1956 Love & Revolution by J.A. Boulet

July 31, 2023 By 4 Comments


1956 Love & Revolution by J.A. Boulet
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

What would you do for your country?

In 1955, a group of uncommon people meet by chance. During the final year of Rákosi’s iron fist rule, Imre Nagy’s reforms are repealed, plunging Hungary back into economic ruin.

A university student, a cleaner, a Hungarian soldier and several others find themselves drawn toward each other as their love for their country is tested. In the fall of 1956, political strife deepens as the students begin demanding reform.

How far will they go to save Hungary?

Well-researched, politically charged and fast-paced, 1956 Love & Revolution will lure you into the lives of everyday Hungarians who risked everything for their country.

I didn’t know a lot about went on in Hungary during this time period, but reading this book made me feel like I was right there. The characters in this book came alive for me – they are fully formed, with pasts, with foibles, with imperfections. My heart broke for Elona as she dealt with her husband and the way he treated her.

And, it’s not just the characters, but the setting at well. I felt like I was right there, picturing everything.  The juxtaposition of the changes the country is going through and the changes and growth that the main characters are going through gives a richness to the story.

During the story, there is heartbreak, pain, sorrow, and yet still, by the end, hope prevails. And, isn’t that what we all want from a good book?

Thank you, Ms. Boulet, for introducing me to a part of history I didn’t know much about and characters I’ll remember for a long time.

 

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Enemies in Earnest by Willow Sanders – Spotlight

July 31, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Willow Sanders who is celebrating today’s release of Enemies in Earnest, a Man of the Month Club book.

Acacia Ashley has one love: the written word. Specifically the rich, earthy, prose of Mr. Ernest Hemingway. Her love for Hemingway goes so deep that she opened a bar in his honor. Every year in July she plays host to Hemingway Days in Candy Cane Key, and every year she has to stay on guard in case Edwin Wheeler decides once again to find a way to ruin the solemnity of the occasion.

Edwin Wheeler doesn’t care about books or old men, but the sea? The sea is where he spends his days in search of the almighty dollar. But when he grows bored of plying tourists with fruity drinks, he’s often found needling the resident bookworm, Acacia. She’s hated him ever since the incident four years ago. Why does getting a rise out of her give him a bit of a rise as well?

When the bell tolls signaling approaching stormy weather that threatens both of their businesses, the pair realizes a farewell to arms may be the best way to avoid a dangerous summer.

Enjoy an Excerpt

It was much easier to ruminate over one’s nemesis when he wasn’t ten feet away. The other problem? The way he doted on and cared for his mother was literally catnip. Lady Kitty catnip, not like, for Six- toed Joe. The second his mom shivered, he was there with her cardigan. She coughed, he had her water at the ready. He repeated what MariJo’s nephew and niece said, but louder and in the direction of her good ear, without making it obvious he did it for her benefit. How could someone who was such an asshole be so sweetly attentive to his mother? It didn’t compute.

“What if we served a buffet of Hemingway-inspired appetizers?” Asher asked, his bushy eyebrows the only thing I could make out over the clipboard he referenced.

“Now wouldn’t that be a hoot?” Edwin flipped a fifty onto the counter. “I’m sure no one in the history of Hemingway-inspired bars, restaurants, parties, or events has ever thought to offer a little canape dipped in literary puns.”

Asher lifted an eyebrow in his direction as if to ask me is he for real? Unfortunately, yes, he was. The two of us had a War and Peace length conversation in silent eye rolls and quirks of lip before Asher heaved a dramatic sigh and placed his clipboard on the counter.

“I believe it was the great Oscar Wilde who said sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.”

Edwin nabbed a cherry from my garnish center, shrugging in Asher’s direction. God, he was ridiculous. He never took his eyes off me, even though the shrug was directed at Asher. Did he want me to chastise him for stealing a cherry? Because of the list of things I could chastise the man over, being a cherry stealer was low on the list.

“What can I do for you Edwin?”

