Tag Archives: Vickie

The Offside Rule (Dallas Blaze 1) by RC Stephens-review

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đź©·The Offside Rule (Dallas Blaze 1) by RC Stephens-reviewđź©·

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 29, 2026

Working with the Dallas Blaze is supposed to prove I belong in sports medicine.

Not because I’m Coach Davis’s daughter. Because I earned it.

The problem is Hunter Russell. Single dad. Captain. Tattooed, broody, and my father’s close friend.

He’s nine years older, completely off-limits and way too good at pretending he doesn’t want me.

Too bad I’m done pretending I don’t want him.

Getting involved with Hunter could ruin my future with the team.

Sneaking around with him could ruin a whole lot more.

But the more he touches me behind closed doors, the less it feels like a mistake. And the more I want the one thing he’s too scared to give me.

All of him.

••••••

REVIEW:The Offside Rule begins with CC (Catherine Celia) Davis moving back to Dallas with her parents after having her heart broken. She majored in sports medicine and applied for an internship with the local pro hockey team that her father coaches and is determined to show everyone she has what it takes to be a doctor (following in her mother’s footsteps) and didn’t get the job because of who she is related to. CC has been around hockey her entire life, her father having been a professional hockey player who transitioned to coaching. She has two younger siblings, Mila and Jaden, whom she has missed since she has been in college, and wants to spend time with them before medical school starts.

Mila’s best friend, Isla, is the daughter of Hunter Russell, who happens to be the captain of Dallas team. Hunter also happens to be someone CC has had a crush on most of her life. Isla loves spending time with CC and Mila and their entire family. Hunter has made it his life’s mission to make sure that Isla knows that she will always come first with him and he has done an excellent job of that.

CC goes to a pool party at her parents’ ranch and does not expect seeing Hunter to have the effect on her that it does. After her heartbreak, the last thing she thought she wanted was another man, let alone someone who is older and a good friend of her father’s. She has been told her whole life that being in a relationship with a professional sports star is hard and she deserves better. She never expected that Hunter finding her in a compromising position in the pool house would change both of their lives forever.

As both navigate their growing feelings for each other, with Hunter fighting it at every turn and CC wanting to keep it a secret, they end up hurting each other without either of them understanding why. Thankfully, they figured it out.

The Offside Rule is a nicely written story that pulls you in on the very first page. CC is a woman on a mission and will not stop trying to get what her heart wants. Hunter’s backstory is heartbreaking and makes you understand why he made the decisions he made. Do you agree with some of those decisions when it comes to CC? No. But when he figures out what he wants, you root for them both. Their chemistry is off the charts! The secondary characters are beautifully written and leave you wanting their stories too. I loved CC’s father and mother and their reactions when they discover what is going on. The teammates and extended family are overwhelming in the absolute best way. Well done, R.C. Stephens! Very, very well done!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie

 

Meet R.C. Stephens:

R.C. Stephens writes the kind of stories that make you laugh, cry, and believe in love all over again.

A Top 100 Amazon bestselling author, she crafts emotional, heartfelt romances full of humor, heat, and happily ever afters.

When she’s not writing, she’s probably wrangling her three kids, sneaking in a coffee date with her husband, or walking her lovable goldendoodle, who’s always by her side during late-night writing sessions.

A proud Toronto native, she loves cozy winters—but it’s the colors of fall and the first bloom of spring that truly inspire her.

Connect with R.C. Stephens:

https://www.instagram.com/rc_stephens_author/

 

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Falling For You (The Falling Series 1) by Natasha Madison-review

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Falling For You (The Falling Series 1) by Natasha Madison-review tour

Buy Link:

https://www.natashamadisonauthor.com/falling-for-you

Available in KU

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 14, 2026

Theo Williams loved and lost once and isn’t interested in doing it again. He has his family and friends, and plenty of women passing through his new hometown who are happy with a no-strings-attached night of passion. Working as a partner at his cousin’s construction company, he’s perfectly content with his life—until he meets Collins Henderson, the one-night stand who will change his world forever.

Collins grew up on the wrong side of her small hometown. Thanks to her parents’ shady schemes, every local knows a Henderson cannot be trusted. She works hard as a paramedic, putting in every extra hour she can to save for a better life. But every time she starts to get ahead, her parents show up to pull her back down. Having one night of passion with a man she doesn’t know is not something she’d normally do, but there was just something about him … And two months later, she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant.

