Teri M. Brown's Blog, page 17
March 1, 2025
Book Review: The Making of Genevieve
The Making of Genevieve by Judy Lannon is a fabulous women's fiction with a historical setting on the Cape. Genevieve grows up in an affluent area, and though very comfortable, aspires to be in the upper class. And, unlike her peers, she does not see a life that starts and ends with a husband and children. Instead, she wants to be a famous interior designer first - maybe a husband and maybe a family.Unfortunately for Genevieve, a secret she only shares with one other person changes everything. Her marriage to an up and coming young man turns sour after WWII PTSD causes him to turn to alcohol to cope, while her one true love chooses a calling that excludes her. Through it all, she pushes, pulls, streamrolls, and demands her way through issue after issue, always sure that the world is hers for the taking.
The Making of Genevieve is a wonderful story of perseverance and resilience as a women tries to make it in a man's world. But just as importantly, it is a hard look at how secrets can lead us to make questionable choices and make life harder than it needs to be. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Purchase a copy of The Making of Genevieve:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3WE0XBe
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3CzOqYO
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
February 28, 2025
Book Review by Stephanie Affinito
I’ve been a fan of Carol Pearson’s 10 Little Rules series for a while now. I love the origin story behind it, the authors that share their personal journeys and the meaning that each one has brought to my own life.But this one holds a special place in my heart.
10 Little Rules for a Double-Butted Adventure by Teri M. Brown is a guidebook for a life well-lived whether you’re riding a tandem bicycle or not.
Many readers might relate to her desire for adventure, her need to prove what’s she capable of and the the ups and down that come with committing to a journey of growth.
Teri’s adventure of choice was a bicycle trip across the country with her husband on a tandem bike during the heart of COVID. Told with humor and heart, honesty and camaraderie, Teri walks us through her lessons learned.
From enjoying the downhills, defining your success and the reminder to never quit on a bad day, Teri will inspire you to think about your own longings and make them feel completely possible.
The best part? Once you’ve turned the last page, you’ll likely want to stay connected to her and her writing. Thank goodness you can turn to her fiction titles, too:
Sunflowers Beneath the Snow
An Enemy Like Me
Daughters of Green Mountain Gap
Whether you’re sharing Teri’s adventures or following the lives of her character’s, you’re sure to find a place for yourself.
February 26, 2025
Book Review: Racing the Dream
Racing the Dream by MT Bass is another book that spans genres. It's a mix of historical fiction, romance, and suspense - and if you are like me, you are going to enjoy it!Hawk is a WWII fighter pilot turned air racer who starts on a simple course near his airport and ends up racing in the first National Air Racing Championship. His engineer, Father Bob, has been with Hawk since a mishap in the Congo, along with his mechanic, Sparks. The three of them work to get as much speed as they can out of Hawk's racer.
But let's talk about the romance and the suspense. Hawk meets Allison, an official wing-walker and surfer girl. Blonde, beautiful, and daring, she sweeps Hawk off his feet, and he'll do anything for her - including becoming a pilot for the show.
As to the suspense, that comes in the form of Hawk's nemesis - another pilot who wants to win. However, this pilot is willing to win at any cost. Could the cost be Hawk's plane? Or worse, his life?
I learned a lot about air racing, wing walking, and flying low, fast, and turning left. Enjoy the book!
Purchase a copy of Racing the Dream:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4aJSzpS
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3WGi858
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
February 25, 2025
Online for Authors Episode 2-25-25
Rising Above: A YA Novel of Struggle and Triumph with Author Jake Lynch
My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Jake Lynch, author of the book Broken to Beautiful. Jake Lynch is an author specializing in contemporary religious fiction and action-adventure novels. Having grown up under the teachings of Rick Warren, he has a strong devotion to God and actively seeks to love on others. While writing stories is entertaining, his main mission is to help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to bring hope and healing into the world.Listen to the Audio VersionWatch the Video VersionIn my book review, I stated Broken to Beautiful by Jake Lynch is a YA contemporary Christian fiction that follows a loner high school student from the point of suicide to a place of love and beauty - all because of her walk with Christ.
Krystal struggles to fit in. In fact, she struggles to be seen at all. After years of loneliness, she decides that suicide is her best option. Thankfully, she does not succeed. Instead she meets a hospital janitor who helps her see that she may be more than she thought. As she comes to know God and allows Him into her life, she reaches out to others, helping them find answers to their own issues.
Krystal's character is very believable. As a once shy child, I remember those feelings of wanting to fit in but not quite knowing how. Jake did a great job showing readers her journey, and how, despite a religious transformation, the path forward wasn't all easy and paved with gold.
