I finished Aventurine and the Reckoning by Anne Britting Oleson in the wee hours of the morning, propelled by a suspenseful story that started out in a slow roll and gathered momentum toward a tense and satisfying conclusion. Oleson’s lovely writing style drew me in as did her descriptions of English cities, villages, restaurants, meals,… Continue reading Book Review: Aventurine and the Reckoning by Anne Britting Oleson
By the Pen|A Writing Journal
Free Fiction: The Ornament
Finley Frances Merriweather, decorating her tree alone for the first time in, well, ever, flopped herself onto the antique couch she’d reupholstered in green and gold brocade and wailed. Snowball, her West Highland Terrier, cocked his head and whined. He jumped onto her stomach, thirty overweight pounds knocking the air out of her so that… Continue reading Free Fiction: The Ornament
Free Fiction: Little Red Roadster, A Christmas Story
Sasha hadn’t counted on snow. Just a few miles west, the sun splashed down on the Pacific, and sandy beaches encircled her island hometown like a brown sugar rim on a fancy cocktail. She’d packed up her little red roadster with presents wrapped for the east county charity event her cousin had planned and headed… Continue reading Free Fiction: Little Red Roadster, A Christmas Story
Book Review: IN THE VANISHING HOUR by Sarah Beth Martin
A beautifully-written, well-constructed, atmospheric, and psychological tale of a changing New England town, a dangerous river current, a dark tower, and adolescent secrets that continue to haunt into adulthood.
Author Q & A: Cozy Mystery Author Sarah E. Burr
Learn more about cozy mystery author, Sarah E. Burr and her many ongoing series, her penchant for all things graphic design (and candles), and why writers need to take a break now and again.
Vintage Lit: Mary Roberts Rinehart & Her Maine Connection
We’ve all heard the big Maine literature names from days of old: Sarah Orne Jewett, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, E.B. White, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Edna St. Vincent Millay. I love them all. However, there is more to Maine literary history than these venerable writers. I’ve been astounded to realize that many popular-in-their-day genre fiction writers also… Continue reading Vintage Lit: Mary Roberts Rinehart & Her Maine Connection
Book Review: WENDIGO by Vaughn Hardacker
During a major west-coast heatwave, temps in the 90s, and energy conservation necessitating the turning off of the air conditioner after 4 pm, I plunged into Vaughn Hardacker’s frozen Maine landscape to follow the hunt for a supernatural creature–the Wendigo, an Algonquin manitou (god), monstrous and ravenous for human flesh. Hardacker’s prose sucked me in… Continue reading Book Review: WENDIGO by Vaughn Hardacker
Book Review: THE WOMEN OF BLACKMOUTH STREET by Thea Sutton
Twisty historical psychological thriller. Find yourself on London’s foggy, dark, and menacing cobblestone streets in the light of flickering gaslamps. Read on…
Book Review: THE WICKED BIBLE by Sharon Dean
Readers who enjoy cozy academic mysteries may find themselves intrigued by Sharon Dean’s THE WICKED BIBLE. Read more…
Book Review: THE BOOK OF EMMAUS by Kevin St. Jarre
Kevin’s St. Jarre’s THE BOOK OF EMMAUS is a fast and engaging read. Once I started, the story propelled me forward, and I finished it in several hour-long sessions over a couple of days.