The Writer's Miracle Method by Debra Landwehr Engle Book Review

About the Book:

Struggling with writer's block or paralyzing self-doubt? The Writer’s Miracle Method offers a powerful spiritual approach to conquering the fears that hold writers back. Rooted in the teachings of A Course in Miracles, this 30-day program helps writers shift from self-criticism to creative flow, building habits that empower you to write with confidence, clarity, and joy.

Designed for writers at any stage, Debra Engle's method combines practical exercises, guided meditations, and mindset shifts to help you break through mental barriers and unleash your creative potential. With more than four decades of experience in publishing and spiritual mentorship, Engle has crafted a proven path to help you overcome fear, embrace your true voice, and thrive as a writer.

 

My Review:

You may be a writer who gets sidetracked even as you are seeking that central place where the noise quiets and you feel safe enough to write. You might strongly feel you have something to say but the voices in your head convince you it is not possible or it will not be good at all. This is a book for people who already know the techniques but need a way to overcome the internal barricades.

Engle provides 31 days of meditative suggestions to overcome the fear, the internal criticism and the procrastination. He work is based on A Course in Miracles. It centers on writing from Love, listening to the thoughts that come from one's Higher Self rather than from one's critical and restrictive ego. I have never read A Course in Miracles but I appreciate the persistent encouragement from Engle to pay attention to Spirit or God, to align with the Higher Self. The goal is to bring your message to the world.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

This book releases in October 2026.

About the Author:

Debra Engle's life has always been about writing and spirituality. She pursued them separately for years but recently combined the two. As a bestselling author, writing mentor, teacher of A Course in Miracles, retreat facilitator, and executive director of Story Summit, she brings a truly unique perspective on writing and life to her readers and mentees. She has had a long publishing career, from newspaper copywriter to book editor to free lance writer. She now serves as executive director of Story Summit. You can find out more at https://www.debraengle.com/home

St. Martin's Essentials, 272 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.u

Making Sense of Life by Simon Cai

About the Book:

In Making Sense of Life, physics PhD and entrepreneur Dr. Simin Cai presents a rational, structured approach to life’s biggest questions. Drawing from science, philosophy, and personal experience, he helps readers develop their own “theory of life”—a consistent, personal framework for happiness, clarity, and fulfillment.

Instead of offering one-size-fits-all answers, Cai encourages readers to ask better questions: What do I value? What assumptions shape my thinking? How can I define a life worth living for me?

With examples across youth, adulthood, and elderhood, Making Sense of Life is an honest, intelligent alternative to superficial self-help. It’s for readers who want depth over hype, logic over slogans, and a framework that evolves with them. It’s a must-read for anyone who values reason, clarity, and practical insight over feel-good slogans.

My Review:

We want to make sense of life but how do we do that? Cai is a physicist and comes at the concept with a physicist's scientific mind. (I have a BS in physics so I understand his thinking.)

He explains how to develop a theory and test it, then form new theories based on changing experiences and circumstances. He suggests imagining many situations to do those tasks. It is an ongoing process and he follows through as one ages. He includes questions at the end of each chapter for personal reflection. He includes examples of people who have developed their own philosophy of life.

While I like his idea of using the scientific method to reason out a philosophy of life, I do wish the book had been written or edited so that a non-scientific person would feel more comfortable going through the processes he suggests.

This book is good for readers who want to develop their own philosophy of life, doing so within the context of the scientific method.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Simin Cai serves as President and CEO for Go!Foton – an optics/photonics technology company. Simin holds a BS degree in Applied Physics from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, China, a Master of Engineering degree in Engineering Optics, and a Ph.D. degree in Physics, both from Stevens Institute of Technology. 

Forbes Books, 200 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

The Bible Companion Book 8 Isaiah-Daniel by Karen Westbrook Moderow Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: The Bible Companion Book 8 Isaiah-Daniel

Author: Karen Westbrook Moderow

Genre: Non-Fiction, Bible Study

Release Date: December, 2025

Are you or someone you love on the wrong path?

