#BookReview #WNYAuthor #SusanLynnSolomon #ColdinNiagara #AnEmylnGoodeMystery

 

Tagline

 

A 15-year-old cold case suddenly turns hot.

 

Blurb

 

Brenda McNeil disappeared fifteen years ago. Was she the victim of foul play? Did she runfrom a cheating husband? Now men searching for mammoth bones dig up human remains. Adriver’s license identifies these as Brenda’s. But, when the Niagara Falls Medical Examiner looks carefully at the bones what he finds raises questions.

Desperate for a new book idea, Emlyn Goode begins a search for answers. When she and her husband Detective Roger Frey visit a retirement community to speak with the detective who’d investigated the Brenda McNeil missing-person case they learn one of his fellow residents has recently been murdered. 

Are the two cases related? Emlyn’s otherworldly instincts tell her they are and that learning how will identify the killer. As she delves further into her research Emlyn enters a world filled with twists and turns where danger lurks in every shadow.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Niagara-Susan-Lynn-Solomon/dp/B0CT92LX19

Susan Lynn Solomon Bio

 

A former entertainment attorney, Susan Lynn Solomon is the facilitator of the Writer’s Critique Group that is co-sponsored by the Buffalo Central Library and Just Buffalo Literary Center.

 

She is the author short stories that have appeared in numerous literary journals. These include, Abigail Bender (awarded an Honorable Mention in a Writers Journal short romance competition), Ginger Man, Elvira, The Memory Tree, Going Home, Yesterday’s Wings, Smoker’s Lament, Kaddish, and Sabbath (nominated for the 2013 Best of the Net). A collection of her short stories, Voices in My Head, has been released by Solstice Publishing. 

 

Ms. Solomon is also the author of the Emlyn Goode Mysteries. A finalist in Chanticleer International Book Award’s Mystery & Mayhem Novel category, and a finalist for the 2016 Book Excellence Award, her first Emlyn Goode novel, The Magic of Murder, has received rave reviews, as have the novelettes, Bella Vita, The Day the Music Died, A Shot in the Woods, and ’Twas the Season. The second Emlyn Goode novel, Dead Again, was a finalist for both the 2017 McGrath House Indie Book of the Year and the 2018 Book Excellent Award. Writing is Murder,the third Emlyn Goode novel was awarded a First Place in the 2019 Chanticleer International Book Award Mystery & Mayhem category.

 

Stepping aside from mysteries, Ms. Solomon’s novel, Abigail’s Window, has been awarded a gold medal as a finalist in the Readers Favorite novel competition and the Chanticleer International Book Award gave it the Grand Prize as the best paranormal romance of 2019. In addition, her recent novel, Raising Kane is a finalist in both the Book Excellence Awards and the Chanticleer International Book Awards

 

Her latest books are What’s Past is Prologue, Shooting Parr and the recently publishedHoneymoon Murder, and Cold in Niagara, the new Emlyn Goode Mystery.

 

 Cold in Niagara

Written By Susan Lynn Solomon

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews

First, I want to thank Susan Solomon for providing me with her book so I may bring you this review.

BRRR It sure is Cold in Niagara literally!! WNY’s own local author Susan Lynn Solomon is back with another of her Emyln Goode mysteries. It has been a while since I read one of her books and have missed them. 

Susan would like to dedicate Cold in Niagara to her dear and loyal friend Linda LeRoy. I chucked when she mentioned the third part of their golden girls. 

There are so many wonderful things about her writing but I love that she writes what she knows. Unlike any other author Susan places all of her books in WNY where she lives. This aspect of the book makes me smile seeing all the landmarks, events, streets, etc included. For someone who lives in Buffalo it makes the book more personal. That being said I loved how she included the Cuomo Restaurant that is no longer in business. It was the cutest Italian place with celebrity photos on the wall. I went there once and had the lasagna and wow was it good. 

Even though this is part of a series it is able to be read as a standalone. 

I was grinning ear to ear and over the moon to learn that Emyln is pregnant! Roger is very protective keeping Emyln and the baby safe. 

I loved that Emyln’s cat was named Elvira and the interesting scenes they had together. 

I was pleasantly surprised seeing that Susan included an LGTBQ+ character into her storyline. It was part of the storyline that I never saw coming. 

Cold in Niagara is a fast paced book that can be devoured in one sitting. 

