#Bookem is for BookLovers
Don’t worry- there’s an active link further on in the post!
What is #Bookem?
Three Authors…
Great Content for Writers and Readers…
Conversations about all things Creative!!
What do I do every Wednesday afternoon? I watch #Bookem on YouTube. Authors Veronica Cline Barton, Bibiana Krall and Amy M. Reade rotate the hosting duties. They #bookchat about their books, as well as introducing books they are reading. In between books, they flavor the show with creative-life comments such as libraries, writing screenplays, and even recipes and places of interest. All the things that percolate in a writer’s mind!
Each #Bookem show and author is friendly and approachable, knowledgable and engaging. I know it’s good for me to learn more about reading and books, but I also enjoy their camaraderie.
To get you hooked on the #Bookem channel, I am featuring each author, showcasing a book and my review, and their bio. I hope you enjoying getting to know the characters of #Bookem. At the end of this post- you will see a #Bookem episode 11, featuring a guest! Here’s where to find #Bookem on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaeRjV-K4fWjibl-siWRMYg
BUT FIRST…BREAKING NEWS…COMING SOON!!
VERONICA CLINE BARTON
Veronica Cline Barton earned graduate degrees in both engineering and business and has had successful careers in the software and technology industries. Her lifelong love affair with British murder mysteries inspired her to embark on a literary career. The Crown for Castlewood Manor is the first in what she calls her My American Almost Royal Cousin Series. When not traveling and spinning mystery yarns, she lives in California with her husband, Bruce, and her two cats, Daisy and Ebbie.
Why I like Veronica- She is every bit as colorful as her characters, she’s friendly and encouraging on social media, and she writes a wonderful weekly blog, https://myamericanalmostroyalcousinseries.com
Double Trouble: Showtime at Castlewood Manor by Veronica Cline Barton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I hope by now you have all ready discovered the My American Almost-Royal Cousin series. We are up to book 5, but don’t despair- this is the best book so far and entirely enjoyable as a stand-alone. If you’ve been enthralled with the series, as I have, then you know that Gemma is an amazing American gal who started a new adventure in Jolly Olde and is now the Marchioness of Lancaster, and mistress of Cherrywood Hall. She has a handsome husband, Sir Kyle and a dazzling actor Mama, Jillian, who stars in the popular new show, Castlewood Manor (loosely based on Downton Abbey).
Book 5 features all the motifs that we we have come to love and expect. There are plenty of friends, Royal and society, who come and go, bringing laughter and fun. Some new faces appear- who are quite appealing, interior designer Rikkhe St. Claire, and the “uncanny nanny” Figgy McEwen, as well as a new darling doggie. Gourmet food, entertaining with events big and small, and fabulous clothes abound and enrapture us. The most fun is the massive rebuilding and redecorating at Cherrywood Hall-truly sumptuous and I swooned over every detail. I agree that the gang has achieved a new heights of castle-chic living. And the spirit of Aunt Pippa watches over it all
So, what’s with the Double Trouble? The discovery of a skeleton is just the start of the series of murders that must be solved. Intriguing history from the 1930’s comes in to play, which leads to a major joint-nation crime collaboration between the UK and US. Pippa and a Lady from the past are also on the mission to solve the crimes that even reach to the Royal family. Oh the toil and troubles! But the best “Double” is that Lady Gemma is expecting twins. Thank goodness she has spicy cornbread with jalapeño jelly to give her strength. (Doesn’t that sound yummy?) Jillian will henceforth be known as “Glammie” and we hope that everyone at Cherrywood Hall lives happily ever after.
This book is all aglitter with great characters, a fun plot and so many delightful details. I hope you spot the clever reverence to current events- oh that was a good one! I highly recommend this book and the series! Well done Lady Veronica Cline Barton.
BIBIANA KRALL
Bibiana Krall is an American author who holds an M.A. in Fiction and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing, both from Wilkes University CW. She feels fortunate to live with her family in the gorgeous and atmospheric Deep South and is a hard-working suspense, mystery and gothic writer, (twenty one titles and counting on Amazon.)
As a five year old child, she envisioned a map of her life as she sky-watched and dreamed of the cosmos. Little did she know that things don’t always go as planned. Yet in real life… there is no dress rehearsal. Words, dreams and ideas running through her head became so loud one day that, she picked up a pen and paper and hasn’t looked back since.
Equality for all people is important to talk about and continue to strive for. She is a free-thinker, a protector and advocate of connecting to the natural world and a lifetime supporter of The Arts.
Recently she finished a fantastic writing fellowship with Deep Center in Savannah, Georgia, as a mentor and educator in The Young Author Project. A non-profit 501-part C organization that seeks social justice and gives a platform and space for diverse teens to tell their stories from all over Chatham County.
