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REVIEWS LISTED

A Shadow In The Night by Kenneth L. Levinson
Where Angels Fear by Sunny Frazier
Watch The Hour by J. R. Lindermuth
Footsteps in the Treetops by Bennett Cole
A Corpse for Cozumel by Anastasia Amor
Shadowlight by Del Garrett
Sorrow by John Lawson
Talking Heads by Reid Laurence
Pleasing the Dead by Deborah Turrell Atkinson
Maiden Rock Mistress by Janet Elaine Smith COMING SOON(br>A Woman To Blame by Marthanne Shubert
Voodoo Laws by Jim Michael Hansen
Nocturne by Angela Cameron
Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed by Marc Blatte
Marta's Place by Carl A. Albrecht
An Unconventional Murder by Kenneth L. Levinson
Anna Mae Mysteries, The Golden Treasure by L. S. Cauldwell
A Christmas Dream by Janet Elaine Smith
A Lumberjack Christmas...Revisited by Janet Elaine Smity
Child of Darkness, Child of Light by Dennis Dufour
The Accidental Spy by John Lindermuth
The Actor's Guild by Charlotte Holley
The Lure of the Witch by Betty Sullivan La Pierre
The Devil Can Wait by Marta Stephens
The Walk Home by Wanda C. Keesey
World Enough and Time by Nancy S. Madison
His Other Wife by Margaret Blake
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All reviews are the intellectual property of the reviewer and to use them elsewhere, their permission is required. All reviews will remain on site for at least 60 days. No archives will be kept.

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Title: A Shadow in the Night
Author: Kenneth L. Levinson
Publisher: Uncial Press
ISBN: 978-1-60174-025-0
Genre: Mystery

  A mysterious woman brings a mysterious case into the office of attorney Adam Larsen. The problem is that her sister who is accused of embezzlement has disappeared and the law wants her. Adam and his staff undertake to solve the puzzle and, at the same time, recover the stolen money.
  The hunt is on for the missing woman with few clues as to her whereabouts and the missing money that can spell the death of the company from which it was stolen. One can sense the desperation of Mary Bryant to clear her sister's name. The mutual dislike between policeman Stone and lawyer Larsen is almost palpable and the reader will wonder at the root of it.
  Talented author Kenneth L. Levinson has crafted a complex tale with interesting characters whose doings will keep you reading. A well told tale with plenty of suspense, action, mystery, with false trails for Adam to follow.
  A Shadow in the Night is a clever story that offers something different by way of the plot. The story guarantees a pleasant read and will have you looking for other books by this talented author whose easy to read style is bound to please any reader.
  I'm pleased to recommend this imaginative author's tale to any reader. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 06/21/09

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Title: Where Angels Fear
Author: Sunny Frazier
Publisher: Oak Tree Press
ISBN: 978-1892343574
Genre: Mystery

  A fun read for the astrology or mystery fan, Where Angels Fear by talented author Sunny Frazier is worth the time.
  Christy Bristol who is an office assistant at a branch sheriff's office and her sidekick Lennie Watkins manage to get themselves entangled in a dangerous situation when the wife of a wealthy man who disappeared asked Christy to find her husband after first requesting a horoscope.
  The two take time from work to go sleuthing and end up being arrested as the plot unwinds. Their investigation connects the deaths of three other wealthy men as suspicious as they search for the missing man. They cross paths with the law more than once and the reader will want to know if they will wind up with police records this time.
  The imaginative author has also provided a paranormal touch in the telepathy that exists between Christy and her sister who warns her to be careful. The plot contains twists that will surprise and please the reader and when the story is done, you will feel like you've made new friends of the author, Christy and Lennie.
  Recommended for any reader who enjoys a well told tale and interesting characters. A fun read all the way through. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 06/21/09

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Title: Sorrow
Author: John Lawson
Publisher: Drollerie Press
ISBN:
Genre: Fantasy

  From the pen of talented author John Lawson comes Sorrow, something different in the world of fantasy that also includes murder and mystery. Any mystery fan would enjoy this tale in trying to identify the killer who strikes without warning and whose killings seem to have a religious significance. This is an opportunity to try fantasy that is not the standard romance of the genre.
  In a world that he is totally unfamiliar with Phindol is forced to seek help in his travels homeward. This instance, he realizes too late that he has misjudged the help he accepts. These so called guards are intent on robbing him.
  He is possessed of a secret among his luggage called the Splinter, a mysterious weapon and very dangerous to those who handle it as Phindol could tell anyone.
  Phindol arrives at a house where he is to stay as hostage and here he meets another hostage, Faina child woman whose passion is to dance. It is in this house the Archbishop Tuggub is murdered and to this house where an investigator is sent to resolve his murder.
  A complex tale with several interesting characters vying for your attention, each determined to lead his or her own life as much as they are permitted. You will enjoy meeting them and keep reading to see how this fun tale ends. You will be looking for other books by this creative author. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 05/01/09