Jake also introduced a host of other characters, allowing readers to find the one they related to most - changing oneself to meet other's expectations, not knowing who you really are, being angry at God for something bad happening in your life, moving to a new location and having no friends, finding yourself pregnant and now an outcast. Essentially, whatever the issue, accepting Christ is a great place to start.
On the flipside, I felt Broken to Beautiful was too long and would have had a better punch had it been shorter. I would have reduced the characters as well as reduced the long scripture references. Additionally, some of the description was repetitive. Despite these issues, I enjoyed the book.
Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/35765...www.facebook.com/groups/357651988042629
Purchase Broken to Beautiful on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4dwCeEy
Ebook:https://amzn.to/4dwCeEy
Audiobook: https://amzn.to/4eD2D4o
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Jake Lynch, author of the book Broken to Beautiful. Jake Lynch is an author specializing in contemporary religious fiction and action-adventure novels. Having grown up under the teachings of Rick Warren, he has a strong devotion to God and actively seeks to love on others. While writing stories is entertaining, his main mission is to help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to bring hope and healing into the world.Listen to the Audio VersionWatch the Video VersionIn my book review, I stated Broken to Beautiful by Jake Lynch is a YA contemporary Christian fiction that follows a loner high school student from the point of suicide to a place of love and beauty - all because of her walk with Christ.Krystal struggles to fit in. In fact, she struggles to be seen at all. After years of loneliness, she decides that suicide is her best option. Thankfully, she does not succeed. Instead she meets a hospital janitor who helps her see that she may be more than she thought. As she comes to know God and allows Him into her life, she reaches out to others, helping them find answers to their own issues.
Krystal's character is very believable. As a once shy child, I remember those feelings of wanting to fit in but not quite knowing how. Jake did a great job showing readers her journey, and how, despite a religious transformation, the path forward wasn't all easy and paved with gold.
Jake also introduced a host of other characters, allowing readers to find the one they related to most - changing oneself to meet other's expectations, not knowing who you really are, being angry at God for something bad happening in your life, moving to a new location and having no friends, finding yourself pregnant and now an outcast. Essentially, whatever the issue, accepting Christ is a great place to start.
On the flipside, I felt Broken to Beautiful was too long and would have had a better punch had it been shorter. I would have reduced the characters as well as reduced the long scripture references. Additionally, some of the description was repetitive. Despite these issues, I enjoyed the book.
Join the Novels N Latte Book Club community to discuss this and other books with like-minded readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/35765...www.facebook.com/groups/357651988042629
Purchase Broken to Beautiful on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4dwCeEy
Ebook:https://amzn.to/4dwCeEy
Audiobook: https://amzn.to/4eD2D4o
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
February 22, 2025
Online for Authors Episode 2-22-25
Crazy for the Game: Hoops, Humor and High Risk Offenders with Author Scott Gordon
Guest-host Carole O’Neill’s guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Scott Gordon, author of the book Head Fake. Scott Gordon’s fiction has appeared in the Green Hills Literary Lantern (GHLL), Modern Times Magazine, Pennsylvania Literary Journal, The Satirist, and Mobius Magazine. In addition to writing fiction, he has written and directed films and television series, including A History of Black Achievement in America, Great American Authors, and more. Scott spent years working as a Youth Advocate for juvenile offenders with mental illness. Head Fake is inspired by the strength and courage of the kids he worked with. Originally from New Jersey, Scott lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Samantha, and their two rescue pups, Mel Brooks and Khaleesi Bee. Listen to the AudioWatch the Video VersionThis week, I'm buzzing with excitement about a book that's going to grab your heart and not let go - "Head Fake" by Scott Gordon.
Imagine a basketball team unlike any other - a group of high school students struggling with mental health challenges, paired with a coach who's battling his own demons. This isn't just a sports story; it's a profound exploration of connection, resilience, and found family.
What makes "Head Fake" special? Here are a few reasons:
A coach who's more broken than perfect
Students who wear their diagnoses as badges of honor
Humor that cuts through darkness
Authentic characters that will steal your heart
Scott draws from his real-life experience working with juvenile offenders, creating a story that's raw, honest, and deeply compassionate. Each character feels so real, you'll want entire books just about them!
Want a taste? The team decides to put their psychiatric diagnoses on their jerseys - a powerful statement about identity and perception.
Head on over to Novels N Latte Book Club on Facebook for a chance to win a copy of "Head Fake" and prepare for a game-changing read!
P.S. Rumor has it a screenplay might be in the works... stay tuned!
