Fire Breathes Stone and Storm

Fire Breathes Stone and Storm: Book 1 of the Shell-Born Series by Teresa Hakaraia

Reviewed by Timea Barabas

Fire Breathes Stone and Storm is a gripping fantasy romance that captivates from the very first page. Teresa Hakaraia’s rich world-building and immersive storytelling create a cinematic reading experience that lingers long after the final chapter.  Purchase Here.

At the heart of the novel is a found family unlike any other. Sekya, Riva, Khala, and Lio are four misfits whose shared childhood in an orphanage forged an unbreakable bond. As they came of age, each eventually moved to the Silk House to earn a living. Their loyalty to one another gives the story its emotional core.

Sekya has spent her life learning how to go unnoticed, hiding behind the anonymity of the Silk House despite her striking appearance and quiet mystique. But one night, everything changes.   As she stands on a balcony with her found family, Queen Savara soars overhead in her Taniva form with Prince Kairon on her back. Then, time suddenly stops, Kairon and Sekya lock eyes, the space between them ablaze.

Following that encounter, something dormant within Sekya awakens. She begins experiencing mystical visions of the Shell and Prince Kairon; visions that are mysteriously shared. When an unexplained anomaly leaves the prince gravely injured beyond the healers’ abilities, Queen Savara becomes determined to find the enigmatic girl from his dreams. Driven by a mother’s desperation, she is willing to pursue any possibility that might save her son’s life.

When Sekya and her family are summoned to court, the queen discovers that each of the four possesses extraordinary abilities with the potential to either save or destroy Eretari. As they undergo rigorous testing and training, they are drawn into the service of the crown just as war darkens the horizon.

The first novel of the Shell-Born series weaves a smoldering tapestry of desire, myth, and power. Fire Breathes Stone and Storm is an immersive elemental fantasy for adult readers, blending rich world-building, compelling characters, and simmering romance. Teresa Hakaraia delivers a powerful series opener that promises even higher stakes in the books to come.

 

 

Buried in a Book

Buried in a Book by T. C. LoTempio

Reviewed by Teri Takle

One book is all it takes to bring out the worst in some people. Who could imagine that one simple ninety-two-page book would be the cause of robbery and murder?   Purchase Here.

So, what’s special about this book? The Compendium of Poe, Complete Works Plus Stories Adapted for the Screen, by Gil Sullivan, had a print run of fewer than 100 copies. However, this particular edition had one special feature: the actual autographs of horror movie stars, Vincent Price and Boris Karloff.

Charlotte (Charlie) James is a bookstore owner in Austin, Pennsylvania. She shares a building and a home with her best friend who owns the business next door, Zany’s Sweet Treats. She also has a hidden secret. While previously living in New York, she wrote mystery books under the pseudonym C. J. Barrett. It makes life interesting when customers ask for the newest book from their favorite author, and only you know the truth: you seem to have writer’s block and have not yet managed to continue the series.

As a bookstore owner, Charlie is delighted when a tour bus stops so its riders can make purchases. Strangely, though, a woman who doesn’t fit into the group also appears in the store, carrying a bag. She asks to use the restroom and disappears.

Later, after the commotion, Charlie’s black cat, Poe, is extremely interested in an area of her store. Charlie looks to see what has caught Poe’s attention and is surprised to find a shopping bag containing this rare book.

After doing a little detective work, Charlie discovers that the woman is spending the night at a local inn. She wants to return the book while also being extremely curious as to why anyone would hide anything in her store. Charlie has the misfortune to discover the dead body of the woman.

Buried in a Book by T. C. LoTempio is a delightful cozy mystery with a touch of romance and, most wonderfully, an unpredictable conclusion. The pacing is perfect: during the reading/listening process, the book kept drawing me back into the story. The characters are realistic and usually likable.

There is also the handsome detective who constantly reprimands Charlie while appreciating her investigative skills and obviously feeling a natural attraction.

The author Toni (T.C.) LoTempio has already published many cat-themed books in three different series: Nick and Nora Mysteries, A Cozy Bookshop Mystery (Buried in a Book is the second in this series), and Tiffany Austin Food Blogger Mysteries.

I received this book as an audiobook, which Christa Lewis magnificently narrated. She brilliantly became Charlie with the energy and perseverance of her character.