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Title: Watch The Hour
Author: J. R. Lindermuth
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
ISBN: 978-1-60313-476-7
Genre: Mystery

  Talented author J. R. Lindermuth has done it again. In his latest work, Watch The Hour, he gives us a look into the stark reality and bleakness of peoples lives who lived in the workers villages constructed by the mine owners for their employees. Once employed by a mine owner a man became a near slave to his boss. The wages were low and rents and buying from a company store kept a man broke and in need as he had to support his family.
  To combat these bad conditions the Molly Macguires or Black Mollies were formed to unionize the labor. the mine owner would fire and find excuses to imprison any employee tho dared to join. In clashes between the mine police and and Mollies the police often shot and killed men.
  Watch The Hour opens with the funeral of a known Mollie and attempts to bury him in the local cemetery. This causes a confrontation of Irish miners and the non-Irish of the community, giving the reader a look at the prejudice and treatment the Irish must endure.
  Deputy Ben Yeager is fortunate in having a job that does not take him into the mines but he must endure the mistrust the miners, especially the Irish have for the law of the mine owners. He tries to walk a middle path and ends up in a triangle not of his making. He must find a way out to regain control of his life. He must decide on a secure future or following his heart.
  This fine tale is a combination of mystery, romance, history and other genres that produces a tale that seems to step out of the papers of its day. It was a time when innocence was quickly lost, life was cheap and men dared not speak against their employers. It is a study of some men are never satisfied with what they have and others must make do with so little.
  Watch The Hour is a great tale that I'm pleased to highly recommend to any reader. You will meet realistic characters walking these pages and endure the privation of some or share the indulgences of the wealthy. It is a timeless tale. Enjoy. I certainly did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 06/11/09

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Title: Footsteps in the Treetops
Author: Bennett Cole
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
ISBN: 978-1-60313-444-6
Genre: Fiction

  Talented author Bennett Cole takes the reader back in time to the days of World War II when the main character was a boy named Marvin whose world consisted of his home town and friends. As he looks back to those days, he recalls how one of his friends found the body of a young woman and how the boys in their play time decided to find her killer as one of their brothers was arrested for it.
  The boys put together clues that came their way and narrowed their suspect list to a few men who were suspicious under the best of circumstances. Unwittingly, they step into danger as well.
  Also, one meets a girl who may have been considered Marvin's first girlfriend, but their relationship was limited by social status and her private school. Marvin felt she might have been a bit more sophisticated than him as she was also a few years his senior.
  Included with these events that mark him as growing out of childhood, the reader gets a great view of the setting, the characters and the subplots, all that are well done and interesting and will keep you reading.
  I'm happy to recommend this as a tale well worth the time to any reader looking for something different and very enjoyable. A good read. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 06/11/09

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Title: A Corpse For Cozumel
Author: Anastasia Amor
Publisher: Whiskey Creek PressISBN: 978-1-60313-482-8
Genre: Mystery

  Adie Sturm finds herself drawn into a murder investigation when her best friend Marg disappears and a dead man she knows is found in a neighbor's yard. Adie goes to Cozumel to find Marg and finds both of them are in danger.
  Adie hooks up with an old friend named Wolf who rescues her and Marg from attackers on two separate occasions. Marg went to Cozumel to pick up a check for the dead man and immediately is set upon by a thug while the attack on Adie comes after they are both shot at while scuba diving. Adie's attacker breaks into her hotel room and tries to knife her.
  Adie seems to attract a lot of attention from the fellows and Marg picks up with a desk clerk for some good times. You'll want to know which of the fellows Adie picks and how the story ends. There are some surprises in store for the reader as Adie finds out why the dead man was killed. You'll ask yourself if any of the fellows the ladies meet in Cozumel have ulterior motives for their attentions.
  For the mystery reader who enjoys plenty of romance added to the tale for flavoring. Enjoy.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 06/11/09

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Title: Shadowlight
Author: Del Garrett
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
ISBN: 978-1-60313-480-4
Genre: Fantasy Mystery

  The power of the media is being reined in by laws that forbid raising questions about the people in authority. Thus when news reporter Rio Shannon finds a dating disc and learns there is more to it, he is told he has placed himself in danger. Then, as if to prove what he's been told, a man who saved him from a gang attack is murdered.
  Sent to Houston on a story of exchanging a drug lord for an imprisoned brother in law of the president of Mexico, Shannon takes time to visit the wife of a friend when the friend is killed as the exchange goes bad and then to visit the grandparents of the vanished girl on the dating disc. The situations are much more complicated than he thought when he goes on the run with the girl on the dating disc.
  A well told tale with some rather vivid description of the settings that puts you in some rather unsavory places with Shannon. The characters come to life in this fun read that will hold your interest all the through.
  In Shadowlight talented author Del Garrett tells what the world could be like as the rights of people are slowly eroded. There's plenty of action, suspense and emotion to make for an excellent read.
  I'm pleased to recommend this tale to any reader who enjoys a good tale. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 06/11/09