When she runs into the mysterious stranger again, she has to tell him, not because she needs or wants anything from him, just so he knows. But now he’s showing up at her house, cooking her meals, stocking her refrigerator, and doing everything he can for her. Collins has always taken care of herself. She wasn’t looking for a relationship, but she can’t deny the chemistry between them.

She knows it’s only a matter of time before he learns who she is and changes his mind. She can’t let herself fall for this guy, but every day he’s getting harder to resist …

•••••••

REVIEW: Falling for You begins with Collins Henderson heading home after a long shift as an EMT. When she hears the dreaded “thumping”, she realizes she has a flat. She pulls off on the side of the road and was reeeeeally hoping she had everything she needed to change a flat, not that she really knew how to do that. She was googling how to accomplish the task at hand when a truck stopped and rolled down the window. The man driving asked if she needed help, which drew her up short. After asking if he was a murderer and working that idea through, she finally accepts Theo Williams’ offer. Once they were finished, he followed Collins home to make sure she made it safely, only to have a night that would change both of their lives forever.

Theo, who co-owns a construction company with his cousin, Caleb, arrives at their offices to catch up on what he’s missed in the last few weeks, having been out of town. Once decisions are made on assignments, their administrative assistant gives Theo a hard time and places a bet that he’ll have a date by Friday night seeing as he is known for his one-night stands.

Theo stops by a potential job site at a police officer’s home when the officer gets a call and has to leave, while telling Theo that shots had been fired at Caleb’s home. Theo arrives at the house just after the officers and ambulance arrive. Caleb’s girlfriend, Sierra, had been shot.

Collins arrives at the scene with her partner. As they are taking Sierra to the ambulance for transport, the last person she expected to see was her one-night stand from nine weeks earlier. Theo is shocked as well. They didn’t know each other before the night he came to her rescue, and he had no idea how to find her. Once they are at the hospital, Theo finds Collins and tries to speak to her about that “night”. She tells him that they do need to talk but not at the hospital. They agreed to meet later for coffee.

Collins knows she has to talk to Theo, but having grown up with notorious parents, she knows she’s the town pariah due to her parents’ preying on the residents. People clutch their purses a little tighter when she walks by, avert their eyes. She can only imagine Theo’s reaction to the news she will be sharing with him, but makes it perfectly clear she expects nothing from him. Best laid plans and all………………

Falling for You is a nicely written story. Both Theo and Collins’ backstories add depth to the characters, especially Collins’. The shame with which she has grown up with will break your heart. Her strength of character will make your heart smile. The secondary characters were well written and added another level to the story. I have to admit though that we never find out why Sierra was shot and I found that a little offputting and left a huge hold in the story. Other than that, I really enjoyed it. Falling for You is ultimately a story of standing up for yourself, dropping your defenses and seeing just how much you are loved. Well done, Natasha Madison!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie

Meet Natasha Madison:

When her nose isn’t buried in a book, or her fingers flying across a keyboard writing, she’s in the kitchen creating gourmet meals. You can find her, in four inch heels no less, in the car chauffeuring kids, or possibly with her husband scheduling his business trips. It’s a good thing her characters do what she says, because even her Labrador doesn’t listen to her…

 

Connect with Natasha Madison:

https://linktr.ee/natashamauthor

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Nantucket Second Chances by Pamela Kelley-review

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Nantucket Second Chances by Pamela Kelley-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date. June 9, 2026

She doesn’t have a job–but she does have a closet full of designer bags and shoes…

Claire Shipman never imagined she’d be the single mom of a teenager, going through a contentious divorce, and unexpectedly pregnant. On the bright side, at least she’s on Nantucket, where she grew up, and where her mother and grandmother welcome her home with open arms.

For years, Claire lived an enviable Manhattan lifestyle. Until her ex had a marriage-ending affair and then reveals he lost his job and all their money.

Claire’s high school friends invite her to their book club and an off-hand joke that she could sell one of her Hermes bags sparks a business idea.

Her friend’s brother, Cody, is a furniture builder with a spare storefront. He’s initially skeptical about the prospects of a ‘used handbag shop’.

But Claire is determined. With the support of Lily, her mother, grandmother, old friends and new, she begins to build a true second chance at a new life.

••••••

REVIEW:I loved this book so much!

Nantucket Second Chances begins with Claire meeting up with her best friend, Rachel, once she arrives at her mother’s home on Nantucket. She and Rachel have been besties their whole lives while growing up on Nantucket. Claire had never needed Rachel more…………..