 

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The Matriarch Mission

The Matriarch Mission: A Mythic Historical Novel of Love, Sacrifice, and the Divine Feminine (Mystery of the Matriarchs Book 1) by Maxime Trencavel

Reviewed by Diana Coyle

Thirteen-year-old Oksana Mangupli is a Krymchak girl who has been taught that Duty, Honor, and Obedience mean everything to her family and their reputation in “The Matriarch Mission” by Maxime Trencavel. She is told that at her age, she should marry and carry on the responsibilities as all others have done before her. Unfortunately, Oksana has not conformed to what her family has told her and taught her to the present, which has caused her to be rejected by eight prospective husbands. Now being eighteen and unmarried, her family has dismissed her from their family because she is nothing but a disgrace to them. Until an officer arrives at their home, leading the family to fear she’s being reported for causing more trouble and bringing further disgrace upon them. Instead, it is a formal invitation to be an honored guest of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich. What happens when she meets the Grand Duke? Does her life change for the better or for the worse after the meeting?  Purchase Here.

Maxime Trencavel has penned another intense novel in The Mystery of the Matriarchs series. In this book, we meet Oksana Mangupli, who is thirteen years old and who must carry the weight of her family’s reputation on her shoulders. She has grown up knowing she was never the “chosen one” like her older sister, Kamila, was, so she now feels like she’s been thrown to the wolves, so to speak, to carry out the strict upbringing of Duty, Honor, and Obedience to her family at all times. Each page allows readers to see layer upon layer of Oksana’s development over the years and how, during that time, she has disgraced her family by losing eight prospective husbands. You see her age a few years, you see her question her fate in life, and her true calling of who she is meant to be as the next “chosen one.”

Although Oksana is the main focus character in “The Matriarch Mission,” the supporting characters play such a vital role in not only Oksana’s development as a character, but also the intricate development of this entertaining storyline. Each character has their place in the storyline, which unfolds perfectly for readers to enjoy. You cheer Oksana on at times and equally feel disappointed when fate takes unexpected turns for her throughout the years.

The author writes with such detailed authenticity, not only in this book, but in the other books in the series. He presents rich descriptions of the characters and the places mentioned in the stories, and even maps out intricate storylines centered on historical moments. It is apparent that his deep love of history shines throughout the pages of each book in the series, and in doing so, he transports the readers to a time and place they never thought they would travel to before opening his books.

I loved Oksana because I felt her vulnerability throughout the story at different stages of her life. She was so believable; I felt she was a real person I was getting to know. Trencavel crafted her in such a unique fashion that I found myself enjoying the streak of rebellion that she displayed so easily throughout the pages. He even threw in dark humor, from time to time, that I enjoyed and didn’t expect.

Overall, The Matriarch Mission by Maxime Trencavel is a wonderful prequel to The Mystery of the Matriarchs series. It’s the perfect entry point if you’re just discovering these books—but if you’re like me and reading it after the main story, that works beautifully too.

This installment gives you a deeper understanding of the “chosen ones,” setting the stage for everything that follows. Each book builds naturally on the last, letting you savor the stories individually while also appreciating how they connect as a whole.

It’s an engaging, well‑crafted read, and I highly recommend it.

 

 

 

Devil's Tango

The Third Estate: Devil’s Tango by D.R. Berlin

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

Early in The Third Estate: Devil’s Tango, there’s a blunt line — “Men like Manning die after they open the wrong door.” It tells you immediately what kind of world you’re walking into: dangerous, rigid, and unforgiving. The scene that follows is quiet but tense as two Guild members go over Manning’s funeral and what they suspect about his killer.  Vale, a Guild operative, thinks Manning agreed to investigate something he should have declined. Meanwhile, Shorty, his colleague, believes that this might have led to Manning’s death. Their conversation is quickly followed by the arrival of Lovac, a Guild assassin who not only has a legendary reputation but also a long-standing contract on his head. He is seeking information concerning why the Assassin’s Guild broke its most sacred rule – never to assassinate any of their members. But at the altar, Manning’s wife reveals something to him that drastically transforms his vague hunt for truth into a targeted, urgent mission.  Purchase Here.

The novel simultaneously focuses on Sophie Allard, a former fighter pilot reassigned to a medical school after disobeying a direct order during a rescue operation. She now works as a medical student at a Level I Trauma center. It is not business as usual the day when a seventy-year-old male, a John Doe 109, is brought into the ER with a gunshot to the abdomen, accompanied by a woman who is “dry-eyed and still.” As the team prepares to treat him, he opens his eyes, grabs the front of Sophie’s protective yellow gown, dragging her closer, and whispers something into her ear before falling back stiff on the bed. Sophie stands frozen, her mind racing, totally unaware that by listening to his dying words, she has just stepped into a deep web of conspiracy. She has also become a key to a secret that very powerful people will do anything to protect.

