Miriamne the Magdala
By JB Richards

Through the pages of Miriamne the Magdala readers are guests invited to a fascinating period of history. We benefit from the research of a historian combined with the sensitivity of a novelist to produce a work of epic proportion. Because of the massive scope of the book, one review is not sufficient. Three reviews are required.

First is entertaining anthropology. Through meticulous details we gain an understanding of a time at the beginning of one of the world’s major religions. The reader is walking through the marketplace, sitting down to dinner with an extended family, tasting lamb, smelling spices, wearing the finest clothing, and celebrating key life moments. We are given a special look into the culture from table settings, bathing rituals, animal husbandry, and so much more. Readers become part of the family through clever dialogue, comical action, and strong emotions.

Second is the love story between a young man and a young woman. It is a reminder of the excitement of first love in the electricity of touch, the easy conversation, and the enjoyment of companionship. You can feel the growing affection between Yeshua (Jesus) and Miri (Mary Magdalene). You feel for the young lovers because of the difficulty of expressing a burning passion in a culture thick with laws and customs.

Closed-minded conservatives may cringe at the portrayal of the Messiah as a young man with emotional struggles and intimate feelings for a young girl. Open-minded realists will be enchanted by the human side of a historic figure.

Third is weaving throughout the story of the supernatural. There are angels among us – as messengers, as advisors, and oracles. Never far from the narrative of the story are the growing pains of a man with a mission feeling the weight of responsibility. We witness a teenager grow to understand his power with control and restraint with the ever-present hope of healing.

With all the discussion of Miriamne the Magdala, the most moving for me was the ability of the author to relate life 2000 years ago to our lives. One example is an occasion when Yeshua and Miri sat in the garden and looked at the stars; the same stars in our heavens. It is a story about love for each other, a love for humankind, in a world we all share.

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100 Wild Mushrooms – Memoirs of the ‘60s
By Eva Pasco

“Dancing with quahogs” – just one of the reasons to read 100 Wild Mushrooms. The collection of memoirs revisits one of the most influential decades in American history from the viewpoint of a teenage girl in middle-America. Vivid stories come alive with details covering family life in Rhode Island in the midst of a cultural revelation, overseas war, civil rights movement, the space race, and the point in history when television began to influence daily life.

You don’t have to be a child of the 60’s to enjoy this book. Whether you’re 60 or 20, you can ride in the backseat of the family car, fighting with your sister with the absence of seat belts. Short chapters make reading easy with insight, humor, and on-point commentary worthy of a talented wordsmith. Pages include memories of wringer washers, Ed Sullivan, Captain Kangaroo, Saturday morning cartoons, roller skating in the basement, encouraging a suntan instead of discouraging with sun block, the Beach Boys and the Beatles, along with questionable diet choices with Halloween and Easter candy binges. It also chronicles how world events affected people as those events came in our living rooms on the TV screen.

How can I relate to these stories? How about growing up in the 60’s with three older sisters.  Those home permanents really did stink.

100 Wild Mushrooms is more than an enjoyable read. It belongs among the best of thousands of history and anthropology books about the era. To truly understand the 1960’s, it is important to know what happened on Main Street as well as Dealey Plaza, Woodstock, the Lorraine Motel, Khe Sanh, and the Sea of Tranquility.

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Fallen Gods
by Aliya DalRae

For lovers of fantasy, supernatural, and paranormal – visit a small town in Ohio for an unexpected gathering of the Legion (very-alive vampires) who battle centuries-old enemies. In the pages of Fallen Gods you will find a wealth of conflicts worthy of page turning – loyalty of family and friends, right vs. wrong, good vs. evil, vengeance vs. forgiveness, and urges vs. reason.           

The fifth installment in the Fallen Cross Legion series centers around the passionate romance between two main characters from different worlds – both with secrets that threaten the relationship and even survival. The story takes place in current times with important flashbacks to medieval adventures involving supernatural activities emerging from the shadows.

Like all the novels in the series, Fallen Gods can be enjoyed as a stand-alone read. I recommend the entire series for ultimate enjoyment. As extra incentive, an introduction to additional interesting characters gifts readers with a tantalizing promise of installment number six – Jun’s story.

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Timur’s Escape
by Tabi Slick

Timur’s Escape is a revelation to a part of history seldom visited. The Ottoman Empire (between the 14th and early 20th centuries) is an important part of the world today in culture and politics. Don’t dismiss this work as a history textbook. It’s a story entertaining to a large audience. The author invites the reader to move beyond facts and figures to immerse in a bygone lifestyle and intense emotions. The novel is a seamless blend of history, culture, romance, intrigue, and paranormal adventure.

Readers have the opportunity to inhabit the mind of a vampire including desires, instinct, and a touch of humanity in the form of bloodlust restraint. Intense research brings awareness to family life and ancient traditions interwoven with complex layers of government dynamics. Through all the pages you will root for love to win.

I believe the end of the book is not the end of the story. There is still a wealth of historic events and exciting relationships to explore through the talented pen of Ms. Slick.

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Aileen’s Guesthouse
by Eva Pasco

Aileen’s Guesthouse includes romance, coming-of-age, small town living, even a dash of entrepreneurship – all background for an in-depth study of resiliency of the human spirit confronted with grief and guilt. The novel follows the story of a young woman in the 1970’s overcoming trauma, dealing with relationships, and plotting her future.