Claire proceeds to tell Rachel that she had been preparing for a dinner party at her and Ellis’ home in New York City, which they did often, hosting a lot of her husband’s clients, only to discover that she was pregnant. Claire had not thought she could conceive again so was caught between excitement and nervousness. She had planned to tell her husband after the party only for him to tell her he had some news of his own: he thought they should consider divorce. Shocked, Claire asked if there was someone else and he confirmed there was…..and they just found out that his new girlfriend was pregnant. Claire then informed him that she was pregnant as well. Which is how she finds herself at her mom’s house on Nantucket without her teenage daughter, Lily, who had wanted to try and finish out the school year in New York City.

It does not take long for things with Ellis to worsen. He informed Claire that he had lost his job, and all their money, but that he would do right by her, Lily, and the baby. Lily decides she is done with her dad and NYC and joins her mother on Nantucket and enrolls in school there.

Claire has not worked in several years and knows she needs to do something that will help her and Lily financially and decides to open a high-end consignment shop to sell some of her designer bags. She speaks to a friend’s brother, Cody, and eventually works out a deal to rent part of his building to give her business a go.

As Claire and Lily map out their new normal, they both find themselves happy on Nantucket. Claire’s growing friendships, especially with Cody, make her feel more and more at home. Lily is making friends faster than she ever thought she could and loves where she is.

However, on one of Lily’s first visits to her dad’s in the city, she hears things that do not make sense. Once she shares them with her mom, Claire discusses them with her attorney. Seems the attorney’s idea of a forensic audit on their finances was warranted after all. Once all becomes known, Claire does, indeed, get a Nantucket second chance.

Nantucket Second Chances is a wonderfully written story by Pamela Kelly. The world building was amazing as were the depths of the secondary characters. It has not been often for me in the last few years to read a book that pulled me in from the very first sentence. This one did. What an amazing story of perseverance and dogged determination to build the life you want and deserve. Well done, Pamela Kelly! Very, very well done!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie

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Meant For You (Honeybrook Hollow 4) by Nora Everly-review

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Meant For You (Honeybrook Hollow 4) by Nora Everly-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 10, 2026

A cozy, emotional small-town romance about choosing love, building family, and discovering that some people are meant for you.

Eliza Darlington is doing her best to keep her distance—from her meddling family, her messy past, and especially from the sunshine single dad who keeps showing up at her coffee hut with sweet smiles and steamy glances.

Nate Winters has his hands full running Honeybrook Hollow’s favorite diner and raising his daughter. Falling for Eliza? Not part of the plan. But the more time they spend together—cooking, flirting, and maybe falling in love—the harder it is to stay away.

When her secret ex shows up to open a rival restaurant, the town’s annual food festival turns into more than just a culinary competition. Eliza must choose between protecting the people she loves… and finally fighting for the future she wants.

Filled with cozy charm, slow-burn kisses, and one determined four-year-old, Meant for You is a feel-good romance about second chances, small-town secrets, and the kind of love that feels like home.

••••

REVIEW:Meant for You begins with Nate and his daughter, Tilly and her faithful companion Lois (their chocolate lab) freshly moved into his grandparents’ home in Honeybrook Hollow. Nate had spent a lot of time with his grandparents there and it felt more like home than anywhere else. Having been an attorney in Portland, he made the decision to move to Honeybrook Hollow and run the Pennywhistle Pantry diner when his grandparents decided to retire. The move would allow his grandparents to enjoy their retirement and allow Nate to spend more time with Tilly.

Eliza moved back to Honeybrook Hollow to escape a one-sided relationship that not only left her devastated but also left her doubting herself and her dream of being a successful chef. Her family was there, even though she held herself slightly out of their inner circle. Eliza’s grandmother had decided to step back from the Coffee Barn to let Eliza run it, allowing her time to enjoy her golden years. As she is working, Nate, Tilly and Lois come by for hot chocolate, which Tilly swears is the best ever. Eliza had vowed she was done with relationships but finds herself thinking more and more about Nate and his adorable daughter.

Their attraction is mutual but they both keep fighting it, Eliza more so than Nate. When the town “golden boy” comes back to town to open a fancy schmancy restaurant, it does not take long for Eliza’s old feelings of inadequacy to rear its ugly head, but Nate is having none of it. Neither is Eliza’s family.