#BookReview #MiraclesInTheDark #HowaChildhoodCultandAbuseSurvivorReclaimedTheLight #TammyRene #IgnitePress #NonFictonAuthorsAssociation

 

THERE IS HOPE!

Emotional trauma has a way of twisting reality, making it hard to see our way to healing. The pain and fear can get a strangle-hold on our hope, blinding us to the very light that can sustain us through the hardship. However, no matter the severity of our trauma or the toll it takes on our minds and bodies, there is light sprinkled throughout our experiences—pieces of hope and strength—to hold onto as we navigate the darkness of the trauma.

Miracles in the Dark is a compelling and raw story of overcoming the trauma of childhood abuse and reclaiming healing light. You will gain insights about:

• How trauma affects our mental and physical capabilities
• The power in accepting and processing the pain of abuse
• How the kind acts of others (no matter how small) play a key role in the healing journey
• That there are miracles available to help us heal
• The reality that healing from abuse is possible

"Regardless of the pains and heartache we are called to go through, all of us can find light and hope and ultimately thrive in the life that is uniquely our own."

Links to Purchase Book:

https://buildonthelight.com

Tammy René, author of Miracles in the Dark: How a Childhood Cult and Abuse Survivor Reclaimed the Light.

Amazon/Miracles in the Dark

OUT OF THE DARK

For the first thirty years of my life, the trauma of the severe abuse I suffered at the hands of my parents stayed buried deep in my subconscious. This repression kept me from sinking into the sea of self-loathing and despair that often accompanies abuse, but in my early thirties, everything came to a head as the dark memories of the abuse began to surface. To help me through the painful emotions, I sought counselling and learned to navigate my own path toward healing. Mixed in with the memories of so much trauma, peaceful scenes of light that sustained me through the pain and aloneness resurfaced. Still, my brain kept the peace separate from the trauma, afraid that the pain would erase the good in my life forever.

I hung on to every good thought and experience with a tight-rope grip, hoping to douse the heartache with light. As much as all of the good enlarged my soul, there was a dark chasm inside me deeper than anything I could imagine. The wall that separated the light and dark became a monstrous void that threatened to swallow me whole.

MOVING FORWARD

Working my way forward toward healing, new truths rumbled up out the depths of my soul and I was diagnosed with what is now called Dissociative Identity Disorder. While the doctor said it was a coping device that the brain engages when the trauma is too much to handle, the diagnosis made me feel like I was losing my sanity. The reality was that the pain, fear, and hopelessness of the most traumatic events of my childhood were transformed into separate identities. Each identity fulfilled a role to help me survive when things got scary. The diagnosis is that I’m not crazy, just very hurt.

Accepting the DID diagnosis destroyed the walls of protection my brain had built—like a powerful earthquake rolls through a city reducing great structures to rubble. For the first time I saw the wounded and vulnerable parts of me exposed. Each one held their own secrets and developed their own way of coping with the pain. They hid from my consciousness in an effort to allow me to survive the ongoing trauma that was my childhood.

My journey has been about the freedom of learning and accepting truth. Even more importantly it is about rediscovering the light inside me and learning to own it, build on it, and then share it.

Effects of Abuse: the Silent Killer

INTO THE LIGHT

I have worked as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) in behalf of abused and neglected children and currently volunteer with our local Suicide Prevention Network as a PTSD support group facilitator. In conjunction with speaking about abuse and healing, I am an award-winning author and ambassador for hope, healing, and thriving after abuse.

Music and writing soothe my soul and I find strength in the outdoors. I cherish time with my husband, children and grandchildren and am grateful for each moment we have together.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093207136396

https://www.instagram.com/tammyrene915/

Miracles In The Dark 

How a Childhood Cult and Abuse Survivor Reclaimed The Light

Written by Tammy Rene 

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews

First, I want to thank Tammy Renee, Ignite Press and The Non Fiction Association for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review. 

Tammy Renee needs to be commended for being so brave sharing her deeply personal story with her readers. Miracles in The Dark How A Childhood Cult and Abuse Survivor Reclaimed the Light is a quick read but not an easy read. However, it is a story that must be told in the hopes of helping others heal. 

I totally fell in love with this beautiful cover design by KM Shadidul Arafat! It was the perfect graphic for this book! 

Tammy would like to dedicate this book to her husband for his compassion, understanding and strength. One thing that I loved about this book is we not only heard Tammy’s story but her husband's side of it as well. 