I tried to be as subtle as I could, affixing the plastic top to the tray of garnish. It was a place of business after all. Sanitation was important. Certainly, no one wanted his grubby, work-roughened fingers anywhere near their drinks.

“Now there’s a statement heavy with possibility.”

Edwin Wheeler did not get to do funny things to my nervous system. No ma’am. The way his voice went soft and gravely did not affect the steady, reliable thrum of my pulse. And his tipped lip or the mischievous glint in his eyes did not make my face feel hot. I’d rather succumb to food poisoning from bad fish than have him be the reason I felt flushed and a little woozy.

“Did your mom call up your cousin and ask him to come for a playdate? That was so considerate of her. This way you have someone who is obligated to tolerate your company every day while your boat’s boo-boos get all patched up.”

At that moment, the sexy version of Santa Claus, also known as Edwin’s cousin, took a seat next to him at the bar and regarded me.

“How’s that champagne coming along?” he asked his cousin.

“This here’s Klaus.” Edwin cocked his head.

“Bottle or glasses?” I asked, ignoring the flirty challenge in Edwin’s eyes. “The bottle is probably the better choice as you’ll get four glasses out of it for thirty dollars versus four glasses of champagne at nine fifty a piece which would be thirty-eight, before tax.”

Edwin’s eyes flit to the fifty he had sitting in front of him and back up to look at me. Though that didn’t really answer the question. Regardless of which he chose, the fifty covered it and then some.

He didn’t get to win. It was my bar. If I were a petty person, I’d pour four glasses and charge him the per-glass rate. If he wanted to play Mr. Unaffected, James Dean cool, and answer me in smirks and eyebrow lifts instead of words, fine. I’d show him.

About the Author:A marketer by day, and author by night, Willow Sanders is a best-selling author of sweet with heat Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense. She loves to write spunky, take no shit women, and understanding men with a strong side of sarcasm and an extra helping of BDE. When not writing you can find her torn between her loyalty to the Fighting Illini and her husband’s loyalty to Michigan State, bemoaning traffic, feeding her caffeine addiction, and trying to find the connection between her and the Gilmore Girls–because she is certain she is a long-lost family member.

Buy now or read FREE with KindleUnlimited!

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Friday Five Writing Prompt Challenge for July 28, 2023

July 28, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Each Friday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly five word writing prompt. For more details on how to participate, please click here.

Today’s five words to use as your prompt are:

arrange, cottage, stretch, idea, partnership

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What Kind of Writer Am I? by J.A. Boulet – Guest Post and Giveaway

July 27, 2023 By 4 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. J. A. Boulet will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What Kind of Writer Am I?

I suppose there are labels for everyone and anything but rarely do we fit entirely in one box. What kind of writer am I? Well, first of all, I am a career writer. I enjoy writing and am very passionate about it but I do not solely write for only enjoyment or to pour out my feelings in journals (my hands can’t stand writing with a pen too long lol) nor do I write as a hobby. Although, I do know many writers that enjoy this type of writing and that’s okay too.

For myself, I am committed to writing as a life-long career in historical fiction and historical romance. I will continue to publish novels so my readers can expect a new book at least once per year, maybe more.

Some other aspects of my writing that define me are not as simple. I am an underwriter. I write the first draft very quickly, sometimes faster than I can type. I often finish the book 10,000 words under what it should be. After the first draft, I do a full story edit and include more substance and additional scenes. Usually, this brings me up to my goal of 75,000 words or 300 pages.

My writing can also be categorized sometimes as character-driven, but this is only a master illusion. I have outlines and I keep my characters from venturing off into the woods many times, lol.

I do write steamy sex scenes too, but lately, I have reduced the occurrence of these scenes with each novel so the reader can focus more on the events. I find this also helps balance out the readers who do not enjoy sexual matter. It is much easier to skip this way without losing too much of the story.

All in all, I have progressed into my own individual style of writing and it has improved with every book. I hope you enjoy 1956 Love & Revolution and thanks for following along on my blog tour! Love ya all!

What would you do for your country?