Meant For You is a beautifully written story. The main characters pull you in immediately and do not let go. Their chemistry is immediate and palpable. Add Tilly and the loyal Lois to the mix and you have a perfect story. The secondary characters are amazing. Nate and Eliza’s grandparents are a hoot! Eliza’s sisters circle the wagons when they figure out why Eliza has been so introverted since she came back to town and let’s just say, everyone would want a support system like that! Meant for You is a story of finding one’s self and finally believing you are worthy. Such a sweet, sweet story! Well done, Nora Everly! Very very well done!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie K

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The Salamander (The Dawn of America 2) by Regan Walker-review

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The Salamander (The Dawn of America 2) by Regan Walker-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 5, 2026

Even the enemy whispered his name…

Captain Jonathan Haraden’s coldblooded courage earned him the nickname “the Salamander”. Like the creature of old, his crew believed him immune to the fires of battle. At the Revolution’s outbreak, he joined the militia guarding the seacoast, yet his true calling lay on the open sea, and it soon drew him into the fledgling Massachusetts Navy.

A dashing sea captain, tall and handsome, Jon captured hearts as easily as he captured ships, but his own belonged to Hannah, his young wife he lost to fever as the Revolution began. Devastated, he sets sail with a vengeance, entrusting his young daughters to Eunice Mason, a preacher’s daughter and young widow whose quiet strength steadies his home.

Commanding the Tyrannicide, Jon seizes British prizes and vital dispatches for General Washington. But chafing at the state’s inefficiencies and hungry for greater freedom, he accepts command of the privateer General Pickering, backed by Salem merchants who hail his daring and skill. Adored by his crew and feared by the enemy, Jon soon becomes a legend, capturing ships with unmatched audacity. Yet he wonders if he will ever find room in his heart for love again — or will the sea be his only mistress?

••••

REVIEW: The Salamander begins with the burial of Jonathan Haraden’s wife on a foggy morning in June 1776. Afterwards, they gather in the Haraden home where people offer their condolences. When asked what his plans were for the future, Jonathan tells them he has decided to serve aboard the Tyrannicide as First Lieutenant under Captain John Fisk.

At the recommendation of the reverend’s wife, Jonathan decides to hire her daughter, Eunice Mason, as governess for his two daughters: Hannah, seven years old and Polly, nine months old. Eunice lost her husband a year prior and needs a purpose in her life and agrees to care for the two little girls. Along with Martha, the cook, and Silas, the “man of all work,” Eunice settles into her new life.

Once Jonathan sets sail, he more than proves he is where he is meant to be as they seize British ships who are supplying the British forces in the colonies. Being at sea is something that fills Jonathan’s being with purpose and means he is away from home for longer and longer periods of time. He misses his girls and cherishes his time at home, and eventually he starts missing Eunice.

Having grown resentful of the constraints placed on him by the government, Jonathan makes the decision to become a privateer. As he sails the seas seizing British ships, his reputation grows. He shows unflinching bravery and courage under fire which earns his nickname, the salamander. His crew looks to him for leadership and will follow him anywhere.

As time passes, Eunice has become an integral part of the household and her young charges’ lives. She also finds herself longing for something more when her thoughts drift to Jonathan. With Jonathan being gone for longer stretches of time, she is steadfast in her faith that he will return home. However, when word of his capture reaches home, her faith, and Jonathan’s, is tested as never before.

Walker has once again woven an exquisite tale that pulls you in from the very first word. The characters are endearing and very beautifully written. Even though this is a work of fiction, many of the characters are real. Jonathan and Eunice develop a chemistry that warms your heart as the story follows them both through these turbulent times. Whether you are reading a scene at sea or in the Haraden home, you feel as if you are there with them and can smell the salt in the air or the fire in the hearth. The secondary characters add layers to the story that leave you feeling as you know them. Especially Martha and Silas. As always, Walker’s world building is second to none and leaves you wanting more. If you are a fan of the genre, you will never go wrong with one of her tales! Well done, Regan Walker! Very, very well done!

Click HERE for Vickie’s review of THE IRISH YANKEE

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie

Website   Blog   Facebook   Amazon Author Page   Goodreads

Regan Walker is an award-winning, #1 Amazon bestselling author of Regency, Georgian and Medieval novels that are historically authentic.