As a fan of mystery fiction, I appreciated how Berlin, a U.S. Army veteran and General Surgeon, drew me in with intrigue and tension by initially hiding the identity of the main character. On the first line, she asks if “he’ll have the nerve to show,” which made me wonder who “he” was and why he wouldn’t show.  She adds another layer of suspense by using the metaphor of a “ledger written in secrets and blood.” The metaphor sets the tone — turning the world into one where people feel like participants in a dangerous game or future entries in that ledger. Throughout the book, she revealed the characters through their actions, letting their behavior speak for them, which made them feel real and layered — like when Lovac tightened his jaw at the funeral, showing that behind the cold assassin was a man who could feel grief and whose quest for the truth. was deeply personal.  Also, through Sophie’s failure to pull away from her patient, instead choosing to lean in and listen, Berlin allowed me to see how compassionate she was, a quality that would throughout the plot drive her character arc.

This book’s characters were not one-dimensional; instead, they had conflicting loyalties, hidden motives, and emotional depth. Because of her approach, Berlin presented characters whose flaws made me hesitate, even as I kept rooting for them.  Her concise writing made me feel the weight of every word, as was the case in Vale’s case of “posture easy, eyes not,” a few words that told me everything about his character without much exposition.  The plot made it clear I was in for something breathless, unsettling, and utterly gripping — and it lived up to that promise.

 

A Neighbor's Guide to Murder

A Neigbor’s Guide to Murder by Louise Candlish

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

In “In A Neighbor’s Guide to Murder”, Louise Candlish delivers a tense, quietly unnerving psychological thriller set inside the exclusive Colombia Mansions in London. The story is filtered through the sharp, suspicious gaze of Gwen Healy, an older resident who notices everything that happens in the building. When a new subletter—a young woman named Pixie—moves into her neighbor Alec’s flat, Gwen is immediately intrigued. Pixie comes across as warm and friendly, but something about her doesn’t sit quite right, and Gwen’s curiosity nudges her into striking up a friendship and asking a few discreet questions. It doesn’t take long before her attention shifts to Alec himself, the leaseholder who brought Pixie in under the government’s Lease a Room Scheme. Gwen eventually discovers that Alec secured Pixie as a tenant only after misleading another prospective lodger, telling them at the last minute that the room was needed for his niece instead.

Soon enough, Gwen notices something odd through Alec’s apartment door, which he leaves open when attending to a delivery. Pixie is right there, barely dressed, lifting her arms high over her head in a long stretch.  The sight makes Gwen’s blood run cold at the thought that the two might be involved, especially since Pixie is young enough to be his daughter. Gwen has always seen herself as a defender for underdogs and victims, someone who will step in if she suspects mistreatment, and this suspicion triggers that instinct in her. Before long, she learns again that Pixie’s agreement with Alec is nothing close to what she had imagined it would be. She also gathers that Pixie, like many others out there who don’t have parents with spare rooms, had no other options. At this point, Gwen decides to do the unthinkable: call Alec out directly. But when that doesn’t work, after he tries blackmailing her with secrets from her own past, she decides to become a sleuth determined to uncover just how far dark he may have become. But little does she know that by doing this, she will stop being a defender and slip into something worse.

This novel covers significant themes that resonate far beyond the walls of Columbia Mansions. Among them is mental health, which weaves through the chapters in a quiet way, showing how vulnerability leaves people exposed to those who purport to help them, and fraud, which appears not just as a financial crime but as a deeper betrayal of trust, a violation that leaves victims questioning their own judgment. The novel also explores a darker kind of manipulation; one directed at people who have nowhere else to go. Through Pixie, readers see how holding onto a dream can make a person view such exploitation as just another bump on the road, something that will clear soon, but instead accumulates into something far worse. And underneath it all lies the thread of secret spying, another violation that reflects real struggles happening in cities everywhere, where the vulnerable have no voice but tears, and are too often left to fend for themselves. Here, a question arises, one I could not shake long after finishing the book- is it still a dream if it demands everything you and gives nothing back?