In 1955, a group of uncommon people meet by chance. During the final year of Rákosi’s iron fist rule, Imre Nagy’s reforms are repealed, plunging Hungary back into economic ruin.
A university student, a cleaner, a Hungarian soldier and several others find themselves drawn toward each other as their love for their country is tested. In the fall of 1956, political strife deepens as the students begin demanding reform.
How far will they go to save Hungary?

Well-researched, politically charged and fast-paced, 1956 Love & Revolution will lure you into the lives of everyday Hungarians who risked everything for their country.

Enjoy an Excerpt

It was August 1955, and Elona was tired. She grabbed her bucket and wrung out the mop one last time. She had been cleaning at the theatre all night, and it was now early dawn. Something about the purple-lightening skies always enchanted her. Budapest was a quiet city at 4:30 am, almost peaceful. But Hungary was nothing close to peaceful lately. So many things were happening in her country that it made her stomach churn. Politics wasn’t something she was keen on, but lately, it seemed every Hungarian held hope that their country would reinstate a more economically-sound government.

They lived through so many years of repression, paying exorbitant taxes for Hungary’s industrialization and war reparations to Russia, among so many other fees, that every single Hungarian paid almost two-thirds of their income out to the government. This left so little for food, cigarettes or anything else. It was a tough life of constantly working with little chance of enjoyment.

Elona was only twenty-one years old, but she felt like she was eighty.

She stepped outside onto the dark street and turned back to lock the theatre doors. Her pail and mop were already beside the door when she noticed she had left the dirty water in the bucket. She sighed and cursed softly. Elona was not going to open up the heavy double doors again and return all the way to the other side of the washrooms to dump her bucket.

She pushed the keys deep inside her pants pocket and picked up the pail gently, sneaking to the alleyway. Elona tiredly tipped her bucket in the alleyway, dumping it upside down to empty it completely so she could return home with a much less heavy pail. She didn’t drive, and her bicycle broke, so she didn’t even have that luxury anymore. A headache started at her temples, and she massaged her face gently. Maybe, one day things will get better.

She looked up as male voices echoed down the street. She wondered who would be in the streets at this hour. There wasn’t much crime because of the state police, so she usually had nothing to fear.

Then a chill ran down her spine.

About the Author:J. A. Boulet is the passionate author of five historical fiction novels. Her newest novel, 1956 Love & Revolution, is a chilling standalone book about the 1956 Hungarian uprising. A highly anticipated release scheduled for June 5, 2023, this is a book that the author holds close to her heart.

J. A. Boulet was raised in the aftermath of the Hungarian Revolution. Her father was a Hungarian soldier who fought bravely during the 1956 uprising. He escaped and was granted asylum in Canada. Ms. Boulet’s mother also fled from the revolution shortly after. The couple met, fell in love and built a family in Saskatchewan.

J. A. Boulet was born decades later. Raised in a refugee family with strong morals has provided J. A. with the foundation to which she has stood behind all her life. Ms. Boulet began writing poetry at a very young age and progressed to short stories and novels easily. She quickly became a history geek and became fascinated with ancestry and the rough path of immigration. J. A. published her first book in 2020 and has since published one to two books annually. She writes with an unsettling realism, grabbing your emotions and refusing to let go. 1956: Love and Revolution is a book you won’t be able to put down.

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Hidden Away at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard – Spotlight and Giveaway

July 26, 2023 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Charlotte Hubbard will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Returning to the fan-favorite world of the closeknit Amish community of Promise Lodge, the small-town Missouri setting of her beloved Amish inspirational romance novels, Charlotte Hubbard continues to delight readers with uplifting tales of faith, family, and the blessings and happiness of true love and caring partnership.

There are no secrets among Missouri’s Amish community of Promise Lodge, as they share their joys, burdens, and blessings. But two visitors with a hidden agenda bring some surprising revelations—and unexpected saving graces…

When Karen Mercer and Andi Swann come to Promise Lodge for a week’s stay, the Kuhn sisters quickly detect the guests are not Plain folk, despite their kapps and homemade dresses. Entranced by the idyllic Amish lifestyle they’ve read about in romance novels, the visitors have gone undercover to revisit the place that was once the church camp where they spent happy summers. They mean no harm—but when the truth is uncovered, their deception has an intriguing impact on the faithful, hard-working community . . .