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Title: Talking Heads
Author: Reid Laurence
Publisher: Publish America
ISBN: 1-60836-335-X
Genre: Fiction

  On seeing the title "A Killing Rain" the reader will be intrigued, wondering if it means a rain that kills or someone killing in the rain or because of the rain. Talented author Reid Laurence has crafted a tale in three parts that carry us through the life of a man who lives two lives, one inside his head where he can talk to the heads of men he has killed and the other where he takes a job at a museum as a guard and becomes involved in a forgery scheme.
  Like most people who are lonely, Raymond seeks companionship, but does so in an unusual way. He kills those he will talk to and they become a guest and live in his refrigerator. Their conversations are full of snippets of Raymond's life and the reader comes to know him as a real personality.
  The second title "Talking Heads" begins with Raymond stalking a girl in a department store and he is told to leave and not come back. He added to his own problems by talking to himself in the form of two imaginary friends in front of people. They also urge him to call the girl. He calls and when she answers, he hangs up. His friends are becoming more numerous as his relationship develops with the girl, Vicky.
  Raymond's life has taken a turn in part three "A Sign of the Time" after an accident with one of his heads. His artistic talents are noticed again and he and Vicky are taking a trip to Mexico as he leaves the psychiatric prison hospital.
  Author Reid Laurence has crafted a tale that would fit into a horror film with lots of suspense. This reviewer keeps wanting to tell people to stay away from dark alleys and don't visit Raymond Mort.
  Recommended for any suspense or horror fan who likes psychological thrillers with lots of tension. A well told tale that will have you keeping your lights on after bedtime rolls around. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 05/01/09

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Title: Pleasing the Dead
Author: Deborah Turrell Atkinson
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
ISBN: 978-1-59058-598-6
Genre: Mystery

  For the mystery fan a tale with some different types of characters in a tale set in Hawaii. Everyone of us who dreams of owning our own business will identify with Lara who hires attorney Storm Kayama to help her through the process.
  All Storm wants to do is get the information required for the paperwork, but she finds herself drawn into a world of shadowy and shady business deals and Japanese criminals based in Hawaii who will stop at nothing, including murder, to fill their wants.
  Lara is engaged to the son of a man who was associated with the criminals but escaped. He is still associated with some of them, however, but feels he is safe to go his own way as long as he occasionally helps them out.
  From the outside looking in, Storm sees the complications that Lara is entangled in. When Storm tries to help a former child prostitute and others caught in part of the web being spun around Lara, she risks her life.
  This is a well told tale with lots of action and tension that will hold your attention. You will want to know what happens next. There are lots of interesting and well done characters with private motives for what they do that will make you want to tell Storm and Lara not to do what they are about to do. If you like scuba diving and jaunts on a boat to see the floor of the ocean or visit with sharks in a cage, this is one tale you will not want to miss. Bring your seasick pills, snorkel and fins and be ready for some fun.
  I'm pleased to recommend Pleasing the Dead by talented author Deborah Turrell Atkinson as a fun read worth the time. You will want to read her other books. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 05/01/09

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Title: Maiden Rock Mistress
Author: Janet Elaine Smith
Publisher:
ISBN:
Genre: Historical Romance

  Violet Seymour travels with her family to Lake City, Minnesota where she has taken a job as school teacher. Her arrival is a spectacular splash which she must endure with humor.
  She meets her new boss, Denis McLeod, who shortly brings a Dakotah child into her care when the child is forced out of the tribe. Violet learns her boss dislikes Indians and has acted contrary to his nature in this case.
  Maiden Rock Mistress by talented author Janet Elaine Smith is a heart warming tale of life in a frontier town that shares its ground with the Native Americans and a mutual resentment that must be overcome if both are to survive. Violet takes up her duties in the new school and humor strikes unexpectedly in the form of a black and white visitor on the first day.
  Written with a light touch that blends romance, suspicion, humor, this fun tale introduces the reader to characters you will have met in any small town. The reader will share realistic emotions with them and be touched by the courage that allows one to leave safety of the known for the unknown.
  I'm pleased to recommend this tale to any reader who enjoys meeting ordinary people who display courage and ingenuity in making new lives for themselves. For any romantic who enjoys caring and true love, this is one you won't want to miss. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 04/02/09

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Title: A Woman to Blame
by Marthanne Shubert
Publisher: Uncial Press
ISBN: 978-1-60174-072-4
Genre: Mystery

