A Thousand Recipes for Revenge (Chefs of the Five Gods, #1) by Beth Cato

Cato's Writing is top knotch

Cato created a unique protagonist, a chef.  In addition she adds strange  magics and gods.  A young princess is to marry a younger prince to forge peace between their nations.  Complications begin to multiply.

Chacterizations were acquitted with aplomb, intricately laid out.

An outstanding book that I highly recommend!

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Dark Secrets by Aidan Lucid

Jared and Jessica are back and in trouble again.  This time something in Jessica’s families past threatens not only her well being but Jared’s and her families.  An angry soul/ghost is seeking revenge and a demon is seeking satanic redemption. 

Sounds pretty wild but Lucid does a good job in keeping the kids and other characters relatable.  There are situations where doing the right thing conflicts with familial concerns.

Take note that there are non-denominational religious references that are presented tastefully without evangelical overtones.  In other words, the fit the story.

I enjoyed the story and recommend it. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Alden and the trash truck trailer

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Alden And The Trash Truck by William G. Bentrim Now Available on Amazon

ALDEN AND THE TRASH TRUCK

Toddlers are often fascinated by vehicles.  Trucks and construction equipment are always popular gifts.   This story focuses on a little boy’s fascination with Gladys, a trash truck, and Mike its driver.   There is no overt message or moral.   It just celebrates the passion of children and their innate goodness.

Alden loves trucks but his favorite truck is Gladys.  Gladys and her driver, Mike, collect trash.   Alden becomes Mike’s hero when Alden jumps into action and demonstrates remarkably mature responsibility when faced with a crisis.

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The Ferryman by Justin Cronin Now Available Everywhere

 Proctor is a Ferryman.  He is a senior Ferryman whose duties are to take retirees to the ferry that goes to the Nursery.   When citizens reach the end of a self-acknowledged lifespan they return to the Nursery for rebirth.   Prospera is an idyllic paradise.

Proctor discovers that there may be a dark side to the beauty and wonders of his paradise.   This book takes a look at some interesting concepts of travel, sleep, dreams, and success.

It takes some very abrupt turns than make you rethink the entire plot.

I recommend it.

 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Nightborn: Coldfire Rising by C.S. Friedman

It has been a minute since I’ve read any C.S. Friedman.  This story takes place on a far distant planet where a colony ship that has gone awry deposits its occupants.  After reading the book, I recalled watching Forbidden Planet, a movie that came out in 1956.   The monster in the movie was created by a manifestation of Moibius's Id. I don’t know if Friedman is old enough to have seen the movie but there are some parallels between the book and the movie.   The colony finds the planet itself seems to be opposed to them settling there.   The immediate problems are resolved and the story jumps 600 years in the future and occupants of that time period are now the protagonists.

I enjoyed the book.  The concept of Earth Mother has been explored many times.   This iteration is entertaining and thought-provoking.

I look forward to the next book in the series. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned

Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid

If you are a romance reader and you want one with some unsavory aspects and some disturbing creatures, you will no doubt love this book.   Sadly I get hung up on romance books and let it color my overall appreciation of a story.   The last real wizard in Oblya lives with his three witchy daughters and exploits their powers.    

The daughters are rebellious.  Undine and Rose appear beautiful while Marlinchen is the ugly duckling who is unfairly selected to be her father’s servant.  The time and setting seem to be in a pre-industrial revolution in Russia with the move from large landholders to city industry.

Marlinchen discovers a love interest and things get complicated. 

The book abounds with lies, treachery, deceit, and love.

Romance readers should love it, me not so much. 

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases if you click on a purchasing link below.#CommissionsEarned