Meanwhile, amid bustling preparations for a spring wedding, a shy horse trainer is encouraged to share his colorful world with a newcomer awaiting a miracle . . . while the widowed baker of luscious Promise Lodge Pies sees a long-time friendship in a romantic new light. And in the wake of a destructive storm, Karen and Andi’s insider knowledge of the grounds may offer the safe passage they all need to renew and rebuild—stronger than ever . . .

Enjoy an Excerpt

“Look at how this place has changed since we went to church camp here,” Andi remarked as they stood at the entry to Promise Lodge. “This must be a new metal entryway sign, because I don’t remember it having sunflowers and wheat sheaves, do you? And this plot to the left was a mowed pasture for horseback riding, and now it’s planted in green beans and tomatoes—”

“Probably to be sold at this produce stand,” Karen said, nodding toward the wooden structure at the roadside. “And look at all the houses! And there’s a tiny home with a dock on the far side of Rainbow Lake. How cool is that?”

“The old timbered lodge and the cabins look just the same as I remember them,” Andi said wistfully. “Except the Amish here have obviously done a lot of painting—and that looks like a new roof. The summers we spent here as campers and counselors were some of the best times of my life.”

“Yeah, they were.” Karen pointed toward a large white barn. “And look at those adorable black and white cows! Everything looks too neat and perfect to be real—”

“But what about us?” Andi interrupted, her smile falling a notch. “Do we look authentic? We’re wearing these calf-length dresses we made and the kapps we ordered from a store in Lancaster County—and we’ve read hundreds of Amish novels—but what if they call us out as fakes? What if they make us confess in front of everybody at church and then—”

“They can’t do that, silly!” Karen reminded her with a chuckle. “We’re just taking a little trip down memory lane while we live the Amish life instead of just reading about it. If we stick to our script and imitate the way these folks do things, we’ll be fine, right?”

Andi sighed as though she wasn’t too sure about that. “But we made our phone reservation request and sent our money as though we were Plain, and the Amish think it’s a sin to lie. Maybe we should’ve—”

“But we didn’t,” Karen pointed out quickly. Her pulse was pounding with anticipation as she picked up the old-fashioned suitcase she’d bought at a thrift store. “If we follow our plans, we won’t have any problems. We’re just a couple of Amish maidels who’ve come to Promise Lodge for a week to check it out because we read about it in the Budget newspaper—which we did. Let’s walk to the lodge before you get cold feet and back out on me.”

About the Author

In 1983, Charlotte Hubbard sold her first story to True Story. She wrote around 70 of those confession stories, and she’s sold more than 50 books to traditional or online publishers. A longtime resident of Missouri, she’s currently writing Amish romances set in imaginary Missouri towns for Kensington. She now lives in Omaha, NE with her husband and their Border collie, Vera.

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Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge for July 26, 2023

July 26, 2023 By 1 Comment

Each Wednesday, Long and Short Reviews hosts a weekly “blog hop”. For more details on how to participate, please click here.

Today’s topic is: A Job I’d Be Good At

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Three Amazing Erotic Reads by S. Nano – Spotlight

July 25, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Three Amazing Erotic Reads by S. Nano Republished by House of Erotica!

The most decadent city. The most perverted mistress.

Renowned for her beauty and cruelty, La Contessa’s reputation as a dominatrix is well established. And 18th century Venice has degenerated into a decadent and lascivious city, a perfect backdrop for her to play-out her debauched games and political ambitions.

She sends her maid, Julia, into the alleyways to search for a young man to act as her slave. Julia finds Roberto prostituting himself in the least salubrious district of Venice. He enters into La Contessa’s service to perform her bizarre and sadistic scenes.

