Sandra Cox's Blog, page 42

Writerly and IWSG Wednesday

The first Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.

Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

February/March Reviews in no particular order.

* Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore them and don't factor them into my review.

VIRTUALLY GONE A Julie Crenshaw Murder/Mystery by Jacquie Biggar

A steamy romantic suspense.

Once again, the author has written a tense romantic thriller that was hard to put down and kept me reading into the wee hours of the night.

Julie Crenshaw is an investigative reporter who is on the trail of a serial killer. The same serial killer that her cop boyfriend and his partner are after. All racing to discover the killer’s identity before he murders again and stepping on each other’s toes in the process.

Reading about the technology available to criminals and police alike both horrified and fascinated me.

As always, the author delivered. If you’re a Jacquie Biggar fan, like I am, or just appreciate an edge-of-your-seat yarn, you’re sure to enjoy this one. Just be sure to put the coffeepot on.

Available at Amazon

THE CLOCK IN MY MOTHER’S HOUSE and other stories by Annalisa Crawford

Exceptionally well-written shorts.

This was the first time I’ve read anything by this author and was amazed by her storytelling and writing abilities. She takes topics not frequently touched on and delves deep into the psyche of the characters. Several made me realize just how lucky I am to be alive and in decent health. For instance, Adventures in my Own Backyard: A story told from the perspective of a paraplegic who can’t speak.

Many of the tales are paranormal and take a dip in the dark side. Her well-crafted use of words creates fully developed characters and worlds a reader can easily step into. The stories flow seamlessly. All in all, a great read that I highly recommend.

Available at Amazon

ONE SOUL’S JOURNEY by Barbara Daniels Dena

As with the first book in the series, these offerings are drawn from the author’s life experiences and woven into fun fiction. They run the gambit from animal stories, to florist experiences, to shopping. The adventures ranging geographically from Illinois to Colorado. I particularly enjoyed the brief blurbs at the end of each tale explaining the origins of the story. If you loved Ms. Dena’s first work, you’ll relish this one.

Available at Amazon

MUSIC SHALL UNTUNE THE SKY by Lou Kemp

The author takes an intriguing concept and turns it into an adventure-filled journey centered around an immortal magician, a professor and an automat, where murder and mayhem follow. Both Jules Verne and Captain Nemo figure into the story.

For me the best part of this tale was the rich imagery. The author created an amazing backdrop that plopped the reader directly into the story. Such as: “The sun rose, glinting off the ornate cornices and brass crossbeams of the Prague Opera House.” And “In an alcove near the entrance, an elegant woman played a viola, and the music floated like errant flowers in the wind above the hushed tones and murmurs of the diners.”

For those that love steampunk this is a treasure.

Available at Amazon

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