As a thriller fan, I really loved how this book’s pacing kept the tension humming. Surprisingly, there’s room for dark humor in unexpected places, such as using a newly replaced knee to carry out a certain kind of justice. This book delivers what its title promises- the secrets we keep from our neighbors and the dangers lurking behind closed doors. It is a reminder that evil does not always announce itself and that the chains that bind us are not always made of metal. Readers who prefer thrillers that break their hearts a little before putting them back together will definitely want to pick up “A Neighbor’s Guide to Murder.”

 

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The Kings of Vegas

The Kings of Vegas by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

In “The Kings of Vegas” by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman, Josie King is summoned home after her father’s death for the family reading of the will. Her father, Roy King, is among the few men who came into town with nothing, before rising from a mere idea straight into the American Dream. Upon reaching her father’s ranch, where everyone else is gathering, Josie learns that her father requires any sibling who is not a Nevada resident to become one, and anyone living outside of Las Vegas to move back. Also, he needs them to work together for three years at his famous casino, the Jackpot. Anyone who contests the will gets nothing under the attached “in terrorem” clause.  Purchase Here.

The book brings the reader into the Jackpot, a setting that feels like a character in its own right. It is where the character’s emotions, predicament, and worries take a name. Most outstanding is Josie, whose instincts, trained from a young age, tell us that all is not well beneath the forced smiles of family reunion and the veneer of wealth and success that her father spent a lifetime building. The story involves a union crisis that threatens to tear the establishment apart, a lover who turns out to be next-door competition, and an FBI agent who plants early doubts in Josie about her brother, who runs the business. A lot is thrown at the reader, leaving them to wonder whom to trust and who is telling the truth as various factors arise, threatening an already cracked household.

The story incorporates vivid imagery like “Red-tailed hawks circling their prey screeching like a coven of witches,” as well as gambling language- “a hot hand,” “blowing on dice,” when not referring to the game itself, making the conversations feel like a bet and a high-stakes gamble. Each chapter drops either a new revelation or another rumor, and every one of them leaves a mark the Las Vegas sun can’t quite bleach out. As the story progresses, the tension tightens into a web of suspicion, with small doubts slipping in until everyone ends up caught in it. Instead of offering easy answers, it keeps handing you more uncertainty, until the truth starts to feel like just another lie waiting to surface.

And so, “The Kings of Vegas” by Karen Mack and Jennifer Kaufman will resonate with any reader who enjoys questioning every character’s motives and piecing together a puzzle whose pieces keep changing shape. It is a great slow-burn mystery with morally-complex characters and a family drama that refuses to tie itself up in a neat bow.

 

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The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted House

The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted House by Jan Berenstain and Mike Berenstain

Reviewed by Nancy Eaton

The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted House is a classic Bear Country story that’s spooky, silly, and comforting. It captures the fun of Halloween without becoming too scary for young readers, which is why it’s so effective.  Purchase Here.

Brother and Sister Bear explore a creepy old house filled with cobwebs, shadows, and classic haunted details. True to the Berenstain Bears vibe, the suspense never gets too intense. The “haunted” house is really just a backdrop for teaching kids that being scared usually comes from not knowing what’s going on, and that once you look a little closer, those fears can turn into something enjoyable.

The illustrations by Stan and Jan are expressive and detailed, with many small visual jokes for kids who like to look closely at each page. The spooky parts are drawn playfully, so even sensitive readers can enjoy the story without feeling scared.

The pacing is really what gives this story its charm. It creates just the right amount of suspense to keep everyone interested, and then it all ends on a good note.   It’s a great pick for autumn, but honestly, it fits any time of year if your kid enjoys a soft, spooky story.

Basically, it’s a warm, mildly spooky story that delivers the classic Berenstain Bears mix—soft life lessons, comforting family time, and a kid‑friendly way to talk about fear and bravery.

This book is recommended for ages 4-8.

 

 

 

 

Kauai Spies and Bald-faced Lies

Kauai Spies and Bald-faced Lies by Larry and Rosemary Mild

Reviewed by Lorena Padureanu

Larry and Rosemary’s book is such a wonderful discovery. Blending mystery, thriller, and espionage around a warm core of family and human connection, Kauai Spies and Bald-faced Lies completely draws you in from the first page to the last.  Purchase Here.

The novel opens in 1996 Russia, where Max and Anya Volkov are left without a home or a future after a brutal antisemitic attack, with no choice but to emigrate to America alongside their closest family. Over the span of years, we follow their journey, from fleeing a homeland that had nothing left to offer them to slowly, painstakingly building a new life in a place completely foreign to them.