From their first meeting there is a mutual attraction between maid and servant. The young couple engineer a series of sexual encounters, knowing the risks should their mistress discover them. Their situation is complicated when La Contessa rescues Becky and brings her to the palazzo as her submissive girl-slave. The interloper exposes Julia’s jealousies… and the feelings for her mistress.

How long can Roberto and Julia keep their love secret? Will Becky’s presence thwart their relationship? Will La Contessa’s scheming bring her the richest prize in all Venice?

All is resolved before the Grand Ball and masked, BDSM orgy held by La Contessa in her palazzo as the climax to Venice’s Carnivale.

Available from: your favorite online venue.

Lady Sally Rudston-Chichester owns a brass mine in Zanzibar, a Lapsang Souchong tea plantation in China, a rubber farm in Malaysia, trunk loads of corsetry, and the country’s largest collection of antique whips.

Larger than life, and itching to find new and inventive ways to punish her submissive gentlemen, the Edwardian dominatrix has a vision. Embracing the spirit of the age of aviation, she embarks on a series of adventures on her airship, ‘The Corseted Domme’, with her transvestite maid, airship pilot and automaton sex-doll.

A select group of submissive gentlemen is invited to join Lady Sally so she can try out her dastardly, electric and steam-powered devices on them. She spanks, whips and punishes her way across the Empires of Europe, dropping off to visit her aristocratic relatives and friends for afternoon tea.

But Lady Sally’s journey is not uneventful. War is threatening to break out and the Ministry of Aviation want to commandeer her airship for the war effort. And when ‘The Corseted Domme’ has a crash landing, Lady Sally realises there is a stowaway on board intent on sabotaging her airship.

Available from your favorite online venue.

In this BDSM reinterpretation of the Alice stories Kim’s life takes an unexpected twist when she is taken from the massage parlour she works and introduced to a fetish fantasy world ruled over by The Red Queen, a powerful dominatrix. There an intense psychological drama is played out between the two women as Kim enters a journey into submission.

The Red Queen assumes different characters who torment Kim in a series of trials ranging from the funny and strange to the sadistic and erotic. Kim is lured into this world by hints the Red Queen knows something about her past. Why has she been chosen to serve this powerful female? Why is the Red Queen so interested in her? When Kim finally finds out the truth, it is shocking and bizarre.

Available from your favorite online venue.

Enjoy an Excerpt from Mistress of the Air

Revealed in all its magnificent glory, the airship was a wonder to behold. Its length was massive, its girth huge. Its surface was covered with lines of ribs formed by the duralumin framework of the ship. It stood firm and erect on the field, globules of black, engine oil hung from its bulbous tip.

Written proudly along the length of the airship was her name, The Corseted Domme.

The crowd watching from the perimeter fence looked on in amazement. Nothing like it had been seen before. The rumour spread that this contraption was intended to be a flying machine. Wise old codgers nodded sagely muttering that such a thing would never get off the ground. A group from the local Primitive Methodist Chapel exclaimed it was an abomination and a challenge to God, saying that man was never meant to fly and this would end in disaster.

The children had no such reservations. They loved it. They believed it would fly, and Lady Sally’s flying machine, a game in which children ran around with airship shaped objects, became a popular playground pastime in local schools for many years. They would never forget the momentous event they were witnessing. For decades, even after they had become parents or grandparents themselves, they would still tell the tale of when Lady Sally’s giant flying machine was launched. On that one day Lady Sally’s name became written into local legend, never to be forgotten.

The name of the airship created confusion. Ignorant of Lady Sally’s sexual predilections they did not know what to make of it.

“Corseted Dome? And a’ thought ‘er ladyship’d know ‘ow to spell now wouldn’t thee? Eeeh, even I know ‘Dome’ is spelt wi’ one ‘m’ and, ‘ow can a dome have a corset?”

“Eeh, I dunno, Jack, it’s fair flummoxed me,” replied his friend, who was somewhat worse for wear, having drunk a gallon of strong ale.

The moment finally arrived when the airship took to the air for the first time.

Lady Sally’s voice boomed out across the air field.