  Widowed and aging Nick Rossano moves sexy Bunny Sterne into his apartment and his traveling companions and friends are aghast at his allowing this opportunistic female to take advantage of him. The couple's association is the main topic of conversation that PI Gin Ritchey overhears almost daily as she exercises or comes and goes from the Blue Jasmine where she lives in a marina.
  The quiet pace of life is destroyed when Nick is found dead in his apartment. Gossip among his friends points the finger at Bunny until the murderer strikes again. And Gin is hired to find a killer.
  Talented author Marthanne Shubert has crafted a fun read in A Woman to Blame with interesting characters and lots of false clues. Motives abound as suspicions run rampant and Gin and her police detective friend try to separate fact from fiction.
  The reader will enjoy the setting for this tale as something different and it gives you a feel for life on a small water craft as you climb over the rail of the Blue Jasmine. Be sure to wear shoes with a nonslip tread and keep lots of sunblock handy.
  I'm pleased to recommend A Woman to Blame as a read well worth time. The plot is balanced and characters are well drawn. A fun read. Enjoy. I did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 03/17/09

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Title: Voodoo Laws
Author: Jim Michael Hansen
Publisher: Dark Sky Publishing, Inc.
trade paperback 422 pages $13.95
ISBN: 9780976924371
Genre: Thriller

  Is voodoo real? Can it actually cause people to suffer or die from a curse laid on by a priestess like Ida Wrisp when she cursed Bryson Coventry. The question is why she was doing this. Was someone she knew harmed by him?
  Bryson Coventry, head of Denver's homicide unit, had a new murder to contend with--a dead attorney, found in an alley. And he finds voodoo creeping into his case and death seems to follow him from city to city as he seeks answers.
  Talented author Jim Michael Hansen has created another story to keep the chills crawling up your spine as you join Coventry in another case. And, yes, he's in lust again with an intriguing young woman who catches his eye from the first time they meet.
  This isn't a tale for the squeamish. Lots of action and lots of fun characters to meet. You'll remember Coventry as an old friend with a slight case of never quite meeting the right gal. Could this new lady be just right for him?
  And if you don't believe in voodoo, you might begin to wonder as you read. Mystery and chills aplenty as Bryson hunts and is hunted. A story to satisfy all thriller fans. Highly recommended to readers who like new and interesting plots and characters. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 3/17/09

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Title: Nocturne
Author: Angela Cameron
Publisher: Drollerie Press
Genre: Paranormal

  A stormy night, a woman alone, lightning in the background on a dark forest road--what more could the paranormal fan ask for an opening in a story? How about a woman's body with the throat torn out lying in the road? Add one ex boyfriend who turns up just as Alyson Wingate discovers the body.
  The ex boyfriend escorts Alyson home and insists on searching her house but won't tell her what he's looking for. He says the woman on the road wasn't killed by an animal.
  Great sex and blood filled dreams are blended to the story to give it the flavor of mystery and horror and romance. Nocturne by talented author Angela Cameron crosses the boundaries of several genres to produce a tale that will keep you reading while looking over your shoulder if you are alone in a house that makes any night noises.
  Alyson is in for a few surprises and so is the reader as the plot unwinds. She is surprised by what she finds on a visit to the morgue to see the corpse. Wil had warned her.
  This tale takes a scary turn for Alyson and her life is changed forever. It is a story that will keep you happily turning pages to see what happens next. Lots of suspense and interesting characters. A world that is fun to read about, but I wouldn't recommend a long visit that might become permanent.
  Recommended for any fan of the dark side of life, anyone who enjoys a walk on the twilight side of our world. Enjoy. I did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 03/17/09

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Title: Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed
By: Marc Blatte
Publisher: Schaffner Press
ISBN: 978-0-9801394-1-9
Genre: Mystery

  For any mystery fan who enjoys hip hop, the good life, or a darn good tale with interesting characters, this is for you. This is a story set at the crossroads of our cities with characters from the tenements who have broken away from poverty and those who want to break out but end up doing everything they can to remain as street thugs; the wealthy who enjoy rubbing elbows with the thuggy types but don't acknowledge their existence, and immigrants trying to find a place in this strange world. Standing in the midst of this chaotic mixture is the policeman who must deal with the results of clashes among these groups--murder, theft, stabbings, drugged out rich kids who have no thought for those they hurt.
  Talented author Marc Blatte has crafted a story in easy-to-read language that is well worth the time of any mystery or thriller fan. The settings and mix of characters found in any large city are a blend guaranteed to keep you turning the pages.
  Detective Black Sallie Blue Eyes and his team must simultaneously find the killer of an immigrant and the gang that stabbed a music producer. With a rich man throwing threats at him, his captain wanting the crimes solved yesterday, and his suspects being freed by a publicity seeking civil rights attorney, the detective is feeling the pressure.
  Street thug Scholar and his gang have decided they are going to be hip hop stars and his successful cousin will (or else) make their dream come true. When they are told they need to work on their presentation, they cut up the producer. That Scholar is suspected of murder doesn't help them.
  A rich kid has a confrontation with a bouncer and the bouncer ends up hurt with his cousin slain. His rich father hires a top attorney to free him on bail.
  I'm pleased to recommend this tale to anyone looking for a good read. There are twists in the plot and the personalities of the characters to make for an excellent tale. You won't want to put it down. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 03/17/09

