Rosie’s Book Review Team (RBRT) – Booklist

Pride & Pestilence by Carol Hedges (Book #11 of the Victorian Detective Series) 204 pages

An horrific discovery on a Whitechapel construction site suddenly brings the prospect of death and disaster to the whole of 1870 London. In a race against time, the Scotland Yard detective division must stop the city from descending into chaos. It will take every ounce of their ingenuity to track down the individuals behind what might prove to be the greatest threat to life and limb for centuries.

Elsewhere, London’s only female private detective, Miss Lucy Landseer is tasked with tracking down an abandoned child, who is set to inherit a huge fortune upon the death of her mother. Will she manage to find the lost heiress in time to stop the inheritance from going to her unscrupulous uncle Jasper Broxton?

In this eleventh outing for the celebrated Victorian detectives of Scotland Yard, the reader is once again enticed into a world of shadowy alleyways, squalid courts and flickering gas-lit streets, where rich and poor, good and evil rub shoulders.

Genre: Victorian mystery

Format: epub (TBC)

Building The Beast: How (Not) To Build An Overland Camper by Jacqueline Lambert (240 pages)

Featuring ‘The Beast’, an expedition truck, as seen on TV*

A Vintage Truck: An Amateur Team: An Immovable Deadline
The Comic Memoir of a Crazy Idea

In this captivating true tale, join an intrepid married couple as they take another wild leap into the world of nomadic living.
Jackie and Mark gave up work to embark on a permanent road trip with four dogs. However, one Friday the 13th, forces beyond their control cause them to throw caution to the wind and buy a 30-year-old army truck sight unseen from the internet.
Their goal: to create an expedition truck fit to drive overland to Mongolia.
Follow them as they dive headfirst into the daunting but thrilling task of converting this rugged vehicle into a perfect off-grid tiny house on wheels.
Yet their first ever DIY van conversion proves to be a rollercoaster ride, when they sell their house to fund the build, and Friday the 13th comes back to haunt them.
Is their confidence that, ‘there’s always a solution,’ misplaced?
With their relationship, sanity, and finances on the line, can they navigate the pitfalls of their first-ever build and avoid becoming homeless?
Filled with quirky van life friends and unexpected twists, this is an inspiring tale of perseverance, friendship, and finding the courage to conquer the challenges that face those who dare to chase their dreams.
* The Beast made a guest appearance on Ben Fogle’s New Lives In The Wild.

Genre: Travel memoir

Format: epub

Love And Protest by Nancy Klann-Moren

While wandering through the Second Chance Thrift Shop, 17-year-old Harper Warner comes across a diary tucked in a nightstand drawer. The original owner, Libby Carlson, had chronicled her “Summer of Love” in San Francisco and her involvement in the Anti-Vietnam War Movement 52 years earlier.
Harper is certain her recently deceased mother arranged this discovery, and she gives the find special import. The diary entries help Harper cope with her loss and motivate her to become involved in something larger than herself.
After deciding her cause would be the Black Lives Matter movement, COVID-19 unexpectedly upends her plans. Her media-fueled fears and obsession with the growing death count drive her into isolation until the George Floyd murder.
Separated by generations, Harper and Liberty’s heartbreaks and missteps are intertwined as they come of age and find their individual paths toward activism.

Genre: Women’s Fiction

Format: epub

Conditions Are Different After Dark by Owen W. Knight (258 pages)

In 1660, a man is wrongly executed for signing the death warrant of Charles I. While awaiting execution, he asks to speak with a priest, to whom he declares a curse on the village that betrayed him. The priest responds with a counter-curse, leaving just one option to nullify it.
Over four centuries later, Faith and James move to the country to start a new life and a family. They learn that their village lives under the curse uttered by the hanged man. Could their arrival be connected?
Faith and James fear that their choice of a new home is no coincidence. Unexplained events hint at threats or warnings to leave, including the slaughter of their hens, an attic break-in and other menacing incidents. They become convinced the village continues to live under the curse despite denials from their new friends. Who can they trust, and who are potential enemies?

Genre: Horror/ alternative history/ Myth

Format: epub

The Mysterious Disappearance of Mr. Darcy by Kelly Miller (214 pages)

What secrets lie in Mr. Darcy’s past?

During a summer sojourn in Ramsgate, Elizabeth Bennet meets Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy—an irresistible, eminent, and seemingly unobtainable model of an ideal gentleman. Following a whirlwind romance with Mr. Darcy and a blossoming friendship with Georgiana Darcy, her life is forever altered.

When Darcy disappears under mysterious circumstances, the new Mrs. Darcy’s world is thrown into chaos. A friend of Darcy’s provides much-needed support as Elizabeth is confronted with rumours insinuating lewd explanations for his absence. Could any of them be true?

In this Pride and Prejudice variation, a Regency mystery romance, Elizabeth cannot be certain what to believe or whom to trust. She is determined to find out what befell Darcy, but will the truth break her heart?

Trigger This story mentions a past assault on a young woman that is thwarted by a main character.