She would also dedicate this book to all the hurting children in each of us. 

I appreciated the fact that right in the beginning of the book Tammy addressed some very sensitive topics that may trigger some. 

D. Wayne Abbott, Ph.D wrote a note to the readers in his forward.. He agreed with me that this is not an easy read.

Tammy’s story was a fast paced one sitting type of a read. I enjoyed getting to know Tammy and her family better. 

They always say to go with your gut instinct on things. Tammy had a hunch about her Dad and she was right. What she uncovered and how she uncovered it blew me away. 

There were so many extremely important life lessons in this book that everyone could benefit from.

At the end of the book Tammy a note to survivors of abuse. Not only that but she includes a letter to friends from abuse victims. She also includes some important resources for her readers to have. 

After reading this I think this book would be great for a book club discussion, in the school library, school counselor or health office for both kids and adults. 

#CoverReveal #FatalFungus #AWindyandDarlingCosyMystery #WeNarkGreen #RachelsRandomResources

 

 Fatal Fungus

One great bake-off. Twelve golden pies. Two lovable, dogged amateur sleuths back in stride.

 

On a crisp, autumn evening, in quaint Bogus Hole, the village committee proposes a pie-and-buy charity auction to celebrate the first anniversary of Sycamore Medical Practice. Twelve bakes will make the coveted gingham table for a doctor-only bidding war, thus setting the scene for a memorable day. 

 

The next week, when a doctor collapses at the annual Christmas fair and later dies, the gossip train rumbles with the burning question. Who baked a poisonous mushroom into their pie?

 

Team Awesome truffle hogs, Windy & Darling, are hot on the fatal fungus trail. Can our daring duo sniff out the killer of the not-so-fun guy? 

 

Publication Date: 24th June 2024

The book will be available to purchase here on publication day, - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CGKC63ZH

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGKC63ZH

Creativity’s a must for Scottish-raised, environmental science graduate Mark, who co-manages a self-publishing house, is formidable at book formatting, and writes cosy crime and sci-fi. He also makes music and fancies himself as a cartographer. A self-confessed geek, Mark’s hopelessly devoted to maps and roads, and his fondness for tree-hugging or pondering pylons takes whimsical to a new level. High on his priorities are reading, laughter, healthy food, and nature bathing. Mark adores animals, especially cats. Just ask Tahlula, his fussy old tuxedo puss.

Ironically, a cruel plot twist kick-started Wendy’s writing career. She’d always wanted to be an authorbut an MS diagnosis said no. Believing she’d never write again, Wendy swapped wallowing for blue sky thinking and, with drive and dedication, followed her vision by writing cosy mysteries and thrillers. Born in the original Washington, NE England, Wendy has a diverse CV. A serial word nerd, she’s now an erudite editor, and co-owns a self-publishing house, ensuring her lust for all things alphabetical and grammatical never wanes. She devours dictionaries, adding a prized new gem to her repertoire every day.

When not nitpicking, mentoring, or critiquing, Wendy’s a sworn bookworm. Her other loves are music, cooking, yoga, and comedy. She’s a hat freak, animal qwackers, loves a good quiz, and is a devoted nature buff.

Deadly Dough is the couple’s feature-length debut.

 

Social Media Links – 

linktr.ee/wenarkgreen
facebook.com/wenarkgreenauthor
instagram.com/wenarkgreenauthor
tiktok.com/@wenarkgreenauthor

#BookReview #TheRedwoods #JenSimmons

 

She never intended to stay.

He never intended to leave.

They never anticipated meeting each other, now they’re stuck together in the Redwoods of California.

For very different, but equally important and secret intensions.

She has a billion reasons to leave.

He has a billion reasons to stay.

Which way will their desire take them? Will they stay? Or will they leave? Together or apart?

Welcome to…
The Redwoods

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Redwoods-Redwood.../dp/B0CLL1PLY2/

Jen was born in San Diego, California and was raised in Lubbock, Texas. Jen’s life took her into a career of nursing. In 2008, she earned her Registered Nursing degree and began caring for patients in a fast-paced Intensive Care unit. Her dreams led her to obtain an undergraduate degree in Nursing followed by a Master’s degree in Nursing Leadership and Organizational Management. Jen has always loved reading and books. The idea suddenly came to her one day to sit down and start writing Shipley’s Secrets. The process at first, was a release from the busy day to day life of a Registered Nurse in healthcare management.