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Title: Marta's Place
Author: Carl M. Albrecht
Publisher: Lyrical Press
ISBN:
Genre: Contemporary Fiction

  If you've ever been out of work and send on interviews for menial jobs, you will both sympathize with Hal and understand his letting life happen when it points to a way out of his present situation. He is sent to a small restaurant called Marta's Place and his luck seems to turn.
  Marta is a older woman making a small success of her restaurant located in a changing neighborhood with a limited customer base. Luckily, she is a good cook and willing to give unskilled help a chance. As time passes, Hal becomes more than a helper.
  But even as things are looking up for him, Hal takes chances that could ruin everything. Then he is accused of murdering a woman he knew. This is a blow that threatens his new security at a time when Marta is making big plans. His only hope is that he can keep her from finding out.
  Talented author Carl M. Albrecht has crafted an interesting study of life and how one can go from rags to riches with just a little luck and lots of hard work. Mr. Albrecht has a thorough understanding of human desires and what motivates a young man who has been drifting through life on the bottom of society. You'll want to know if he can attain a better position in life and keep it.
  I'm pleased to recommend Marta's Place as well worth the time. A well told tale with lots of emotions and interesting characters. You may recognize them as people you know or have met. I did. Enjoy. I did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 02/22/09

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Title: An Unconventional Murder
Author: Kenneth L. Levinson
Publisher: Uncial Press
ISBN: 978-1-60174-064-9
Genre: Mystery

  If you have ever attended a writers conference you will immediately identify with the characters in this fun read. Pity the people trapped in a hotel with a Colorado blizzard blowing snow in faster than it can be removed from the roads.
  It's annoying to everyone, especially Arthur Upton, President of the Colorado Fiction Writers Association, to find the blizzard has caused delays all around and prevented some speakers from attending. Moreover, he is highly irritated to learn an agent he detests is taking the place of one in a panel and for agents appointments with hopeful writers.
  Once the conference gets under way, rumor starts that a dummy has been set up as a body in one of the rooms for a mystery contest. Arthur knows no contest is planned and checks on the dummy. He is shocked to find a body instead and the body is dressed in clothes belonging to members of the group.
  Since no police can get to the scene, one of the speakers, a local policeman must take charge of the investigation and do his best. Arthur tries to help, but learns he is also one of the suspects as the investigation gets underway.
  This well told tale takes you into the inner workings of a conference and behind the scenes of a murder investigation with lots of clues, red herrings, and tension. This is one story that makes the reader feel like they're part of it. You'll be looking over your shoulder to see if the killer is sneaking up on you as you hurry down deserted hotel hallways to your room or try to locate the next session you want to attend. An exciting and suspenseful time is had by all.
  I'm pleased to recommend this to any mystery fan as well worth the time and a very satisfying read. The convention is like no other you'll ever attend yet is like those you have attended. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 01/23/09

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Title: Anna Mae Mysteries, The Golden Treasure
by L. S. Cauldwell
Publisher: Star Publish
ISBN: 978-1932993-98-1
Genre: Paranormal Mystery

  A fun combination of a child conjurer, unexpected visits from haints, lost gold, spirit possession, and the search for gold is on. Three children follow the trail of lost Confederate gold and four adults follow them to keep them safe.
  If you like tales out of the ordinary with lots of action and lots of fun, you will enjoy this story of two African American children and their Hispanic friend when Anna Mae starts getting clues and visits from what can only be called weird beings in the form of a disembodied fist, laughter, invisible beings that open and close doors for her--all leading her to a particular goal.
  When the school burns down is the perfect time to follow the clues and see where they lead. The question of who set the school on fire points a finger at Anna Mae.
  A fun read told from the viewpoint of the child who is the recipient of attention from strange quarters, some of which will make you laugh while enjoying Anna Mae's adventures. Recommended for anyone who enjoys paranormals, children, and adults who believe in the kids for a change. A lighthearted look at the weird mixed with the darkness of common prejudices of our times that find their ways into the minds of kids who use them against others. It is this that keeps our feet on the ground, making us aware of the lesson to be learned while being thoroughly entertained. Enjoy. I did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 12/16/08

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Title: A Christmas Dream
by Janet Elaine Smith
Publisher: Star Publish LLC
ISBN: 978-1-932993-58-5
Genre: Romance

