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Academic Affairs: A Poisoned Apple

January 16th, 2018

Title: Academic Affairs: A Poisoned Apple Available in both paperback and Kindle formats Author: Peter Likins Reviewed for the NABBW by: Anne L. Holmes I am a huge fan of the cozy mystery genre. When I’m not reading and reviewing books on behalf of the NABBW, I’m always deep into a cozy of my choice. So I was delighted to be invited to dig into Academic Affairs: A Poisoned Apple, by Peter Likins, which is described as a “whimsical murder mystery novel.” (In other words, a “cozy.”) If you’re not familiar with the genre, think Jessica Fletcher. The “Murder... Read More

Curse of the Coloring Book: A Novel Inspired by a True Story

January 6th, 2018

Title: Curse of the Coloring Book: A Novel Inspired by a True Story  Available in paperback Author: Howard L. Hibbard Reviewed for the NABBW by: Anne L. Holmes Anyone who came of age during the era of the Vietnam War will resonate with this book. Curse of the Coloring Book tells the story of Herald Lloyd who, in the Fall of 1967 recklessly quits college to join the Army.  Once signed up, he mocks the war and his decision to sign up, with the purchase of a GI Joe Coloring Book and half-gallon of whiskey. Then, with his induction papers in his pocket, and along with a set of crayons stolen... Read More

Mink Eyes

January 4th, 2018

Title: Mink Eyes Available in both paperback and Kindle formats Author: Max McBride Reviewed for the NABBW by: Anne L. Holmes The time is the mid-80’s. October 1986, to be precise. As the book opens, we meet Peter O’Keefe – described to the reader as being taller than 6 feet, and a physically scarred and emotionally battered, divorced, Vietnam vet – and his daughter Kelly. It’s just after 5 A.M., as O’Keefe, who lives in the lower level apartment of a Victorian house, in a regentrifying neighborhood, wakes up, climbs out of bed, dresses and begins his usual,... Read More

Games of Make Believe Delivers Believability

May 6th, 2017

Title: Games of Make-Believe Author: Julie Ann Wambach Reviewed by: Anne Holmes For the NABBW Given the book’s title, it makes sense that it opens with a “once upon a time” fairy-tale format. Chapter One, “A Past So Grimm,” begins: “Once upon a time, in an old house, way out in the Utah desert there lived many children. The mother was nice to her own two daughters. They were her favorites and she treated them like princesses. The mother was nasty to the other youngsters because they were stepchildren. She made them do all the work, and they hated Horrible Hannah.” Stepmother... Read More

The Cowgirl Jumped Over the Moon

August 3rd, 2015

The Cowgirl Jumped Over the Moon Author: Linda Ballou http://LindaBallouAuthor.com Reviewed by: Anne Holmes for the NABBW As this book opens, life seems pretty good for Gemcie McCauley, a talented and dedicated Grand Prix jumper. She and her beautiful horse, an Irish Hunter named Marshal, whom she’s raised from a colt, are about to capture the World Cup. Gemcie and her handsome husband Jorge, live on a horse ranch owned by his parents. Billy, her longtime trainer, is a father figure for her. She’s never known her father Tom, a cowboy, who left when she was just a month old. We learn that Gemcie... Read More

One Chance, One Moment: Book One – the Mandy Story

June 10th, 2015

One Chance, One Moment: Book One – the Mandy Story Author: Judith Kohnen Reviewed for the NABBW by Anne Holmes Renowned singer/musician Garry Danzlo has decided to live a life of seclusion after a debilitating car accident destroys his musical career. Guilt-ridden and stubborn, he wants no part of the holistic nurse his sister has hired to rehabilitate him. He’s determined to get rid of her, just as efficiently as he has done when sending all the prior nurses packing… But he hasn’t counted on the determination of spunky, fun-loving nurse Amanda Fields. She is determined to stay.... Read More

Too Young to Be This Old: Mature Anthology

August 3rd, 2014

Too Young to Be This Old: Mature Anthology Amazon Barnes & Noble Nook Author:  Sheryl Letzgus McGinnis Reviewed by:  Anne Holmes for the NABBW This is a great read anytime, but especially wonderful for summer beach reading, or if you’re a person who likes to have a book with you at all times – something to pick up when you’ve only got at few minutes to read.  Such as during a commute to work, on a boat or plane, in the doctor’s waiting room, etc. The stories are fun and easy to read, but light enough that you won’t lose track of all that’s going on if you should happen to be... Read More

Broken Petals: An Appalachian-Inspired Short Story Collection

July 15th, 2014

Broken Petals: An Appalachian-Inspired Short Story Collection Amazon Barnes & Noble Kindle Nook Author: Anthology: multiple authors including NABBW member Janie Dempsey Watts Reviewed for the NABBW by:  Anne Holmes Having read and enjoyed NABBW member Janie Dempsey Watt’s novel, “Moon Over Taylor’s Ridge,” I was anxious to read more of her work. When she told me she’d had short stories published recently in two anthologies, I jumped at the chance to read both collections. “Broken Petals” is a collection of short stories that demonstrate strength, humor, and tenacity interlaced... Read More

Pirate\’s Plunder: An Adele Bonny Adventure

August 9th, 2013

Pirate’s Plunder: An Adele Bonny Adventure (Book 1) Kindle Edition Author:  Wendy Wilkinson Reviewed by:  Anne Holmes for the NABBW This is a fun book which chronicles the story of bounty hunter Adele Bonny, fictional niece, to the infamous real-life pirate, Anne Bonny. Though it’s been thirteen generations since Anne Bonny and her fellow pirates prowled the seas looking for tall ships to plunder, this book tells of how infamous Pirate Anne Bonny and her current-day niece Adele transcend time and team up in order to solve modern day pirate retrieval cases throughout the Caribbean. Author... Read More

The Crone Club (Volume 1)

April 18th, 2013

The Crone Club (Volume 1) Kindle Edition Author:  S.V. Peddle Reviewed by:  Anne Holmes for the NABBW The Crone Club is about a group of reunited school friends who, having reached their sixties, vow to face new challenges, achieve old dreams and just generally band together to get as much fun as possible out of their current stage of life. The novel begins with the women having gathered together for a school reunion, and chance to catch up on each other’s lives.  We quickly meet them and just as quickly relate to similar character types we knew when we were in school.  In this story, their... Read More