Bibiana is proud of her students for their hard work and cannot wait to see where creativity takes them next.
She collects native art, sandals, unusual jewelry, exotic spices and anything else that will fit easily in her carry on bag. Exploring wild places has been a lifetime joy and feeds her storytelling.
Engaging with other hard-working writers is important. She uses her writing blog Indite to sound off about the challenges modern writers face, offering friendship, support and a chance to connect with fellow creatives.
Thank you so much for joining her here! If you are struggling with your writing, or creative life you are not alone. Reach out, talk about it and see where a connection with another creative can take you.
Stay your path, don’t let anything stop you and remember to embrace, wonderful, unique you.
Why I like Bibiana- she describes herself as a Novelist, Wildheart and Dreamer and she creates ““Immersive writing in search of the heroine.” She is a soulmate and friend to creatives at https://www.bibianakrall.com
Volga Black by Bibiana Krall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Author Bibiana Krall describes her latest book, or novelette, as “unique, edgy and sometimes bizarre.” I would categorize this book as “speculative fiction”, which encompasses genres with certain elements that do not exist in the real world, such as supernatural, or other imaginative themes. I applaud Author Krall for letting loose her tremendous writing skill as she explores dark and mystical themes. She opens her readers up to thoughts and worlds that they may not have been brave enough to imagine on their own.
Volga Black blends history, folklore and the occult in this story of Tania, a young American woman trying to explore and live in Warsaw, Poland. She is sensitive to the history of Poland- the trauma of World War II and other wars and atrocities. She’s been wild as she explores the party scene in the Paradise Beach area, but there is a part of her that is searching for much more. One night, a black Volga car emerges from the depths near the beach where she is dancing, and the supernatural power that it brings begins to haunt Tania. She is drawn to the cathedral of St. Florian, which is well described.
What is this dark entity? Do we all have a dark entity? Do we see our world as a dark entity? That is the power of this book and its unusual themes- it gives the readers quite a thrilling ride and it also provokes some deep feelings. Are you brave enough to read it? Enjoy!
AMY M. READE
Amy M. Reade is an author of Gothic, contemporary, and cozy mysteries. She is a former lawyer, and now writes full-time in New Jersey, where she lives with her family.
Her blog is a place where she writes whatever comes to mind, which may or may not include reading, writing, food, and wine.
When not writing, you will find her in the kitchen or the laundry room, but she much prefers the kitchen. She loves to cook and share the things she makes. In her spare time, besides cooking, she lovse to read and travel.
Why I Like Amy- well, she’s a former attorney, like me and she shares a variety of books and recipes on her website. I sense we that are similar in that we have wide-ranging interests and we like to learn! https://amreade.wordpress.com
Trudy’s Diary by Amy M. Reade
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mystery lovers know they can count on author Amy M. Reade for an engaging story. She has published traditional, contemporary and gothic mysteries. With Trudy’s Diary, Libraries of the World Mysteries Book 1, she has given us a historical mystery. This is the first book that I have read by Ms. Reade and I will be reading more!
As this is a murder mystery, I won’t share much about the plot, no spoilers! Besides, I have plenty of other enticing details to share. Let’s start with the main character, Daisy. Daisy is an anthropologist and researcher and her skills help her to solve the mysteries in the present and the past.
“Libraries of the World”- what a great setting for a book! Book 1 takes us to The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The imposing buildings are well-described, but what I liked even more than the architectural details was learning how researchers actually use the Library and all its resources.
This story is the Russian nesting dolls of books. In addition to the contemporary murders, we also get to see Trudy’s Diary, the brief journal of a young woman in the Nebraska Territory, circa 1865. And we also read a story from a 1910 dime novel. Both the diary and the dime novel story were well written in the manner of the times, and as engaging as the main mystery. Through these stories, we learn something important that has a bearing on the current events in Daisy’s life. We also are reminded of the challenges and issues that women faced over one hundred years ago, and still must handle today. Author Reade brings the history to life.
Now, I must get writerly-nerdy. I was also quite taken with the author’s tight writing style. No wasted words here, I was immediately caught up in the mystery. The story of the main character, Daisy, is told in the third person, which allows her personality to shine. Daisy is clear, straight-forward and honest. She knows herself. She has felt pain. She is a likeable companion- I wished she could be my friend and I care about her as she did her best to help her friends.
I bonded with Daisy and her friends, and with Trudy and I was immersed in trying to solve the mystery. Did I? Perhaps the present-day crimes, but not the voices of the past. I can’t wait to visit the next library!
My Dream Came True- I Was a Guest on Episode 11 of #Bookem
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