Purchase Head Fake on Amazon:
Paperback:https://amzn.to/417anIe
Ebook: https://amzn.to/418IXl9
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Guest-host Carole O’Neill’s guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Scott Gordon, author of the book Head Fake. Scott Gordon’s fiction has appeared in the Green Hills Literary Lantern (GHLL), Modern Times Magazine, Pennsylvania Literary Journal, The Satirist, and Mobius Magazine. In addition to writing fiction, he has written and directed films and television series, including A History of Black Achievement in America, Great American Authors, and more. Scott spent years working as a Youth Advocate for juvenile offenders with mental illness. Head Fake is inspired by the strength and courage of the kids he worked with. Originally from New Jersey, Scott lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Samantha, and their two rescue pups, Mel Brooks and Khaleesi Bee. Listen to the AudioWatch the Video VersionThis week, I'm buzzing with excitement about a book that's going to grab your heart and not let go - "Head Fake" by Scott Gordon. Imagine a basketball team unlike any other - a group of high school students struggling with mental health challenges, paired with a coach who's battling his own demons. This isn't just a sports story; it's a profound exploration of connection, resilience, and found family.
What makes "Head Fake" special? Here are a few reasons:
A coach who's more broken than perfect
Students who wear their diagnoses as badges of honor
Humor that cuts through darkness
Authentic characters that will steal your heart
Scott draws from his real-life experience working with juvenile offenders, creating a story that's raw, honest, and deeply compassionate. Each character feels so real, you'll want entire books just about them!
Want a taste? The team decides to put their psychiatric diagnoses on their jerseys - a powerful statement about identity and perception.
Head on over to Novels N Latte Book Club on Facebook for a chance to win a copy of "Head Fake" and prepare for a game-changing read!
P.S. Rumor has it a screenplay might be in the works... stay tuned!
Purchase Head Fake on Amazon:
Paperback:https://amzn.to/417anIe
Ebook: https://amzn.to/418IXl9
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Book Review: Daughter of the Waves
(Review by Online for Authors Guest-Host Carole O'Neill)
Reading Daughter of the Waves by Ruth Jordan (and released by her son, Oran Kivity) was a new experience for me. I had very little knowledge of Palestinian life before 1940. And, while I expected to read an autobiography, I found what I was experiencing was similar to sitting at the kitchen table with a neighbor over a cup of tea as she recalled memories of growing up in a seaside suburb of Haifa, called Bat Gelim, in pre-war Palestine. She didn’t recite a chronological list, but rather highlights as she remembered them.
It was obvious she had a love of adventure. From the Flying Camel to the cyclist from Palestine to London to raise money to build a Jewish sports stadium in Palestine, her humor was always part of the portrait of a child and a nation growing side-by-side.
Her delight in the Palestine Orchestra conducted by Toscanini did not overshadow her memory of the Arab revolt to stop the Jewish immigration in 1936. And I will always remember her belief that no Arab woman is worth her bride price until she can cook eggplant in seven different ways. Her resolve to become a wizard with eggplants came from her mother.
Each chapter could be a book. Read them over time or in one sitting. But do put this book on your TBR list.
Purchase Daughter of the Waves on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/40D7RYC
Kindle: https://amzn.to/3Ec8nWd
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
February 19, 2025
Book Review: The Women
The Women by Kristin Hannah is an historical fiction set during the Vietnam War. I didn't immediately jump on the bandwagon when this book hit the bestseller list, but not because I wasn't intrigued. Once I whittled down my TBR list, I dove in, and I'm glad I did.We quickly meet Frankie who decides to join the military as a nurse to make her father proud. When she discovers her brother has been killed in the war, she determines to go to make a difference. Along the way, she makes good friends Ethel and Barb, who, like Frankie, are nurses and see the same devastation and experience the same horrors of war.
The crux of the story, though, happens upon their return stateside. Her parents refuse to discuss the war. The VA refuses to acknowledge that women were even in Vietnam. Her local friends just want life to continue on with weddings and baby showers. But Frankie's PTSD gets in the way of 'normality' and forces those around her to see the war in a new light.
I loved this book. I felt Frankie's emotions and cried more than once. I think this is a great book for someone who enjoys historical fiction, character-driven works, strong women, and raw emotion.
Purchase a copy of The Women:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4jxiyVg
Kindle: https://amzn.to/40LWQVc
Audible: https://amzn.to/4hePL6k
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
February 18, 2025
Online for Authors Episode 2-18-25
Toxic Shadows: Love and Mystery Amidst the Fallout with Kay Smith-Blum
My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Kay Smith-Blum, author of the book Tangles. After selling her European fashion specialty store in 2016, Kay Smith-Blum began writing the novel she had been percolating on for two decades. Three manuscripts later, Smith-Blum’s debut novel, Tangles, depicts the human costs of the nuclear age and the dangerous legacy it leaves for future generations. Listen to the Audio VersionWatch the Video VersionHello from my writing desk, where I've just finished an incredible conversation with Kay Smith-Blum about her debut novel Tangles - a book that brilliantly weaves together love, mystery, and a shocking piece of hidden American history!