The Bible Companion Book 8 Isaiah–Daniel helps us see both warning and hope in the messages of the prophets. A simple one-chapter-a-day format lets you engage with Scripture without the pressure of schedules, homework, or heavy reading loads. Short daily readings and thought-provoking questions connect your story to God’s Word. For personal, group, or homeschool Bible study.

The Major Prophets give us perspectives of judgment that challenge our lifestyles and understanding of God. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel help us see the Lord at work in dark times. Whether you are suffering the consequences of your own sin or caught in the fallout of the choices of others, The Bible Companion Book 8 points you toward a sovereign God whose power redeems tragedies and transforms them into new beginnings.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This volume of Moderow's very helpful series covers some of the most puzzling books in the Bible. She includes charts, timelines and maps that really help clarify what the major prophets have written. She explains what has happened to cause the prophet to speak. There are great insights into how and why God acts as he does. Each chapter includes a thoughtful question that helps us apply the information to our own Christian lives.

I highly recommend this very useful companion to Bible reading. Moderow explains some passages that have puzzled me for decades. The layout of the material makes it a good choice for supplementing daily Bible reading. It could also be used as a resources for teaching and she has included some direction for use in small groups. This is a good book for Christians who would like clarification and good teaching on the major prophets and their writings.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author

KAREN WESTBROOK MODEROW is a Bible teacher and author who brings a storyteller’s perspective to Scripture. She holds master’s degrees in theology and creative writing and loves introducing others to Jesus through the stories told in God’s Word.

More from Karen

In 1997 the car my 18-year-old son Michael and four other teenagers were riding in flipped on a country road. Mike suffered a permanent traumatic brain injury. Before that night, we already knew he was in trouble. He’d been in rehab. Through his program, I’d received an education in drugs and alcohol that opened my naive eyes (and nose) to substances I’d had no experience with. Pot was the least of Mike’s problems but the pungent odor from the water pipe he used to smoke it—a bong—would permeate his clothes and tip me off that he had broken house rules once again. In a sad attempt at humor in those dark days, I became so sensitive to the smell of marijuana that I could probably tell you what country it came from. I hated the stench but more than that, I hated what it told me—that Mike didn’t respect us or the boundaries we’d set to protect him, that he was headed for tragedy, and we were powerless to stop him.

This is probably how the prophets felt as they watched their beloved nations of Israel and Judah rebel against the Lord. The people in these kingdoms blatantly disregarded the laws God gave for their protection. They embraced lifestyles that brought shame to His name and His house. God warned that the path they were on would lead to famine, war, disease, and deportation but they ignored Him even though He described judgment in detail. He named names, times, places. To no avail.

Would Mike have changed his ways if I had been able to see into the future and describe the car accident, the excruciating physical rehab, the permanent mental and physical impairments, and the loneliness he would suffer? Probably not. At least that is what he tells me. (He has given me permission to share his story.) So why wouldn’t he listen? The prophets tell us that sin blinds people to the consequences of their actions.

So, if sinners cannot take the truth to heart, why did God give us the books of prophecy? Second Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” There’s always a chance someone will listen. Pain gets the attention of saint and sinner alike. The prophetic books do warn those on the wrong path, but they also encourage godly people who are caught up in the judgment of the wicked. Anyone who lost a loved one to addiction or drained family resources to give someone a chance at a new life knows what I mean.

Mike required 24-hour care after he was discharged from the hospital. My husband Joe and I built an apartment in our walk-out basement for him. Mike had a caregiver during the day. My younger son David (a high-school junior), my husband Joe and I shared duties at night. We had no elevator. We could walk down the stairs to Mike but for him to join us on the upper level required pushing him up a steep ramp outside. Having dinner together took monumental effort. In winter, it meant dressing Mike warmly then one of us had to don a heavy coat, hat, and gloves, and roll him up the ramp. After dinner, we’d reverse the process. One night I decided to fix my signature spaghetti dinner and serve it downstairs, thinking it might be a better solution.

It was a disaster from beginning to end.