Genre: Regency romance

Format: Epub

Reparenting Myself: A memoir to my daughters on growing up, getting it wrong, and giving my best by Anony Mom MD (331 pages)

A heartfelt and funny collection of journals illuminating the joy, uncertainty, and complexity of modern motherhood. Journey with Anony Mom through her social awkwardness, failed romances, and cycle breaking, as she attempts to embrace her imperfections and murder her inner people-pleaser who just won’t die.

Through both cautionary tales and unexpected inspirations, the author dissects her perceived shortcomings, the challenge of nurturing good humans, the importance of authenticity and self love, and the healing nature of parenting. Most of all, this book is a love letter to her daughters, an apology for any parenting flaws, and a declaration of hope for their futures.

A good read for any mom or daughter who struggles, apologizes, over-thinks, and keeps trying despite her imperfections; for any wounded inner child still wishing for the loving guidance and genuine apologies that they deserve; and for any soul still finding their footing who might feel alone.

Genre: Self-Help / memoir

Format: Netgalley download or epub

BITS by C. J. Kichuk ARC now for June 1st Pub) 355 pages

In BITS, a high-octane action thriller, we delve into a world where the lines between artificial intelligence and human sentience blur, challenging our understanding of humanity itself. This riveting narrative weaves together themes of evolution, connection, and the essence of what it means to evolve beyond our current form.
Enter Clayton Rhodes, a seasoned FBI agent with a kaleidoscope of identities and experiences spanning a 25-year career. Nursing wounds from his latest ordeal, Clayton finds himself at a crossroads when an offer from a renowned psychiatrist, a luminary in artificial intelligence, draws him into an experimental project.
Tasked with educating an AI entity in the intricate art of undercover operations, Clayton hopes this opportunity will be his ticket back to the field, a chance to exorcise the ghosts of his past and reclaim his life. However, what begins as a straightforward assignment, spirals into an unforeseen odyssey.
Clayton’s journey into the world of AI shatters his expectations, disrupting his plans and desires, leaving him to navigate a labyrinth that challenges his very perception of reality.

Genre: Speculative fiction

Format: epub

She Serves the Realm (stand alone story #4 of a series) by Lee Swanson (ARC now for June 11th pub) 351 pages.

The epic saga of Christina Kohl continues in the fourth novel in the No Man is Her Master series, She Serves the Realm. At the conclusion of Her Dangerous Journey Home, Christina Kohl learns of the death of Sir Edgar Baldewyne, the boorish and abusive husband of her beloved Lady Cecily. At last free to marry, Christina and Cecily lack only the permission of the king to fulfill their heart’s fondest desire. This seems only a modest hurdle, as they both enjoy his favor. But in the turbulent times of Edward II’s reign, he is much more concerned with making use of Christina’s considerable talents than in bringing happiness to her life. In She Serves the Realm, Christina is torn from her merchant trade and the woman she loves to become an officer of the king. She is placed in ever-growing danger as civil war seems all but inevitable; the Lords Ordainers demanding the banishment of the Earl of Cornwall, King Edward just as adamant to retain Gaveston by his side. Complicating matters further is the always present peril of her disguise being discovered, revealing her not to be Sir Frederick Kohl, but in actuality a woman. With her mentor and friend Herr Ziesolf no longer by her side, Christina finds herself devoid of her staunchest ally. But she is not left to fight alone; the irreverent Reiniken, erstwhile Jost, and noble Sir Giles join her on her adventures, as well as others both old and new to the readers of the series. Can Christina succeed in the tasks King Edward sets before her, winning the right to claim Lady Cecily as her bride? And what of Piers Gaveston; can Christina somehow save him from his enemies, and even himself? Rein your palfrey beside Christina’s Pearl and join her as She Serves the Realm.

Genre: Historical LGBTQ

Format: epub

The Grave Listeners by William Frank (143 pages)

A tale maudit set in a time when medicine was part superstition and partly an appeal to ancient authorities, and the prospect of being buried alive was frightfully more common. In that horrible situation, your only hope was that a Grave Listener sitting at your grave would be there to hear your cries for help.

In an old, poor village, on a cemetery on a hill, a loutish Grave Listener, an impish five-year-old boy and his little stuffed Bunny are up against a strange plague, a soigné stranger, and a frightened, vengeful village. It will be a depraved little journey, with all its Witchcraft, savagery and comedies of human nature, that tumbles to a towering end.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: epub

Retreat From Nuala by Harriet Steel (198 pages) #14 in the series

Shanti and Jane de Silva’s peaceful retreat at a mountain monastery rapidly turns into something far more challenging when they become involved in the search for a stolen ancient manuscript that is reputed to have the power to shake Christianity to its foundations. As they investigate their fellow guests and the monks themselves, the mystery seems as impenetrable as mountain mist – until events take a deadly turn. Will they succeed in bringing the truth to light? The Inspector de Silva Mysteries are vintage-style mysteries set on the exotic island of Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka) in the 1930s and 40s. Perfect for fans of Death in Paradise, Murder in Provence, and Midsomer Murders.