Nuclear Secrets Revealed
Imagine a love story set against the backdrop of the Cold War's most dangerous environmental disaster. That's exactly what Kay has done with Tangles, a novel exploring the little-known nuclear history of the Hanford site in Washington state. Here's what blew my mind:
10 months of intense research
Interviews with over 20 experts
A dual narrative spanning 1947-1964
Exposing the real environmental and human costs of nuclear production
Writing Wisdom: Genre-Blending is the Future
Kay's novel isn't just historical fiction - it's an environmental thriller, a love story, and a mystery all rolled into one. Her message? Great stories transcend rigid genre boundaries.
Want to dive deeper? Check out Kay's website and head over to Novels N Latte Book Club on Facebook for your chance to win a copy of Tangles!
PS: Curious about hidden historical stories? Comment and tell me what forgotten piece of history fascinates you!
Purchase Tangles on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3PXnchE
Ebook: https://amzn.to/4h9L0Ln
Audible: https://amzn.to/40XiRBJ
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Kay Smith-Blum, author of the book Tangles. After selling her European fashion specialty store in 2016, Kay Smith-Blum began writing the novel she had been percolating on for two decades. Three manuscripts later, Smith-Blum’s debut novel, Tangles, depicts the human costs of the nuclear age and the dangerous legacy it leaves for future generations. Listen to the Audio VersionWatch the Video VersionHello from my writing desk, where I've just finished an incredible conversation with Kay Smith-Blum about her debut novel Tangles - a book that brilliantly weaves together love, mystery, and a shocking piece of hidden American history!Nuclear Secrets Revealed
Imagine a love story set against the backdrop of the Cold War's most dangerous environmental disaster. That's exactly what Kay has done with Tangles, a novel exploring the little-known nuclear history of the Hanford site in Washington state. Here's what blew my mind:
10 months of intense research
Interviews with over 20 experts
A dual narrative spanning 1947-1964
Exposing the real environmental and human costs of nuclear production
Writing Wisdom: Genre-Blending is the Future
Kay's novel isn't just historical fiction - it's an environmental thriller, a love story, and a mystery all rolled into one. Her message? Great stories transcend rigid genre boundaries.
Want to dive deeper? Check out Kay's website and head over to Novels N Latte Book Club on Facebook for your chance to win a copy of Tangles!
PS: Curious about hidden historical stories? Comment and tell me what forgotten piece of history fascinates you!
Purchase Tangles on Amazon:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3PXnchE
Ebook: https://amzn.to/4h9L0Ln
Audible: https://amzn.to/40XiRBJ
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
February 15, 2025
Book Review: Charm City Spouses Club
Charm City Spouses Club by Pamela Kyel is the second installment of the Charm City Mystery series. If you loved Special Agent Laci Duvall, AFOSI in the first book, you won't be disappointed in the second! This time, Laci is at a friendly baseball game between the Air Force and Army's Special Investigative Teams. However, the friendly game turns deadly when the president of the military spouse's club turns up dead in the bathroom.The list of potential murder suspects is long - from jealous women who wanted to be president to unhappy club officers who hated the president's cruel nature, to unhappy neighbors and everyone in between.
But Laci isn't just trying to solve a murder. She is figuring out how to work in tandem with another military agency all while fighting the new agent in her own office who wants to make a name for herself by taking over the investigation without Laci's direction or approval.
Once again, we see Laci's humor, charm, and insights into the world around her. This is a book you won't want to miss. Put it on your TBR - it comes out April 2nd!
Purchase a copy of Charm City Spouses Club:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/4jBX9dJ
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4jBX6P5
February 12, 2025
Book Review: Charm City Crab Puff
Charm City Crab Puff by Pamela Kyel is a delightful cozy mystery set in Baltimore. We quickly meet Special Agent Laci Duvall who has the habit of describing those she meets as a type of sweet tea. Are they hot? Cold? Smooth? Or like her former boyfriend, Desio - someone who is more like a fine wine?Laci finds herself working a case with her former beau - and the case concerns her dead ex-husband, Zach, the man she dropped Desio for years ago. Could things get any worse? Of course they can! Let's add in Zach's current wife, their twins, and Laci's former in-laws to round out the craziness that becomes Laci's life.
Of course, we can't forget the murder that brought them all together. Who killed Zachary and why? Was he into something nefarious? Or just in the wrong place at the wrong time? And who wants to stop Laci and Desio from finding out the truth?
Laci is a great character who uses the twists and turns in her life grow, evolve, and creating lasting relationships. She is definitely someone you will relate to. I recommend this fun, quirky read!
Buy a copy of Charm City Crab Puff:
Paperback: https://amzn.to/40UuWYg
Kindle: https://amzn.to/4jxk3CS
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