Joe and David were not home yet, and Mike’s caregiver was gone for the day. I was on my own. As I wore myself out with multiple trips up and down the stairs—setting the table, bringing down salad, bread, and drinks—the spaghetti sauce burned. I felt sick looking at the charred flecks bubbling up through the gravy that I had nursed for over three hours. Still, I refused to give up. I ladled sauce over hot pasta and hoped for the best. At last, the family gathered around the small table downstairs, held hands, and gave thanks.

David took the first bite then sat straight up. “Mom,” he said, “what’s up with the spaghetti? It tastes like bong water!” Michael laughed hysterically. I burst into tears. I don’t know what all I said. I sobbed through a litany of frustrations about the dinner and my failures as a wife, mother, caregiver, and person. To put it politely, I was inconsolable. David put his arms around me and said, “Dad, I’m going to put Mom to bed.” Joe—wide eyed because I’d never lost it like this before—nodded and quietly gathered up the plates.

David led me upstairs and tucked me in bed like I was a two-year old. It was oddly comforting. He closed the door softly behind him and then I cried it out.

Bong water? To have my cooking compared to the symbol of the rebellion that had led us to this point was too much. I wasn’t just upset over a ruined meal—I was overcome by exhaustion from a journey that I had not asked for. A journey I had done everything to divert Mike from. A journey that was far from over.

It is precisely when we realize we’re in a difficult place for the long haul that we most need the message God gives through the prophets. He says, “Don’t give up, pain doesn’t last forever. Cry, I hear you. Rest, I’ll restore you. Trust me, I will take care of you. I am using this tragedy to prove myself to you and everyone watching you.”

It took a while before I could believe it, but God keeps His word. I found that out the hard way.

Ever so-often when I fix spaghetti (still a family favorite) one of us will bring up the bong water incident. Today, we can laugh about it because in the intervening years, Mike has come to the Lord, and God has sustained our family with miracle after miracle. Thinking about burned spaghetti sauce no longer brings tears because what God has done has stripped that moment of its power. The despair I felt then has been redeemed. That dinner is now a memory that binds our family together. It reminds us how far we’ve come and how faithful God is.

That’s what the books of the prophets will do for us. If God can redeem that stubborn, sinful people, He can redeem us. If He can give them a future, He can do the same for us. The Lord transforms tragedy into triumph. Every time. For believers, bong water is never the end of the story.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 2

Simple Harvest Reads, July 3 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, July 4 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, July 5 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 6

Fiction Book Lover, July 7 (Author Interview)

The Bookish Ledger, July 8 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 8

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, July 9 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, July 10

Books, Books, & More Books, July 11 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 12 (Author Interview)

Cover Lover Book Review, July 13

Books Less Travelled, July 14 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, July 14

Lots of Helpers, July 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

 https://gleam.io/asz8O/the-bible-companion-book-8-isaiah-daniel-celebration-tour-giveaway

   

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Those Who Shall Die by Michael Bradley Blog Tour Book Review

 

THOSE WHO SHALL DIE

by Michael Bradley

June 22 - July 17, 2026 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

A collective of mystery writers, known as the Society of Fibbers, has captivated thousands with their addictive podcast—catapulting each member into the limelight. But when one of their own is found dead under chilling circumstances, the remaining Fibbers realize their newfound fame may have painted a target on their backs.

Rebecca Stanchion, one of the group’s co-founders, is convinced her friend’s murder is a tragic case of domestic violence—until a sinister attempt on her own life shatters that theory and threatens her family. Meanwhile, Zach Hargrove, a fellow writer, becomes obsessed with the cryptic black cards left at both crime scenes. Each card seems to whisper a warning: the killer is watching.

Is this the work of a fan driven to madness, or has betrayal seeped into the heart of the Society itself? As an annual writers’ conference approaches, Zach and Rebecca race against time to unmask the killer before the Society of Fibbers’ headline appearance turns into a deadly final act.

Praise for Those Who Shall Die:

"Michael Bradley has done it again! Those Who Shall Die is a thrilling novel of mystery and suspense, a tense and twisty page-turner that will leave you desperate to learn who is killing mystery authors and why."
~ Lisa Malice, bestselling author of Lest She Forget, winner of the 2023 IBPA Best New Voice in Fiction award.