  Widowed way too early, Susan Quincey was a single mom with a great son, mortgage and car that wouldn't run one cold winter night after work. Luckily, her boss happened by to help.
  Even after four years of mourning, Susan felt guilty for being even a little attracted to another many. She was afraid she'd forget her first love. And that her boss Kevin Dockter was so nice and handsome added to the confusion she suffered.
  That Kevin got on so well with her son Jeremy showed her what her son was missing in his life. A daddy figure and Kevin was perfect for the role.
  I'm pleased to recommend A Christmas Dream by talented author Janet Elaine Smith to any reader who enjoys a story with love, warmth and hope, a story that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy. This is a bok you will remember with pleasure after meeting the realistic characters who will seem like instant friends. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 12/16/08

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Title: A Lumberjack Christmas ...Revisited
By: Janet Elaine Smith
Publisher: Star Publish
ISBN: 978-1-932993-59-2
Genre: Historical Romance/Romance

  Martha Tinker, recently orphaned and alone in the world, decides to answer an ad for a wife and travels to the rugged lumber camp to meet her groom-to-be. Unfortunately, she arrives only to learn he is dead. She now must decide what to do next.
  The last stage of her journey to Sawbill Landing is in the company of a doctor new to the area also. He has been summoned to treat men who have fallen victim to a mysterious disease.
  Martha must overcome her antagonism toward the doctor as they share a horse. On reaching Sawbill Landing Martha finds strength in her faith and hopes for the best.

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  The second part of this family saga deals with Martha's descendants, mainly her namesake, Martha who is facing a family crisis. She is left confused and lonely as her parents try to fix their lives.
  Santa puts in an appearance, a hospitalized grandmother who has lost her memory, and a trip to a magic tree prove there is magic at Christmas.
  I'm very pleased to recommend this Christmas tale to any romantic. There is a feeling of hope on every page and joy lurks always on the next page. You'll find these people realistic and this tale one you will remember every Christmas hereafter. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 12/16/08

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Title: Child of Darkness, Child of Light
Author: Dennis Dufour
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
ISBN: 142514115-6
Genre: Mystery

  Police Detective Simon Reynolds must catch a killer who is leaving cryptic messages cut into the flesh of his victims. He has problems trying to decipher what the mysterious numbers mean.
  By the time he does figure out who the killer is and learns how a secret from his own past is connected, his wife is dead, a victim of this killer. The quest to catch the killer becomes personal then.
  Talented author Dennis Dufour has crafted a well-told tale that will hold any reader's interest. Interesting and realistic characters walk the pages and you may come to believe they could be real.
  I'm pleased to recommend this tale as a read well worth the time. It gives us a look into the world of female boxers, something I'm sure most of us know nothing about. Enjoy. I did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 11/30/008

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Title: The Accidental Spy
Author: J. R. Lindermuth
Publisher: Lachesis Publishing
ISBN: 1-897370-55-5
Genre: Historical Adventure

  Confidence man Dan MacCracken travels with two comrades to the rough frontier where he pulls one scam too many and is arrested. His subsequent escape leads him into a whole new life.
  He arrives in Philadelphia with no money and no prospects but fortune in the form of a pretty girl smiles on him and he follows her. Coincidental it is, but it is the home of a general in the Continental Army and Dan must pretend to be someone he is not, a soldier.
  From here he becomes involved with royalists who practice all sorts of things to hurt the revolutionary cause and Dan is swept along in their wake. His sense of adventure carries him forward until there is a murder and he must rethink his predicament before he too is a victim.
  Talented author J. R. Lindermuth has crafted a fun read with characters who seem very real and you'll find yourself following a pretty girl home from the market. You will attend meetings of gangs and enjoy the continuous action in a tale with well-done pacing and settings so well described, you'll be there. You'll smell the horse droppings and hear the racous noise of a growing city in its youth.
  I'm very pleased to recommend this tale as one any reader will enjoy. It is a blend of mystery, adventure, romance, thievery -- all with constant movement to keep you reading as one event flows smoothly into the next.
  Enjoy, I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 11/22/08

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Title: The Actor's Guild
Author:; Charlotte Holley
Publisher: Mystic Moon Press
ISBN: 978-0-9800146-9-3
Genre: Paranormal Mystery/Romance

  If you are one of the fans of old mansions that are haunted, you will love this tale of mysterious disappearances, an old house's history, romance, murder and all the other genres that blend to tell a great tale as crafted by talented author Charlotte Holley. Join Kim and Liz as they undertake to heal the house with several surprises in store for them and you, dear reader.
  Liz and Kim are approached by actor John Carter to take on the task of healing an old house as part of an estate he is a lawyer for. Seeing no reason against it, the two women agree and soon move into the house. It isn't long before things start to happen.
  A brooding atmosphere, secret passages, ghosts, hidden rooms, even a bit of time travel keep the ladies on their toes as they come to grips with the depth of the problems they face and the number of ghosts in residence in the house. They aren't so sure they can handle the task set to them.
  These aren't ordinary ghosts who say 'boo' and retreat, they are spirits with personal vendettas and unfinished business. You'll find them as interesting as the characters in their actions and interactions with people and each other.
  A fun read altogether and one you will not want to put down until the end. I'm pleased to highly recommend this as a tale that will have you feeling like one of the characters. You'll start to jump at unexpected noises and beware, not all hauntings take place in the dark. So if you live in a creaky old house, read with the lights on.
  Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 11/22/08

