dirt. He is honest and transparent. His narration of his life is colored with moments that should be embarrassing but in retrospect are quite significant to the man he is today.
Unstoppable: Challenge Accepted chronicles the life of Tariku Bogale. He talks about his life as an abandoned child all the way to the glamorous city of New York. He talks about his journey from a self-reliant 8 year old with barely enough to get by to a global business mogul renting high end New York residences. He talks about his roots. They are quite weak to begin with but they become stronger as he grows up. His resolve is seen from an early age when he brings his mother to live with him regardless of his father’s wishes. He faces and survives heartbreak before the age of fifteen. It does set him back a little bit. A fact he is not afraid to disclose but he gets up and dusts himself off anyway. As he says, there were angels at every point of his life. The kindness of strangers has helped him a great deal. It is admirable that he has chosen to credit them where necessary.
This story is wonderfully told. The author is looking to show the struggles he has been through on his journey to the man he is today. It is well written. It is thrilling and interesting. Often, we look at successful people as super humans but this story confirms that they are mere mortals just like us. They make mistakes and bow to urges just like us. It renews the reader’s courage and motivation.
The author has a proper grasp of the English language. He understands the nuance of storytelling and applies it quite effectively in this book. This story is captivating and vivid. However, there seems to be large chunks of the story missing, chunks that would have contributed to the value of the story. The book could use a brush over from an editor. However, that does not quite take away from the inspiring quality of the story. It is still a great story.
Tariku Bogale is an inspiring man. He tells this book in a semi-casual way. One will probably be able to take more out of it than if it was told in a formal demeanor. The author’s life story would make a good movie. Very dramatic. But then, what is to be expected considering the meaning of his name.
Pages: 234 | ASIN: B074HGR6LD
LITERARY TITAN 