"A well-written, clever whodunit with crafty twists that will keep readers guessing."
~ Jennifer Sadera, award-winning author of I Know She Was There.

"... keeps the reader's head spinning as secrets emerge, friendships fail, alliances dissolve, and animosities rise to surface until the final betrayal is revealed. A page turner that plumbs the depths of ambition, betrayal, and murder."
~ Jane Kelly, Author of the Meg Daniels mysteries.

Those Who Shall Die Book Trailer:

My Review:

The plot of this novel has the interesting concept of writers of murder mysteries finding themselves having to solve a real mystery in the murder of one of their own. Zach and Rebecca find it is much easier to write a mystery than to solve one. Solve it they must as it becomes evident the murderer has more deaths planned. The possible suspects are many.

The members of the Society of Fibbers are all quite different and I liked the characterizations. One fellow was such an egotist I wanted to slap him. His character was so well drawn I was amazed to ultimately find out he wasn't all bad. There was the public relations guy who was sure his over written tome would be a best seller yet he couldn't even get an agent to read past the first few poorly written pages.

While giving readers good insight into the world of mystery writers, it is also a good mystery in itself. I was not surprised at the villain as Bradley gave us a couple of great early hints. The plot is well paced as the suspense builds and his writing style kept me turning pages. This is a good novel for readers who would like to know what mystery writers might be like, especially when confronted with their own murder mystery.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Book Details:

Genre: Amateur Sleuths, Suspense Thrillers
Published by: Initium Books
Publication Date: July 7, 2026
Number of Pages: 388
ISBN: 9780986200243 (ISBN10: 0986200247)
Book Links: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | BookBub

Read an excerpt:

Chapter One

Zach Hargrove held the serrated hunting knife in a white-knuckled grip as he silently crept forward. No room for mistakes this time. This had to be silent, swift and deadly. Just one fierce thrust into the carotid artery. It would be messy, but she had to die.

Nellie sat—unmoving—in a black leather office chair, facing the third-floor windows that looked out over Old Mill Creek. If she was aware that he was behind her, she gave no sign. Her dark straggly hair hung over the back of the chair in tangled clumps. Zach couldn’t remember the last time he’d run a brush through it. She needed a wash too, but he’d given up on that long ago. Nellie had been exactly what he needed at first, but after so many years, she’d become more of a burden than a help. He hated having to move her heavy, awkward body from chair to chair, room to room. Caring for her had become arduous. No one would miss Nellie if he got rid of her . . .

Her head tilted to the right, blocking her neck from his view, and he hesitated. He wouldn’t be able to strike cleanly from this direction with her head tilted. He swapped the knife from his right hand to his left. The rubber handle felt awkward in his grasp. A few practice swings with his non-dominant hand felt odd and clumsy, so he tried some overhead plunges. Maybe he could stab Nellie in the back of the neck instead. A quick blow to sever her spinal cord, and she’d die in seconds. What if he yanked her head back and ran the knife across her neck, slitting it open from side to side? He shook his head. Too clichéd. Everyone slashed throats these days. He toyed, for a moment, with driving the knife through the back of the chair and into Nellie’s back. I’d never get the knife deep enough to kill her, he thought. She’d survive with a flesh wound—if that happened, he’d never hear the end of it.

With a frown, he shifted the knife back to his right hand and decided to continue with his original plan: one fast jab to the right side of the neck. Zach glanced at his prey. Nellie remained still, oblivious of what he was about to do. He inched forward, his gray Skechers silent on the plush beige carpet. His fingers tightened on the knife handle, and he drew his arm back. The muscles on his shoulder were taut, but his arm had a slight tremble. He had to get this right on the first try.

After two more cautious steps, he stood behind Nellie, staring down at a scalp of unkempt hair. Oh, how he hated that hair. With one barbaric swing, he brought his arm down, but the blow didn’t go quite as planned. The knife tip deflected off her head, tangled in a clump of hair, and plunged into Nellie’s shoulder.

“Damn it,” Zach shouted.

He stood for a moment, studying his handiwork. Nellie slumped forward, the knife standing tall in her shoulder.