Among the awards she has won are the Gold Medal in the Readers Choice Book Awards, the Gold Medal in the Illumination Awards, 1st place in the Chaucer Awards, the International Book Award for Romance Fiction, the San Diego Book Award for Best Historical Romance, the President’s Book Awards of The Florida Authors & Publishers Association, the RONE Award for Best Medieval Novel (twice) and the Kindle Book Award.

You can sign up for her newsletter on her website and get the “Reader Extras” there, too. Regan loves to hear from her readers.

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The Irish Yankee (The Dawn of America 1) by Regan Walker-review

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The Irish Yankee (The Dawn of America 1) by Regan Walker-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 3, 2025

In June 1775, amid the Revolutionary War’s early stirrings, Irish Yankee Jeremiah O’Brien, seizes a British armed schooner off the Maine coast to thwart the cargo of lumber she was escorting from reaching British forces in Boston. Inspired by this daring victory, Jeremiah abandons his lumber business to command privateer vessels, relentlessly pursuing British merchant ships across dangerous waters.

Defying the British navy’s tightening grip on the Massachusetts coast, he risks his life and his ships to capture many prizes. Yet his greatest battle may lay onshore: winning the heart of Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, a fiercely independent woman who loves the freedom he fights for. Only a man worthy of the title “the hero of the Lexington of the Sea” could earn her love and prove himself worthy of her strength.

••••••

REVIEW: The Irish Yankee begins in May 1775 with a group of men meeting at a local tavern to discuss news that had reached them from Boston saying, “American blood had been spilled by the redcoats at Lexington and Concord”. Though they lived in Machias, Maine (a Colony of Massachusetts), they all feared that with the British crossing the ocean, it would only be a matter of time before chaos reigned up and down the coast. Lead by Jeremiah O’Brien, the men discussed what needed to be done to ensure the safety of all residing in Machias, including trying to stop the British Navy from blockading ports along the coast.

A meeting, called to order by Reverend Lyon, was held the next day in which the entirety of Machias was invited to share the information gathered and to discuss their plans. Once the meeting was over, the residents were all gathered outside to watch Jeremiah and the others raise a liberty pole that would symbolize their independence, vowing to fight the British.

In attendance was Elizabeth “Lizzy” Fitzpatrick. She and her family were new to Machias. Her mother had died, and their father made the decision to move Lizzy and her younger sister and brother to Machias. Once Jeremiah and Lizzy meet, Jeremiah’s interest is piqued and then offers to show her and her siblings around the next day. It does not take long for Jeremiah and Lizzy to become smitten with each other.

With war looming, it does not take long for a British captain to make his way to Machias. It also does not take long for things to go awry. Jeremiah, having been given command of a ship, seizes the British captain’s ship and the captain himself and his men.

Jeremiah soon finds himself, along with a few others, taking the captured officers to Cambridge to be handed off to General George Washington. Once they arrive, the are welcomed by the General and discussions are had about their plight. It is eventually decided that Jeremiah and his men will have official titles that will make them members of Washington’s navy.

While Lizzy waits for Jeremiah’s return, she cannot help but worry and soon finds herself falling for Jeremiah. When Jeremiah and she pledge themselves to each other, little do they know how that love will strengthen them. With Jeremiah being at sea more often than not, Lizzy finds comfort in her circle of friends, her family and Jeremiah’s family. However, things do not always go as planned and their will, determination and faith are tested in ways they never genuinely thought would come to fruition.

The Irish Yankee is a FANTASTIC tale set during the Revolutionary War. Jeremiah and Lizzy were wonderfully written. Each of them is steadfast in their faith, their love for family and country and pull you into the story from the beginning. Walker has once again seamlessly woven actual history into a beautifully created story that leaves you wanting more. If you are a fan of the genre, you will never go wrong with one of her exquisite tales. Well done, Regan Walker! Very, very well done!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie

Website   Blog   Facebook   Amazon Author Page   Goodreads

Regan Walker is an award-winning, #1 Amazon bestselling author of Regency, Georgian and Medieval novels that are historically authentic.

Among the awards she has won are the Gold Medal in the Readers Choice Book Awards, the Gold Medal in the Illumination Awards, 1st place in the Chaucer Awards, the International Book Award for Romance Fiction, the San Diego Book Award for Best Historical Romance, the President’s Book Awards of The Florida Authors & Publishers Association, the RONE Award for Best Medieval Novel (twice) and the Kindle Book Award.

You can sign up for her newsletter on her website and get the “Reader Extras” there, too. Regan loves to hear from her readers.