Jen’s inspiration to finish and self-publish came in the form of encouragement and love from her husband Jason. Jen gets her inspiration from authors like Pepper Winters, Jamie McGuire, and Colleen Hoover. Jen hopes that the inspiration from writing Shipley’s Secrets will inspire her to keep writing in the young adult and contemporary romance realm.

Jen likes to read, write and watch movies in her free time. Any chance to drink champagne and eat pasta, she jumps on. Jen lives in Northern Colorado with her husband Jason, daughter Alyssa and their fur babies Milo and Madison.

The Redwoods

Written By Jen Simmons

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews

First, I want to thank Jen Simmons for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

The Redwoods is a very quick read by Jen Simmons that can be devoured in one sitting. 

Instantly, she pulled hard at my heartstrings with the loss of her Mother that she was close to. 

Jen did an amazing job describing the cabin in the redwoods. It is a place that I would like to visit. 

I loved the sexual tension built up between Dahl and Cody that led to some spicy time! 

The comical twist at the ending I never saw coming. 

#BookReview #AnnaO #MatthewBlake #HarperCollinsPublisher

 #1 International Bestseller

GMA Buzz Pick • A Today Show Pick • A PeopleMagazine Pick

“A riveting, unsettling crime novel that will keep you turning pages well past your bedtime. Is Anna O a sleeping beauty or a sleeping killer? Matthew Blake's tension-filled thriller is as elusive and mysterious as sleep itself.”—Nita Prose, #1 New York Times author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest

Joining the ranks of Gillian Flynn, A. J. Finn, and Alex Michaelides, Matthew Blake delivers the thriller of the year: a dark, twisty, and shocking mystery about a young woman who commits a double murder while sleepwalking, and then never opens her eyes again.

ANNA O WILL WAKE UP THE WORLD

What if your nightmares weren’t really nightmares at all?

We spend an average of 33 years of our lives asleep. But what really happens, and what are we capable of, when we sleep?

Anna Ogilvy was a budding twenty-five-year-old writer with a bright future. Then, one night, she stabbed two people to death with no apparent motive—and hasn’t woken up since. Dubbed “Sleeping Beauty” by the tabloids, Anna’s condition is a rare psychosomatic disorder known to neurologists as “resignation syndrome.”

Dr. Benedict Prince is a forensic psychologist and an expert in the field of sleep-related homicides. His methods are the last hope of solving the infamous “Anna O’”case and waking Anna up so she can stand trial. But he must be careful treating such a high-profile suspect—he’s got career secrets and a complicated personal life of his own.

As Anna shows the first signs of stirring, Benedict must determine what really happened and whether Anna should be held responsible for her crimes.

Only Anna knows the truth about that night, but only Benedict knows how to discover it. And they’re both in danger from what they find out.

After discovering that the average person spends thirty-three years of their life asleep, Matthew Blake felt the pull of a story. He began extensive research into sleep-related crimes and into the mystery illness known as resignation syndrome, research that sparked a thrilling question: if someone commits murder while sleepwalking, are they innocent or guilty? And so his novel ANNA O was born.

Before writing fiction, Matthew worked as a researcher and speechwriter in Westminster. He studied English at Durham University and Merton College, Oxford and now lives in London.

Anna O

Written By Matthew Blake

Review By Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews

WOW!!! Matthew Blake’s Anna O is an extraordinarily fascinating read that had me glued to the pages! I have heard so many wonderful things about this book that I just had to check it out! I am so glad that I did because this is a must read at 5 stars. You need to put this on the top of your TBR pile!! This is the first time I have read anything by Matthew Blake and it won’t be the last!

I am a huge fan of Medical Psychological Thrillers so when I heard about Anna O and how twisted it was I had to read it! Matthew Blake did an incredible job with all. the research that he did on Anna’s condition Resignation Syndrome. I was totally engrossed in this storyline!  I too suffer from sleep disorders and he brought up some very good points that I had never thought of before! 

Instantly, this book caught my attention right from the first page! I was hooked til the end of it. Anna O was something that was ripped from the headlines and had that true crime vibe that I loved!

KitKat was one of the cutest characters in the book. My heart broke that she was in the middle of her parents' issues. 

Matthew Blake, your Anna O must be made into a NetFlix series!! Everyone would be watching!