He tried to withdraw the knife slowly, but the serrated blade caught on several threads and tore the seam in Nellie’s shoulder. Clumps of polyester stuffing—like giant cotton balls—tumbled out of the hole and fell to the floor. Zach let out a long sigh as he placed the knife on the nearby desk. Now he’d have to sew her up. He spun the office chair around and stared at Nellie. Her featureless face and black button eyes stared blankly back at him. Patches—both big and small—covered her arms, abdomen, head, and legs—scars of the many instances of his mistreatment.

“I’m glad you don’t hold a grudge,” he said.

Zach wrapped his arms around the life-size dummy and lifted her out of the chair, her canvas skin rough on his bare arms. A trail of white filling marked his steps as he manhandled her across the room and propped her up on the sofa.

Dropping into his desk chair, he reviewed the previous few paragraphs he’d written just before he attempted to kill Nellie. The murder scene “seemed” to flow, but he wasn’t satisfied with the way it turned out. His antagonist—the mysterious Mr. Price—had entered the home of Dallas Kincaid with the intention of killing Kincaid’s new girlfriend. But Zach had found the scene difficult to write. There was something about the logistics that bothered him, hence his attempt to “kill” Nellie, his long-time partner for acting out crime scenes. For her part, Nellie had endured a dozen or more stabbings, being thrown from windows, run over by cars, and even shot twice. And yet she never once complained.

Zach stood again, snatched a Bic pen from the desk, and paced around the room, pausing on occasion to glance out the windows that covered all four walls. The third floor of his house, his “Author’s Loft,” as he liked to call it, had a 360-degree view of the surrounding yard as well as the creek that flowed past the back of his property. The small Delaware town of Lewes hadn’t been his first choice of places to call home. But when he’d first toured the house three years ago, the bright openness of the room couldn’t have been more perfect for him. It satisfied his need for a place to write, and the room’s openness was preferred over the more confined spaces he’d seen in every other house he’d toured. He’d put an offer on the place immediately and moved in a month later.

As he paced, Zach furiously clicked the button on the pen with his thumb. He passed the lone bookshelf, stuck in the corner between the adjoining walls’ windows, and paused to study the colorful hardback spines of his previous eight Dallas Kincaid Mystery novels. Five of them had become New York Times bestsellers, but not the last two. His protagonist, Dallas Kincaid, had become increasingly more difficult to write over the past couple years. The character had become too clichéd, too much like every other amateur detective in the market, and Zach was struggling to keep each new book fresh and original. He was ready for something new, something different.

“This will be the last Kincaid novel,” he’d told his agent, Mariah Maddison.

“Don’t be too hasty,” she’d said. “You might regret those words once the book is released.”

With a sigh, Zach slipped the Bic pen into his pants pocket, returned to his desk, and hovered his fingers over the keyboard of his laptop. He stared at the text on the screen, the words fading together into a jumble of pixels that made no more sense than when he’d read them a few minutes ago.

Pushing back from the desk, he growled, “Hell,” and stood, rounding the half wall that hid the stairs from view and descended into the house below.

In the kitchen, Zach grabbed a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale from the fridge, twisted the top off and took a long sip. A calendar—tacked to a nearby corkboard—was open to the month of June. A quick glance over the dates made his stomach churn. He had until mid-July to finish the first draft of the next Dallas Kincaid novel. That gave him six weeks. The manuscript was only thirty percent done. He sighed as he eyeballed the next few weeks. There was an upcoming recording session for the Society of Fibbers podcast. A book signing with Jasper Stone and Martina Vargas in Virginia. He flipped up the calendar page and looked over July. The week after Independence Day was blocked out for ThrillNYC in New York City. Damn, that only gives me five weeks to finish the book. His stomach twisted in knots as his anxiety rose.

Zach moved through the open dining room to the sliding glass door, stepped onto his back deck, and gazed out across the creek. The tide was out, and the muddy banks were exposed to the Tuesday afternoon sun. An eagle was perched in the tree that hung over the water. The lush cordgrass stood tall along the edges of the creek, outlining the maze of the twisting waterway. A gentle breeze rustled the tips of the grass. The faint aroma of marsh water punctuated each deep breath. So peaceful. So relaxing. He closed his eyes and listened to the tranquility around him. But it did little to subdue the angst within him. When was his next therapy appointment? Maybe it was time to try some of the meds his therapist had so often suggested.