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Title: The Lure of the Witch (Hawkman Series No. 11)
Author: Betty Sullivan La Pierre
Publisher: SynergEbooks
ISBN:
Genre: Mystery

  Relive your teenage angst among your peers as you read this well-told tale by talented author Betty Sullivan La Pierre. Share the torment of being a social outcast or the pride of being a member of the in-group, or even its leader.
  This is part of the problem that Hawkman and his author-wife ran into when they investigated the disappearance of teenager Sarah Willis. Hired by her father, they meet both both interesting and dangerous characters, one of whom proclaimed herself a witch and leader of the in-group at the high school. Sarah was not a member of her crowd, nor welcomed to join.
  Hawkman's quest for information took him to the home of both parents, questioning her friends and police, only to find the truth evasive. Then he learns other girls have vanished in a similar fashion and worries his client's daughter may be in serious jeopardy. He must follow false trails and avoid red herrings drawn across his path to unravel this puzzle.
  This intuitive and imaginative author knows how the human thought process works and what motivates people. All of the emotions are shared in this engrossing tale of many layers. You will definitely keep reading to see what happens on each page. The settings are so clearly described, that you will be looking for your hiking boots for mountain paths, experience conflicting emotions of fear and bravado when faced with danger, and wonder if anyone will ever know what happened to you.
  I'm pleased to recommend this story as well worth the time to enjoy. You'll be wanting to read all of the Hawkman adventures. I know I will.
  Enjoy. I certainly did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 11/22/08

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Note: Blue Diamonds by Vincent Scuro won first place (2008 Royal Palm Award) in the published thriller category in the Florida Writers Association competition.

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Don't Wait for The Devil Can Wait
by Marta Stephens
Publisher: BeWrite Books (UK)
ISBN: 978-1-905202-86-7
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Purchase at: http://www.bewrite.net, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com
Review by Harry Hughes, author of “The Bait Shack”

  Literarily speaking, the murder mystery genre has been excavated so thoroughly that one wonders how any author, emerging or seasoned, might find a way to put new spin on the unrepentant dastards who commit crimes, and the noir characters, some pensive and some quick with the snappy one-liners, who solve them. How do writers distinguish themselves in a seemingly saturated market?
  Ask Marta Stephens. With a website that highlights her own works http://www.martastephens-author.com, and another http://murderby4.blogspot.com, that welcomes new authors to her world of perps, molls and gumshoes. Marta knows how to put a fresh face on old caricatures. Her second novel, THE DEVIL CAN WAIT, proves that there still exists much yellow-taped, cordoned off territory to be explored.Detective Sam Harper, the protagonist in Stephens’s first novel (SILENCED CRY) of the Chandler Police Department in Massachusetts, is summoned out of bed on a freezing morning before sunrise to view a floater by the bay, the third tattooed teenaged male to wash ashore in as many weeks, each murdered by different means; bludgeoning, strangulation, and now this, a throat rendered open by what appears to be knife-play. Sure, there seems to be a link among the deaths but where are the clues? At this point, there are none.And so begins Harper’s search for a serial killer. This kind of assignment is routine stuff to him, but in no way is he prepared for the journey that leads to the crime’s resolution. And here is where THE DEVIL CAN WAIT parts company with other novels of this genus. From a small city in Massachusetts, we are suddenly transported to Mitu, an equatorial republic of Colombia, South America, where we are introduced to Alejandro, badly beaten as a consequence of skimming drugs from a dealer named Lorenzo. Alejandro’s mother, Anita Salas tends his wounds while he ponders her fate. She is wanted by the military for the alleged murder of three priests from a local church who regarded her as a witch and devil worshiper. More worrisome, is her possession of an inscribed, black pearl ring believed to be prophetic and that is coveted by Lorenzo the drug dealer . . . and others.
  The body count increases. We eventually meet Chandler Times reporter Jennifer Blake who receives a phone call from her former Professor of Anthropology, Gaylord Mittendorf. Apparently, he possesses some inside scoop about the origins of a certain black pearl ring in South America that is drawing attention of individuals not of the legitimate auction variety.
  Where does all of this lead us? To the Vatican and a mesmerizing, centuries-long history of a corrupt and perverse papacy tied to the black pearl ring and ultimately to the serial killer whose handiwork we were introduced to at the book’s start. Where is Sam Harper and how is he linking these seemingly disparate events to the story’s exciting closure? You will just have to be patient until THE DEVIL CAN WAIT is in your hands.Marta Stephens’s keen knowledge of forensics and her use of crisp dialogue and descriptive locales allow her to peek over the heads of other mystery writers in this overcrowded field. As Harper stands above the teenaged corpse, we can feel icy wind blowing over a snow-covered, New England beach. Alejandro struggles to sustain consciousness while a thug chauffeurs him through the jungle to his mother’s house, and we smell the jungle canopy steaming with rainfall and palpate our own face as Stephens describes Alejandro’s multiple head wounds. And finally, Sam Harper is not the caricature of a wise guy, fast-talking urbane dick but is instead a believable police detective rife with character flaws and a doggedly determined persona. THE DEVIL CAN WAIT is a perfectly paced, 5-star read from beginning to end. 11/14/08