The author takes what seems to be ordinary people to create an extraordinary and captivating story. An involved reader experiences sympathy for those suffering loss and empathy for those who feel responsible.

A wealth of descriptive information is eased into the narrative to create a high level of fiction writing. Small-town characters combined with transient eccentric house occupants add a richness to the prose. Appropriate backstories bring understanding of motivations and clues to consequences.  

Ms. Pasco believes in the notion of location as a major character. The Rhode Island seacoast captures the pros and cons of tourism, local and international cuisine, abundant nature among shorebirds and seagulls, and problematic ocean currents.

This page-turner holds our attention while presenting lessons for the reader in the importance of positive relationships and the ability to follow the heart in spite of significant obstacles.

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Marianna Mystery: Behind the Lens
by Kristin O’Ferrall

Marianna is a fourteen-year-old sleuth with a natural curiosity, powers of observation, and a talent for cognitive thinking. The story comes at a transformative time with the end of middle school moving into high school and the summer in between. Enemies became allies, relationships are tested, with questionable tactics that cross ethical lines.

Mysteries to solve include the comical case of the clogged toilets, uncovering a secret society, missing ID badges for lovelorn reasons, to an interstate dragnet to corner a con artist. Marianna uses all the evidence gathering techniques at her disposal: objects found, interviews, tailing a suspect, and the power of social media.

The story is heartfelt highlighting the dynamics of friendship and family with a positive theme of forgiveness. A tribute to the author with the ability to capture the lives of teenagers for a story that’s interesting and believable. Recommended for all YA enthusiasts.

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Fallen Leader
by Aliya DalRae
#7 in The Fallen Cross Legion Series

Opposites attract – just how opposite? Fallen Leader is a vampire saga that explores the questions of mortality and promiscuity – a clash of reputations, honor, duty, and attraction. Rebecca is running from her past and all those associated with that past. Mason, the current Warlord of the Fallen Cross Legion, is tracking a past mentor and leader who has lost all empathy for the human world. Fate puts them on the same plane toward danger and emotional entanglements.

Through a series of adventures, the two must admit their true feelings toward each other. Both are hiding secrets with possible devastating effects on the relationship. The chase and encounters climax in an inevitable classic battle of good vs. evil plus the concept of love conquers all.

The action leaves rural Ohio to the explore fascinating locations in Europe. Interspersed throughout Fallen Leader are backstories of recruiting Legion members to develop personalities and motivations, pulling the series together to understand and entertain.

I recommend reading the entire series to follow the lives and adventures of Legion members. Each adventure concentrates on a particular relationship as a stand-alone story. Ms. DalRae continues to share a unique perspective on vampire literature, turning monsters into action heroes and compassionate lovers.

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The Footsteps of Death – An Italian Murder Mystery
by P.J. Mann

The seven book in the series following the detective work of Commissario Scala.

A wealthy window is strangled in the bedroom of her mansion. Few clues and little evidence make this case especially difficult to solve. The case must rely on investigating relatives, employees, and acquaintances. More murders take place, each new victim completely changing the direction of the investigation. As winter approaches, both the weather and the case turn cold. Frustration is followed by Scala’s persistence, looking into second and third levels of connections to discover the murderer.

Rome is highlighted – using the location as an extra character with sights, sounds, tastes, and locations of annoying traffic jams. The investigative team is filled with interesting personalities adding witty repartee to break up the tension.

The author presents an intelligent caper without page-clogging fruitless fisticuffs, shoot outs, or car chases. A more realistic look at detective work is presented with Scala’s meticulous method of using every technique of modern evidence gathering. A recommended read for no-nonsense crime story enthusiasts.

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Choosing the Slain
by Amy Cissell

Amy Cissell has written what is destined to be the beginning of a popular fantasy book series. The story begins with a woman with mounting personal, professional, and mental problems. As her life falls apart in Santa Fe, Frankie embarks on a field trip to her hometown. To achieve this feat, she must rely on a cat and a companion of undisclosed motives. There is a good balance of action and explanation to keep the pages turning. The ability to weave Norse mythology into the life of a present-day, relatable character is the genius behind this developing fiction series.

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A Moment with the King
by K.A. Masterson

A background of knights, kingdoms, castles, menacing forests, battles, bandits, and betrayal are settings for A Moment with the King. Emryll processes a heart full of passion under a suit of armor and behind a sharp sword. As a young girl with clairvoyant ability, she saves the life of a prince and future king. The incident created a special connection between the girl and the prince. Her only request for a reward is to become a knight.

Over the next decade her strength and agility matched all knights over what were thought to be unsurmountable odds – heavy armor concealing her gender and beauty. Before becoming a knight, a coup makes her flee the castle with the once prince – now king. While escaping for survival, barriers of protocol disappear to allow emerging sexual tension. Political alliances and reward promises give hope to regaining the throne and threaten any chance for love.  

Readers will appreciate the author’s gradual world-building elements to avoid being overwhelmed with a bombardment of names and descriptions. Medieval fantasy fans will be captivated by the awe-inspiring scenes, the varied personalities of the characters, the chilling action, and moments of surrender to true love.

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