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Overture of Shadow (Muses’ War 1) by Wally Waltner-review

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Overture of Shadow (Muses’ War 1) by Wally Waltner-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 24, 2025

Light reveals, shadow conceals. What we illuminate, we become.

In Breheimen, artisans and craftsmen aren’t just respected. They are revered. The Muse-touched are individuals whose creativity seems divinely inspired, capable of conjuring beauty so profound it borders on the mythical. Their gifts shape culture, hold political sway, and define the kingdom’s identity—the very spirit of the realm.

But when Master Bard Dorian Silversong is summoned to the capital by his mentor, he walks into a world unraveling. That same mentor, the head of the prestigious Collegium Bardica, has been murdered. Muse-touched artisans are vanishing. And at the heart of it all lies a web of courtly machinations and unseen forces determined to twist the bond between creator and creation for malevolent ends.

What if the power to create was the greatest one of all?

•••••

REVIEW:Overture of Shadow begins with Master Bard Dorian Silversong having been summoned to the capital by his mentor, Sonoran. Upon his arrival at the capital, he is informed that his mentor and friend had been murdered a couple of days before. Dorian then makes his way to Lydian’s estate where she proceeds to tell him what has been happening in the capital.

Dorian and Lydian attended the Collegium Bardica together and had always been close friends and held Sonoran close to their hearts. The Collegium is where the Muse-touched artisans attend to master their particular area of expertise. When Lydian also tells Dorian that other Muse-touched artisans have vanished they vow to get to the bottom of what is going on.

Dorian and Lydian make their way to Sonoran’s estate, which was bequeathed to Dorian upon Sonoran’s death, it does not take long for the two of them to stumble upon things that upend everything they thought they knew about the Muse-touched.

As they set out to uncover the truth, there are several things that must be investigated head on. One being the attraction that has always been there………………Second being their beliefs that being Muse-touched was a blessing for everyone who was chosen.

Overture of Shadow is a well written fantasy tale that slowly lures you into the story. The world building is second to none and leaves the reader being able to see, in their mind’s eye, a landscape that is intriguing and beautiful. The secondary characters, especially Mixolydian (Mixie for short), are very well written. Mixie’s character development leaves you hoping that she features prominently in the next installment. If you are a fantasy fan, you will surely enjoy this world full of intrigue created by Waltner. Well done, Wally Waltner!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie

 

GOODREADS / Amazon Author Page/ Raconteur Press/

Wally Waltner is a genre fiction author and storyteller whose work blends the grandeur of epic fantasy with the pulse and punch of pulp-era adventure. His stories explore the transformative power of creativity—where art and imagination aren’t just themes, but elemental forces that shape worlds, destinies, and the people caught between them.

Born and raised in rural South Dakota, Wally’s roots are grounded in wide skies, hard work, and a deep appreciation for the quiet stories that unfold far from the spotlight. That upbringing taught him the value of listening closely—to people, to landscapes, and to the myths that live just beneath the surface of everyday life. It also fed an active imagination, where a discarded pipe fitting becomes a ray gun, the bed of a rusted-out pickup truck becomes a sailing ship’s deck, and a fallen tree becomes Excalibur.

Wally holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he studied brass performance, voice and composition. Though his creative medium has shifted from music to the written word, the rhythmic sensibility and harmonic structure of his early training continue to shape his storytelling today. Whether orchestrating the politics of a fallen kingdom or the inner lives of Musetouched heroes, Wally brings a composer’s discipline and an artist’s intuition to every tale.

His fiction is often set in richly textured worlds like Breheimen, a kingdom where creativity is more than expression—it’s power, and sometimes peril. Drawing inspiration from bardic traditions, psychological archetypes, and the high-stakes drama of pulp narratives, his work celebrates both the beauty and the burden of imagination.

Muses’ War: Overture of Shadow From Wally Waltner and Raconteur Press

Beyond the page, Wally has spent his career as a leader in the management consulting world, where he helps organizations solve complex problems through clarity, structure, and strategic insight. That same mindset flows into his writing, where story architecture, character purpose, and thematic resonance are treated with the same rigor he brings to transformation programs and executive leadership.

Amongst other things, Wally is a certified Kansas City Barbecue Society judge, a volunteer leader for Paizo Publishing’s Organized Play Program, and a worship musician for his local church.