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COMING SOON
Title: The Walk Home
Author: Wanda C. Keesey
Publisher: Wings ePress
ISBN:
Genre: Romantic Suspense

  The peace of Sara Benning's world is destroyed when two slave chasers named Fred and Buck descend on her home and kill her family in their search for runaway slaves. They take a freedman, Charles, prisoner and after doing their worst, go their way as if they've done nothing wrong.
Charles' wife, Hattie, saves Sara's life, and together they come up with a plan to find and free him. Sara also plans revenge for all she's lost.

  Talented author Wanda C. Keesey has crafted a tale that will make you want to cry, smile, and shake with terror as you join Sara and Hattie on their quest. Richmond, Virginia, is the heart of slave country and one of the states that joined the new Confederacy when the south declared its independence. War is sure to follow.
  Ms Keesey shows us the horror of slavery and its demeaning effect on both slave and owner. Her characters are so alive you'll either hate or love them, and long remember them.
  While this tale does have romantic touches, I'd also add it contains a tinge of horror also when Sara meets Buck and Fred. Who wouldn't be terrified for their lives by those two?
  A well-crafted, well-drawn story set in the South on the verge of our Civil War, this tale has a quality of realism not often found in fiction. One can share the very real emotions felt by these people, smell the sweat and horses, hear the slaves' cries of pain and share in their surges of joy as freedom drawn near. The dangers of the Underground Railroad are very well shown as people balance helping against their own safety in dangerous times.
  I'm pleased to highly recommend this book as a must read to anyone who enjoys history and a tale that could have happened. This book is and adventure in time as well. Enjoy. I sure did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 11/05/08

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World Enough and Time
by: Nancy S. Madison
ISBN: 1-59431-589-2 or 978-1-59431-589-3
publisher: Cambridge Books
genre: historical fiction/historical romance
where to purchase: www.cambridgebooks.us
price: $16.95 (paperback) $5.50 (e-book)

  World Enough and Time is a story that begins in a Union prison camp with Tom, an imprisoned Confederate soldier longing to return to Mattie, his love since childhood, in Galveston, Texas, so they can be married and raise a family. After the war, Tom, along with a friend, returns to Galveston where the perfidy of the friend, hidden internecine resentments and hatreds and the emigration of Mattie's parents and family to Brazil thward the path of true love and leave Tom in a Galveston jail. The adventures of Mattie and her family in Brazil, her subsequent return to Galveston with a son, and the experiences of Tom in Galveston have the reader eagerly turning pages to see what tragedy will befall the ill-fated couple next. The ending will surprise you. This is a great read--don't miss it! Review by John Robison 11/04/08

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Title: His Other Wife
Author: Margaret Blake
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
ISBN: 978-1-60313-354-8
Genre: Romance

  Imagine Saul Hetherington's surprise when he finds out his deceased brother Fabio left a woman the family didn't know a large sum of money. Imagine his further surprise when he learns who the woman is and maybe why the inheritance came to her. Of course Saul's mother objects to the other woman's rights, but is forced to abide by the will.
  Saul's trip to New Zealand doesn't confirm their suspicions that the woman is a gold digger. Far from it, he finds Roxie Rawson to be a hard working woman with a small son. And the explanation for the money becomes self evident.
  Roxie doesn't want the Hetherington money nor them in her life. She tells Saul to just leave her alone. He accedes to her wishes. But, as fate will have it, Roxie must make changes in her life and those changes take her to England and she learns she has settled near the hated family.
  It isn't long before Saul discovers Roxie is working and living near his home. His persistence and the boy's desire to know him better convinces Roxie to allow their relationship to grow. And against her will, she finds herself fighting to keep her own distance from Saul
 &nsp;Talented author Margaret Blake tells an interesting tale of two people from diverse backgrounds trying to work out their problems. There ae secrets on all sides and an ex wife who has designs on Saul added to the mix.
  A tale with warmth, laughter and shared pain that the reader will definitely experience. You will enjoy meeting the complex, very real characters. This is a romance that rises above the usual plot. For the reader who likes a little spice in their reading, the love scenes seem to be belong in the story, something that often isn't the case.
  I'm pleased to recommend this tale to any romance fan. Enjoy. I did.
Review by Anne K. Edwards 11/04/08

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