After learning about the Volkov’s family history, the narrative shifts to the year 2006 and to Kent Brukner, former spy turned Honolulu attorney, whose quiet daily rhythm is disrupted when a mysterious new client draws him into a dangerous case filled with hidden agendas. What begins as a legal dispute over a stretch of land bordering a U.S. military missile range quickly spirals into something far darker — a web of secrets, espionage, kidnapping, and gunfire that tightens with every chapter.

Throughout the novel, we follow Kent as the case pulls him deeper at every turn, all the while becoming increasingly involved in the Volkovs’ unfolding fate in ways none of them could have anticipated.

As the tension and dangers deepen, eventually reaching into Kent’s own home and threatening those he loves most, his former spy instincts are tested to their limits, as the truth proves harder to reach than he ever expected.

Beyond the gripping mystery and nerve-racking suspense, what sets this book apart is the human warmth that runs through it. At the core of every challenge, every danger, and every difficult choice stands the sustaining force of family, friendship, and human connection. It is these bonds, between husband and wife, between sisters, between unlikely allies, that give the characters the strength to endure, to grow, and to find their way through.

The Volkov family stands as the novel’s most powerful example of togetherness in both joy and hardship. From the moment they are driven from their home in Russia, Max and Anya face every obstacle as one. Watching them navigate a new country and a new life, always side by side, is one of the most quietly moving threads in the entire book.

Kent’s home life is one of the novel’s other treasures. His marriage to Katcha feels completely genuine – a partnership of equals, full of mutual devotion and trust. When a colleague is invited into their home and glimpses the warm family life, she finds herself wondering, with a pang of envy, whether she will ever be that lucky.

Larry and Rosemary Mild’s own partnership shines through the characters and the relationships they have built — loyal, generous, honest, and real. Characters lean on one another across distance, difference, and danger, and those bonds prove as vital to survival as any act of courage.

Kauai Spies and Bald-faced Lies delivers on every front: the plot keeps you invested, the characters keep you caring, and the ending brings both threads together in a deeply satisfying way.

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Advent

Advent Blue by Roland Allnach

Reviewed by Timea Barabas

Roland Allnach’s Advent Blue is not a pleasant read in the traditional sense. If you are looking for a cozy book to curl up with before bed, this isn’t it. This is a book for readers who are willing to step outside their emotional and mental comfort zones and engage with something unsettling. Set against a backdrop of severe overpopulation on Earth and a blooming Mars colony, mankind is torn between implosion and expansion.  Purchase Here.

At first glance, Will Fortner appears unassuming. He dresses casually and does not seek to stand out from the crowd. Yet beneath this seemingly ordinary exterior lies a remarkable depth and complexity. Will’s bold perspective and strategic mindset are among the qualities that make him exceptionally effective in his work. He is willing to look directly at truths from which others turn away.

Will works as a map navigator at the Choice Institute, where he helps clients make informed decisions based on potential outcomes. The map contains a multitude of realities, each branching from the choices a person might make. Drawing on his expertise, Will interprets the complex data set and offers his perspective on which path may lead to the most desirable outcome. Ultimately, however, the choice remains with the client.

Throughout the novel, Roland Allnach explores the tension between fate and destiny. Fate is a self-fulfilling force that ultimately becomes self-defeating. Destiny, by contrast, remains an open question, shaped by the choices we make and the paths we choose to follow.

When Will is offered the promotion he has long aspired to, triple-A level, he finds himself questioning whether this opportunity is the result of fate or destiny. Regardless, he accepts the position. As he steps into his new role, however, a third and more unsettling force begins to emerge: manipulation.

By accepting the promotion, Will gains access to the deeper mechanics of the Map, as well as a clearer view of the Institute’s layered architecture. With this expanded role comes a heavier burden of responsibility. However, this is partially eased by the introduction of a mandated companion, Mirai Redwater.

Their partnership becomes an anchor to Will’s experience of his new position. As they work together, the evolving dynamic between them reveals unexpected emotional depth in Will. Together, they bleed out the past as they chart a future.

Advent Blue stands out as a psychological thriller set within an unsettlingly familiar sci-fi framework. Roland Allnach demonstrates a sharp ability to elicit strong reactions from his readers, surfacing buried emotions, raising difficult questions, and sparking thought-provoking discussions long after the final page. Do you accept the challenge?