Wally lives in Kansas City with his wife of 33 years, Mechelle — his steadfast partner in life and creativity — and they are the proud parents of a grown daughter who continues to inspire them both. With plans to relocate to North Texas in the near future, Wally is looking forward to planting new roots, meeting new readers, and finding new stories in the heat, hum, and cultural crossroads of the Lone Star state. Whether he’s exploring broken kingdoms, guiding reluctant heroes, or unpacking the strange bargains that power human ambition, Wally Waltner writes with a storyteller’s grace, a strategist’s mind, and a heart full of wonder. His goal is simple: to craft compelling, creative stories that stay with you long after the final page

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King of Power (Club Velvet Petal 1) by Aleia Kane-review tour

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đź’śKing of Power (Club Velvet Petal 1) by Aleia Kane-review tourđź’ś

Amazon US/ Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 17, 2025

One night at Club Velvet Petal was all it took to destroy everything I’d built. Now, I’m forced to marry the very man who ghosted me a year ago—a decision that could either save my life or end it.

As a SVU detective, I’m used to putting criminals behind bars, not sleeping with them. But Ezekiel King isn’t just any criminal. He’s a former mafia enforcer with a reputation that makes hardened men tremble. He claims this marriage will protect me from a local mafia lord who wants me dead, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’m trading one form of danger for another.

The worst part? My body betrays me every time he’s near. His commanding presence and dominant nature awaken desires I thought I’d buried long ago. Each heated glance, each possessive touch, reminds me of the passion we once shared—before he vanished without a trace.

But when the unthinkable happens, I’m forced to confront the brutal reality of Zeke’s world. Now I must choose—maintain my integrity as a detective, or surrender to the darkness that surrounds him to save the only family I have left.

With rival mafia families closing in and threats lurking in every shadow, my heart and my badge are on opposite sides of a war I never wanted to fight.

In Zeke’s world, love isn’t just dangerous—it’s deadly. And I’m beginning to fear it might be exactly what I need to survive.

In this game of shadows, will love be enough to save us, or will it cost me everything?

••••••

REVIEW:  King of Power begins with Evelyn and her friends leaving a meeting for survivors of abusive relationships. When one of her friends suggests they go out, Evelyn tries to get out of it but then decides to join Lydia and Olivia at a club.

Once they arrive at the club, it does not take long for Evelyn to figure out that this is the last place she should have come to. Once they are escorted to a back room, despite her protests, the one person whom she trusted and then ghosted her walks in.

Evelyn had trusted Ezekiel (Zeke) with her backstory, finally feeling free enough to tell him why her marriage failed and what she endured. She never heard from him again. To see him walk into the room was something she never expected. She also does not understand why Olivia seems to know more than she is willing to share.

Evelyn makes it clear to Ezekiel that she wants nothing to do with him ever again and finally leaves. She has her job and her nephew to raise and a few friends and that is all she needs. Then, she goes back to the club with her friends a few weeks later and is “made” by a member of a mafia family member, one she had gone undercover to try and get information on.

Zeke never thought he would see Evelyn again and he knew that would be safer for her. She has no idea about his past and his current endeavors, but when a threat is made against her, he does the only thing that will keep her safe: he tells the guy who “made” her that she’s, his fiancé. And she is not happy about that.

When threats are made, Evelyn has no other recourse other than to accept his protection for herself and her nephew. Their attraction to each other was never the problem, nor is it now. The real problem is that one skates the law while the other is sworn to uphold it.

King of Power is a nicely written story. The two main characters are relatable and their backstories believable. But, if I am being honest, their connection was a little off for me. I truly did love them together but at times, it felt stilted. It really picked up for me a little over halfway through. The secondary characters were very well written. King of Power is a story of power, betrayal, redemption, and family. I look forward to the next installment. Well done, Aleia Kane.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie

 

Dark gritty mafia romance

Aleia Kane writes gritty, emotionally charged mafia romance with lots of spice, humor, drama, and big feels. Readers love her work for her engaging storytelling, relatable characters, steamy romance, and emotional depth. She has a soft spot for angst-filled, forbidden romances, second chances, and dominant, grumpy bad boys with sweet centers that are impossible not to love.

 She lives in Florida, with her two kids, her cat, and a large collection of houseplants.

AUTHOR LINKS

Website: http://aleiakane.com 

Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/aleiakane 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aleiakane_author 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/55606351.Aleia_Kane 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aleiakane 

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aleiakane_author 

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