“Today is a momentous day. Today is a day you will remember for the rest of your lives. Today the age of airships reaches the zenith of its achievement. Today you are witness to the largest and most magnificent flying machine ever to take to the skies. May the Goddess bless her, and all who sail in her.”

With that, Lady Sally Rudston-Chichester smashed a champagne bottle against the side of the passenger coach. The crowd waited expectantly. The power cars fired up, the engines hummed, and the propellers whirred. The wires were released from the mooring tower and docking station and the massive dirigible took off from the ground. Some ran away in fright believing the devil himself had been unleashed, others gasped in amazement. The children leapt up and down in sheer delight. Gradually a ground swell of astonishment and approval rose up amongst the farmers and their families as they stood and gave an almighty cheer, throwing their hats up into the air as the airship soared up to several hundred feet.

Lady Sally Rudston-Chichester was right. They had just witnessed one of the wonders of the age.

About the Author S. Nano is an erotic writer who writes stories with dark and exotic content drawing on the themes of female supremacy, goddess worship, bondage, domination and submission, sado-masochism and fetish, frequently in fantasy, paranormal or historical settings.

His work usually has dominant female characters and submissive males. His stories explore the tensions between dominant and submissive and the boundaries between pain and pleasure, physical and mental bondage and retribution and reward.

Three of his novels have recently been published by House of Erotica. They are all featured here because they have been re-released. Some of his short stories and novellas have also been published by House of Erotica whilst other works of his have been published by Xcite Books, Excessica, Forbidden Fiction, Greenwoman Publishing, Coming Together and Sinful Press.

S. Nano lives in Yorkshire in the United Kingdom.

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Author Interview: Ted Galdi

July 24, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Ted Galdi who is celebrating the recent release of Black Quiet, a Cole Maddox Action Thriller, and the upcoming release of Razor Moon, scheduled for release on August 22.

All of his books, and short stories, are thrillers. However, there are a lot of kinds of thrillers, ie, sub-genres, and his stories are in quite a few.

“Thriller sub-genres are pretty distinctive, so even though all my stories are part of one genre, there’s a lot of variation between them,” he told me. “For example, an action thriller and a psychological thriller may have some commonalities, but the types of characters and plot events can be very different.

“Action thrillers tend to feature main characters highly skilled in combat, who willingly take on dangerous opponents, while psychological thrillers tend to feature main characters without any formal combat training, who fall involuntarily into dangerous situations.”

We asked the author, “How do you develop your plot and characters?”

“Usually, I’ll start coming up with an idea for a story by thinking about some aspect of the world I want to comment on. I’ll then think about how to dramatize my view on this aspect of the world. The characters and plot start coming along from there,” he said. “For example, with my book Lion on Fire (free on Amazon), I wanted to comment on how modern-day college graduates deal with adjusting to life in the adult world. Naturally, a recent college graduate became the main character. To add contrast to the story, the central supporting character became another young guy who viewed adult life very differently than the protagonist. The plot started coming along once I paired these two characters together and thought about how they’d interact in a big city.”

When it comes to plot or characters coming first, Ted said it doesn’t matter which one you focus on first. In the Lion on Fire example above, he had a general sense of two major characters before the plot started developing. Then, once he began building the plot, that gave him ideas for other characters.

He explained, “I made the two initial characters limo drivers who wind up transporting people to underground gambling events in Manhattan. Once I knew they were involved in that world, I came up with a character at the limo company, their boss, and a character who ran the gambling events. Once I had a good sense of how those characters behaved, I got more ideas for plot events.”

He added that the flow could easily work the other way around, where you think of a plot event first, and then picture a type of character who could make for a lot of drama at the center of that event. Things progress from there, with the characters helping build the plot and vice versa.

“What is your work schedule like when you are writing?” I wondered.

“On first drafts, I aim for 2,000 words a day. I don’t always get there, but I’m usually in the ballpark. I tend to do this five days a week. I start pretty early in the day, after breakfast. Before I even get to this stage, I put together a pretty detailed outline. When it’s time to write the actual chapters, the outline really helps. Various connections between scenes have already been figured out. When you’re writing a scene, you can just focus on it, not how it fits into broader plot threads.”