From within the house, the shrill of his mobile phone interrupted the serenity of the moment. Moving back into the kitchen, he scooped up the phone from the counter where he’d left it.

The voice that greeted him was grave and somber. “Zach? It’s Rebecca. Something terrible has happened. Martina Vargas is dead.”

***

Excerpt from Those Who Shall Die by Michael Bradley. Copyright 2026 by Michael Bradley. Reproduced with permission from Michael Bradley. All rights reserved.

 

 

Author Bio:

Michael Bradley is an award-winning author from Delaware who started life as a radio disc jockey, working at stations in New Jersey and West Virginia. His time in radio provided him with a wealth of fond, enduring, and sometimes scandalous memories that he hopes to one day commit to paper.

After spending eight years “on-the-air,” he realized that he needed to get a real job. He has spent the next twenty or so years working in Information Technology. And yes, he has said “try turning it off and on again” more times than he wants to admit.

Never one to waste an experience, he used his familiarity with life on the radio for many of his suspense novels. His third novel, DEAD AIR (2020), won a Foreword INDIES Award and a IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award.

Learn more about Michael Bradley and his books:

mbradleyonline.com
Amazon Author Profile
Goodreads - @mjbradley88
BookBub - @mjbradley88
Instagram - @mjbradley88
Threads - @mjbradley88
Facebook - @mjbradley88

 

Tour Participants:

Click through the other tour stops for can’t-miss reviews, insider interviews, exclusive guest posts, and more chances to win!

Click here to view the Tour Schedule

 

 

Win Before The Next Victim Falls

This giveaway is hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Michael Bradley. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

THOSE WHO SHALL DIE by Michael Bradley | Gift Card & Books

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I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Liar's Creek by Matt Goldman

About the Book:

Riverwood, Minnesota is a scenic town threaded with trout streams carving their way through limestone bluffs. But beneath its picturesque facade, danger runs rampant.

Clay Hawkins isn’t a stranger to the secrets of his hometown. After twenty years away, Clay has recently returned home from abroad with his twelve-year-old son, and his relationship with his father, the recently replaced sheriff, is as strained as ever.

But when Clay’s beloved uncle disappears, the three generations of Hawkinses must overturn every stone in Riverwood and confront deep familial wounds to find the one person who brings them together. As danger looms, Clay worries that it might be too late to save his uncle―and that the rest of the family might be next.

My Review:

This novel was different than I have come to expect from Goldman. This is more an exploration of relationships than mystery. It is for readers who like a slower pace with more emphasis on small town characters. There are secrets that come to light but the pace is slower than what I am used to from him. It is a good choice for readers who like a character driven mystery.

My rating; 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Matt Goldman is New York Times Best Selling author and Emmy Award winning TV writer. He has been nominated for a Shamus Award and is a Nero Award Finalist. His TV credits include Seinfeld, Ellen, and The New Adventures of Old Christine.

Minotaur Books, 336 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Conspiracy by Colleen Coble Audiobook Review

About the Book:

Just as wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden begins to envision a future with Blake Lawson, the ghosts of her past return with a vengeance. The murder of her parents has shadowed her for fifteen years, but a new threat brings the cold case into the terrifying present. A trained leopard--a chilling embodiment of Paradise's deepest fears--is now stalking her.

Haunted by resurfacing memories, Paradise, Blake, and her newfound brother, Drew, follow a trail of clues that leads them into a web of dark family secrets. The deeper they dig, the more shocking the connections become, linking their families to a dangerous conspiracy that someone is still willing to kill to protect.

With every step closer to the truth, the killer becomes more desperate. Paradise, Blake, and Drew must race to expose a murderer who has remained hidden for fifteen years, but this time, they are the ones being stalked. If they can't unmask the killer, the past will destroy both the fragile future Paradise and Blake are trying to build and the family she has finally found with her brother.

A conspiracy of lemurs is a family. But a conspiracy of people can be deadly.

