The Timestone Key by Pamela Hearon

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Book Info:
Genre: Romance, fantasy
Publisher: Lyrical Press

As a young child, Halley made a deal with Merlin by accepting a white feather from an owl visiting her room one night. Although she has no memory of the exchange, all her life she’s been drawn to King Arthur and unable to settle down and get married. Finally she decides to live out her dream and visit England for a trip back into the past. Torn between a mysterious vision of Arthur, a Manor Lord, and a doting finance, I read ahead eagerly to see which one she would end up with!

Ms. Hearon weaves history and an age old legend with a modern day fairytale. I’ve always dreamt of going back to the days of King Arthur and meeting all of the characters in the legends. By reading the Timestone key, I got to live out my fantasies through Halley and I learned more about King Arthur at the same time.

Sensual and spiritual, The Timestone Key is a wonderful journey of self realization that ends in pure bliss.

Firefly Beach by Meira Pentermann

Book Info:
Genre: Mystery, Commercial Fiction
Publisher: Lyrical Press
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After the death of her mother and a disappointing divorce, Beth moves to a small cottage in Maine to restart her life and pursue a dream she’d buried in her youth as an artist. She follows a firefly down to a secret beach and finds the journal of a teenage girl who disappeared years ago. Her story leads Beth on a journey that brings her into the pasts of all the townspeople. At first the young girl’s writing inspires her painting to new levels and then it challenges Beth to face her own past.

The details of Firefly Beach give Beth’s story meaning and make it come alive. Ms. Pentermann transports the reader to a cozy town on the breathtaking shores of Maine. As a New Englander myself, I can say her descriptions are spot on and vivid. Underneath all the beautiful description is a mystery that unravels slowly and powerfully. Her novel is about personal relationships and how people are shaped by their past and the decisions they’ve made throughout their lives.

I very much enjoyed sharing in Beth’s success as she overcame her past and her dream as an artist took shape. The townspeople were three dimensional, interesting characters with their own pasts and triumphs and tribulations. The story was a beautiful puzzle to put together and remained a mystery right up until the very last pages where it unwound in profound emotions and truths that came full circle. It was not the way I thought it would be, in fact, the ending pages were far more satisfying!

Firefly Beach is a soothing read that heals at the same time. I recommend it to anyone up for a good mystery and in need of a vacation in which to escape.

Ink in the Blood by Chandra Ryan

Book Info:
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal
Publisher: Lyrical Press
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Isabella has special abilities to change her appearance, but she’s going to need more than her magic to confront her past demons. After a stint in rehab, she’s back on the streets working for the DEA to find local drug sellers. She’s willing to face her past in order to seek revenge on her half brother who’s caused havoc in her life. What she doesn’t expect is falling in love with the human assigned to her brother’s case. Now she has to keep him alive while resisting temptation.

Ink in the Blood is a dark and edgy urban fantasy where potions and magic are considered deadlier weapons than hand guns. There’s a constant, lurking danger that stalks Isabella throughout the read, creating a suspenseful atmosphere that kept me scrolling down to read more. Her chemistry with the human, Jacob, is sizzling and well paced. Their love crosses the boundaries between Asura and human, and cop and former addict. They have a lot to overcome and the tension is palpable. I found myself wondering how Jacob will react to the truth of what she is and how the two of them can outsmart a man that can turn a normal woman insane.

Chompy by Ralph Piccolo

Book Info:
Genre: Children's, Fantasy
Publisher: Gypsy Shadow Publishing
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Anna is a vibrant little girl that likes to explore enchanted forests with her best friend, Mike. They have wonderful adventures with hide and seek underneath tall mushrooms and through thick trees. Mike is her “Dark Knight” of the Pentacle forest and she enjoys pretending to be a princess that he saves. Suddenly, Anna gets sick. Her only hope is a mythical creature hidden deep within the forest. Mike must journey by himself to prove that he truly is her knight and save her.

Chompy is a charming story told in the style and rhythm of an age old fairytale. Although it has magic and a furry little animal that squeaks, it is also very serious with a real life message for children and adults alike. I enjoyed reading about all of the details of the forest and my heart clenched for Anna as she was forced to eat only soup and take x rays at the doctor’s office. The ending left my heart shining.