Finally, I asked, “What did you want to be when you grew up?”

“I did know I wanted to be involved in storytelling since I was pretty young. As a kid, that wasn’t all though. I of course wanted to play on three different professional sports teams too. The storytelling thing happened, but I’m still waiting on the sports contracts. New York Yankees – if you’re hiring, email me.”

Cole Maddox just moved back to his hometown in Montana after leaving the Army’s most elite unit because his superiors lied to him. But his town has changed. A ruthless gang of bikers has flooded it with fentanyl, and when Cole’s brother defies them, they put him in a coma.

Big mistake.

Cole unleashes his arsenal of Special Forces skills to take them down. However, he soon learns the gang is only the bottom layer of a criminal network much larger and deadlier than he imagined.

Can Cole get justice for his brother while keeping himself and those closest to him alive? Find out in this fast-paced, adrenaline-surging thrill ride. Available for Kindle, including Unlimited, paperback, and audio – get your copy.

About the Author: Ted Galdi writes suspenseful, smart crime thrillers. His goal is to get your blood and brain pumping when you read his novels and short stories.

He’s a winner of a Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award and a Silver Medal in the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. His titles have hit #1 on Amazon bestseller charts.

Ted has been featured in interviews by ABC and FOX television, iHeart Radio, and other media outlets.

In addition to writing, he teaches online courses to help other writers improve their skills.

To download a free book, and take his free intro writing course, visit his website.

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Buy the book at Amazon.

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Movie Review: Take the Ice

July 24, 2023 By Leave a Comment


Take The Ice
Director: Rachel Koteen
Producer: Rachel Koteen, Judah-Lev Dickstein, and Batya Feldman
Editor: Judah-Lev Dickstein
Rated: 4 Stars (8 stars on IMDB)
Review by: Astilbe
Find the movie on IMDB

Take the Ice is a feature documentary that tells the story of world-class female hockey players fighting for recognition and equality in their sport, and in the process, making history.

Ten-year-old Dani Rylan was obsessed with hockey and dreamed of growing up to play in the NHL. As one of the best players on the Florida state junior team, Dani saw no reason not to have the same ambitions as everyone else. But, as the only girl on the team, “at some point, reality sets in.” Seventeen years later, Dani decided to change the history of the sport by founding the first professional women’s hockey league.

Take the Ice goes behind the scenes as Dani creates the National Women’s Hockey League and 88 elite female athletes compete to win its first championship. As Dani struggles to keep the league afloat, the players must come together in the wake of an on-ice accident that leaves their teammate paralyzed. Take the Ice is a moving, intimate story of a group of elite athletes making strides for recognition and equality, and in the process, making history.

What could be better than making history and setting new records?

This documentary worked for dedicated hockey fans and those of us who virtually know nothing about that sport alike. I appreciated how the director was careful to explain certain aspects of this business like the difference in pay scales and marketing techniques between men’s and women’s hockey that many folks might not be aware of. While most of the screen time was dedicated to the games themselves, it was the player’s stories about the sexism they face that originally piqued my interest. Many of them were discouraged from playing hockey, especially as they grew older and were still the only girls on their youth teams. These early life experiences can discourage women and girls from pursuing all sorts of interests in life, and I nodded along as I compared their love of hockey to my interests in other things that girls aren’t encouraged to do. The joy of seeing young girls cheer for these teams and ask for autographs gave me hope that future generations will feel more comfortable pursuing all of their interests without discouragement.

I had some trouble keeping track of who everyone was. As cool as it was to get so many different perspectives on what it was like to be part of the first season of professional women’s hockey, including all of them meant that there wasn’t much time to invest in any one particular storyline. Taking notes along the way about who was part of which team helped, though, and I’d recommend that to anyone who watches this.