My Review:

This novel finishes the Sanctuary series, featuring a private wild animal park in Alabama. It wraps up all the mysteries and secrets in the previous books and has a good amount of suspense. Much of the drama revolves around Paradise attempting to solve the murder of her parents some time ago. Secrets are uncovered and danger results. The importance of family is a prominent theme in this novel.

It was a pleasure listening to this novel. Peakes did a wonderful job of conveying the southern aspect of the characters. Her voices of the kids were the best.

Coble has worked the stories of three series, the Pelican Harbor and Tupelo Grove series and now culminating in the Sanctuary series. Readers who have enjoyed getting to know Hez, Savannah, Simon and others will enjoy this novel too.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author/Narrator:

USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Colleen Coble has captivated readers with over 6 million books in print, earning #1 spots on Amazon. Her novels blend suspenseful plots, emotional depth, and faith-filled redemption that keep fans turning pages late into the night.

Karen Peakes did a great job on the narration. I loved hearing the southern voices, especially those of the younger ones. This book was a joy to listen to.

Thomas Nelson, 9 hours 56 minutes.

I received a complimentary audio file of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Twist of Time by Tricia Goyer and Nathan Goyer Blog Tour Book Review

 

About the Book

Book: Twist of Time (The Clockwork Chronicles Book 3)

Authors: Tricia Goyer & Nathan Goyer

Genre: Historical sci-fi with a steampunk twist

Release Date: June 9, 2026

They thought they were fighting a war. They didn’t know it was the end of time.

In 1945, war rages across Europe, but deep beneath Prague, another kind of battle is unfolding. It’s a fight not just for land or power but for the very soul of humanity.

Kateřina Dubová, a brave journalist turned spy, receives a mysterious gift from a high-ranking Nazi officer―a jewel tied to a terrifying prophecy. Clues draw her deep into ancient secrets hidden within Prague Castle and a clock that may hold the power to save the world . . . or bring about its destruction.

Kateřina joins forces with Josef Loew, a gifted inventor; Theodora, a daring mafia spy gone rogue; and Dante, a historian with a powerful artifact of his own. Together, they unravel a chilling plot rooted in mysteries that whisper from beyond the veil.

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My Review

This imaginative novel is entertaining. It features dedicated heroes willing to sacrifice their own well being to save their beloved country. It has steam punk machines, spiritual beings, glimpses into spiritual battles, and a suspenseful ending.

A different take on WW II, it has armies of darkness in battle with warriors of light. There is a possible gateway to an evil world of powerful creatures. The heroes battle a power capable of tearing the world apart.

The Goyers have created a novel that reflects the actual history of the resistance of Prague citizens during WW II. They draw a parallel between the actual physical resistance and the spiritual battle happening in the unseen realm. It is an imaginative and informative novel.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my reviews of the earlier books in this series: Breath of Bones, and Flight of Fate.

 

About the Authors

Tricia Goyer is a celebrated writer, speaker, and co-host of the Daily Bible Podcast. Author of 80 books, Tricia has won four Golden Scrolls, two Carols, and a Christian Book Award. In addition to Christy and Gold Medallion nominations, her book sales exceed 4 million copies. Tricia is a highly sought-after conference speaker, sharing on writing, parenting, and purposeful living. Tricia’s most recent work, The Clockwork Chronicles, is a historical steampunk fantasy trilogy co-authored with her son, Nathan Goyer.

Nathan Goyer is an upstart designer and science fiction author who has been writing since he was young. He has written the novel Bask: City of Shadows and solo-developed the mobile RPG game Heedless, which has surpassed 30,000 downloads. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas Little Rock, he is now pushing forward with new endeavors, starting with his latest series, The Clockwork Chronicles, co-authored with his mother, Tricia Goyer.

More from Tricia and Nathan

The Heart Behind the Gears: The Final Battle at Old Town Hall

By Tricia Goyer (with Nathan Goyer)

Writing has always been a way for me to explore the quiet corners of history. This was true for my newest novel Twist of Time. Through this book, I step into a world that is both familiar and utterly mysterious. The book is set in Prague in 1945. I first visited Prague as a wannabe writer in 2001. Then, in 2008, I went back with my family and our church group. I’ve been there numerous times, most recently in 2024 when I was working on this book. I was able to go underground underneath the clock to see where the resistance fighters hid.