Some of the most interesting scenes to me were the ones that explored the private lives of the players. On the weekends, they were professional hockey players, but all of them had weekday jobs as well due to how little they were paid as athletes. This was in stark contrast to the millions of dollars men make in this field. The medical consequences of playing hockey were shown as well, and I was intrigued by how many risks these women were willing to take with their health despite all of the reasons they had to stop playing.

Take the Ice was a thoughtful look at the birth of the National Woman’s Hockey League.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Movie Review Tagged With: , , , ,

Hollyland by Patricia Leavy – Spotlight and Giveaway

July 21, 2023 By 5 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.
The author will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What happens when a seemingly ordinary woman with a passion for the arts falls in love with a Hollywood star known for his bachelor status and quick temper with the paparazzi? Something extraordinary.

Dee Schwartz is a writer and arts researcher. Ryder Field is a famous actor descended from Hollywood royalty. On the night they meet outside a bar, their connection is palpable. Ryder’s mother—legendary actress Rebecca Field, half of Hollywood’s golden couple when she died—was kidnapped and murdered by a crazed fan in a shocking event that forever tarnished Tinseltown. Dee’s mother, too, died when she was young. Bonded by this loss, the two embark on a love story that explores their search for magic—or “gold dust”—in their lives. Everything changes, however, when Dee mysteriously disappears after an awards ceremony. Is history repeating itself? Can there truly be a happily ever after in Hollywood?

Enjoy an Excerpt

Dee clutched her cell phone and exited the crowded bar to see a line of hopefuls waiting to get in. Looking for a quiet place to take her call, she walked around the corner to the empty side street, the warm LA breeze blowing through her long, chestnut hair. Just as she put the phone to her ear, actor Ryder Field stepped out of the side entrance. With a string of film credits to his name, he was best known for the twelve years he starred as CIA operative Bruce Jones on the hit action television series, The Mission. Examining his tight black jeans and black T-shirt that showed off his muscular, tattooed arms, Dee couldn’t help but notice how impossibly sexy he was. They made eye contact, and she looked down ever so slightly. He smiled at her, and then leaned against the stucco exterior of the building and lit a cigarette.

“Uh, hi. I’m here,” she said, trying to refocus on her call. “Are they freaking out?… I guess you haven’t read it yet,” she said with a laugh. “Well, yeah, you could say that. It might be a little provocative. As soon as we hang up, I’ll text you the bits you should be aware of… Right now?… Jesus, just let me text you in a minute… Fine.” She glanced over at Ryder, he smiled, and took a drag of his cigarette. She looked down, lowered her voice and said, “On page one there’s an explicit oral act in the balcony of a church. Page four, bent over a pew… No, the other thing… Page seven, on the altar…” She glanced up at Ryder who was staring at her, trying to keep a straight face, laughter in his sea-colored eyes. “Well, tell them technically it’s not forbidden in the Bible. I don’t think it’s expressly mentioned… Oh, one more thing. Holy water is used as a metaphor throughout… Think about it… Yeah…” She laughed. “Oh, I can imagine the subject line of that email!… Well, just tell them, ‘Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.’” She laughed. “Yeah, okay. Thanks, bye,” she said, hanging up.

She looked sheepishly at Ryder, who turned to face her, his side against the building. “Sorry about that,” she said.

“I have a million questions about that call,” he said.

She smiled and said, “Have a good night,” turning to leave.

“Wait, you can’t leave me wondering like that. You’re not going to tell me?”

About the Author:Patricia Leavy, PhD, is an award-winning, best-selling author. She was formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Chairperson of Sociology & Criminology, and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College. She has published more than forty books; her work has been translated into many languages, and she has received more than forty book honors. Hollyland was featured on She Reads in “The Most Anticipated Romances of Spring 2023” and was the 2023 Firebird Book Awards 1st Place Winner in Pop Culture Fiction and 1st Place Winner in Summer/Beach Read. Patricia has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” Patricia lives in Maine. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, reading, and travel.

Website | She Writes Press | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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Filed Under: Guest Blogs, Romance Tagged With: , , ,
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