Collaborating with my son, Nathan, on the conclusion of The Clockwork Chronicles has been a highlight of my career. We wanted to take the grit of May 1945 Prague and weave it together with the ancient, ticking secrets of the Orloj—the city’s famous astronomical clock.

In this final chapter, the stakes are anchored in the very real, devastating history of the Prague Uprising. On May 8, 1945, the Old Town Hall became a focal point of fierce resistance. As the German forces retreated, they directed heavy fire toward the building, leading to a catastrophic fire that destroyed the municipal archives and heavily damaged the clock. We imagined our characters, Katerina and Josef, caught in this chaos, where the smoke of history meets the supernatural shadows hinted at throughout this series.

While the town hall burned, the Czech resistance fought with everything they had. In our story, this physical battle is a mirror to a much larger, spiritual confrontation. We often think of history as a series of dates, but I believe it is actually a tapestry of souls choosing light over darkness.

Researching the legends of Prague Castle and the hidden depths beneath the city inspired us to ask: What would you do if you realized the war you were fighting was only a shadow of a much larger battle?

We hope this story of Josef, Theodora, Dante, and Katerina reminds you that even when time seems to be running out, hope is never late. I am so grateful to have you join us for this tour. Whether you have been with us since the first gear turned or you are just now discovering this world, we hope Twist of Time keeps you breathless until the very end.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 29

Lily’s Corner, June 30

Simple Harvest Reads, July 1 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 1

Inspired by Fiction, July 2

Artistic Nobody, July 3 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, July 4 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 5 (Spotlight)

Fiction Book Lover, July 6 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, July 7

The Bookish Ledger, July 8 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, July 8

Texas Book-aholic, July 9

Books, Books, & More Books, July 10 (Spotlight)

For Him and My Familly, July 11

Life on Chickadee Lane, July 12

Giveaway

 

To celebrate their tour, Tricia and Nathan are giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/dV2pP/twist-of-time-celebration-tour-giveaway

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)

Murder in the Reading Room by Anita Davison

About the Book:

Aunt Violet and her niece Hannah have a bookshop to run. But after a customer comes in asking for a rare book, Hannah takes a visit to the reading room of the British Library – a glorious domed building in the middle of the British Museum courtyard – to find out more

Hannah has barely finished making her request when a man at one of the hundreds of desks slumps over his work. Within moments, it becomes clear he is dead, stabbed in broad daylight, in the middle of the reading room surrounded by oblivious academics.

The reading room is an exclusive space where no one can enter or leave without detection. Yet the initial investigation yields no weapon, no witnesses, and no apparent motive.

But then Aunt Violet discovers the victim had been researching the unearthing of a lost piece of Italian sculpture. And Hannah –despite her new husband’s firm insistence that she let the police do their job – finds herself unable to resist the temptation of investigating just one more murder. 

My Review:

This is another fun cozy mystery from Davison. The characters are great. Aunt Violet is a force and good at getting to places for obtaining information. I like Matilda's involvement too. Aidan, retired from the police force still has the knack and finally puts all the clues together. A possible valuable antique is at the center of the murder mystery. We are not sure whether it is real or a fake until the end. This is a fun series of historical cozy mysteries.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

You can read my review of the previous book in this series, Murder at the Wedding.

About the Author:

Anita is the author of the Flora Maguire Mysteries and the Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mysteries set in WWI from Boldwood Books.TBook 1 Murder in the Bookshop, Book 2 Murder in the Library, Book 3 Murder at Midwinter Manor, Book 4 Murder in Covent Garden and Book 5 Murder at the Wedding are all available in E-Book, Audio and Paperback. Book 6 in the series Murder in the Reading Room is due for release on 29th June 2026.

Boldwood Books, 280 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley og this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

(My star ratings: 5-An exceptional book, 4-Better than average, relevant and liked by me, 3-It is average, 2-It is below average and not liked by me, 1-It is practically unreadable.)