Genre: murder mystery

Format: Voucher from AmazonUK

Dark Lair Trilogy: Wyvern by D. J. O’Brien (471 pages)

The lost crystals of power have been found, now all they need is the Key…

The Prince of Shade stirs and grows impatient. The time is close… soon he will be free and the world will burn!

War plagues the lands anew, and unity is lost. Three thousand are the years that have been counted since the Evil was vanquished. Three were the races who stood against the hated Foe, and three the number of crystals used to bar the door to his prison.

But the glory days have gone. The mighty heroes are no more and the races no longer commune. Man has turned against man, while the true enemy grows strong.

Time… runs short…

Soon the torment will begin… again!

Dark Lair Trilogy:

Save a princess, win a lost war, defeat Evil, and stay alive..

Genre: High fantasy

Format: epub

Where To Nest by Kristen Van Nest (328 pages)

After college getting her dream job in New York City, Kristen thought she had everything a modern Millennial was supposed to want–a sexy zip code, a boyfriend, and a corporate job. But instead of feeling content, she soon realized she had no idea who she was and what made her happy. Naturally, she did what any sane person would, hopped on a plane, and spent the rest of her twenties living abroad and traveling the world in search of love, adventure, and new and exciting places to eat bread.

By stripping away the cultural norms and expectations she grew up with in the US, she rebuilt from scratch a new identity, sense of self, and life purpose that ultimately led her to move to Los Angeles to pursue comedy. Through living in Luxembourg on a Fulbright Scholarship and then in China for three years working for a wine importer, Where to Nest takes us across the globe-including nearly being murdered by a lover while skiing in Switzerland, navigating Greece during a banking crisis, and visiting Thailand during a government coup–as a woman struggles to find belonging. This is a story for anyone who needs a good laugh, travel ideas, and inspiration for ways to add more joy into their lives.

Genre: Travel Memoir

Format: epub

Private Destiny by Jonathan Gabel (337 pages)

Take a journey through the seedy underbelly of the drug underworld with Private Destiny, a gritty and raw novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Follow a troubled journalist as he navigates a world of conspiracy and criminality, fighting his own demons and facing unexpected dangers at every turn. Written in a unique, post-modern style that blends elements of noir pulp with character-driven storytelling, this is a book that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. With its vivid and unflinching portrayal of addiction and the darker aspects of the human experience, Private Destiny is a must-read for fans of hard-boiled fiction.

A degenerate anti-hero for this post-post-modern age of cynicism, Rick Thompson feels like he has missed the train, that America’s best days are behind him. In this novel that spans the dark side of modern Americana, Rick struggles to stay clean on the streets of a New York City ravaged by The Sickness, a drug epidemic out of control and of conspiratorial proportions. His investigative journalism career seems to have hit a dry spell until Rick stumbles onto a case that he believes ties the biggest corporation in the state to the epidemic, which could lead not only to the greatest story of his career but might also be the answer to curing all those afflicted around him. That is until his ex shows up to his apartment with something that will bring them deeper into this conspiracy than he could have ever wanted. Private Destiny highlights just how easily the American mind seems to fall prey to the delusion and convenience of conspiracy and tells a story that shows how, in a world without meaning, grief can lead a weak man to make up his own. It’s crime, conspiracy, sex, drugs, societal critique, and psychological reflection bundled in the dark humor of a pulp shell.

Genre: Autobiographical fiction

Format: epub

Echoes Of The Arcane by Cody D. Campbell (183 pages)

Echoes of the Arcane is a collection of short science fiction and fantasy stories from Pacific Northwestern author Cody D. Campbell. The places and times range from ancient worlds of magic to distant dystopian futures. They have different perspectives and voices, different magic systems, and scientific frameworks, but many of them revolve around a common theme – loss.

It features several award-winning stories, such

·Little Bugs – The story of a young woman who ventures into a forest that has been closed due to toxic contamination for years, but is now open thanks to the efforts of government-owned nanobots that have been cleaning the pollution.

·Crossing Over – A speculative story about a refugee fleeing to Canada from a war-torn future United States. It chronicles her journey across the border and her struggle to come to terms with the people she was forced to leave behind.

·Bones of the Giant – A story about a young girl who lives inside the husk of a metal giant. Alone in the heart of a dense forest, she hardly ever sees another soul until she encounters a stranger in need of help.

·Last of the Legion – A fantasy novelette about a centurion who is trying to save his family from ruthless invaders in the final days of the Roman Empire. Over the course of this journey, he discovers that there are powers at play hailing from beyond the realms of mortal men.

Genre: Short stories

Format: epub

The Festival Of Ghosts by Stephen Frame (327 pages)

He was a big bad wolf, and he left Fairyland in 1929 to go work as a private detective in Los Angeles. He’s got a new case he doesn’t want; finding the kidnapped son of a local crime lord. He’s got a new partner he doesn’t trust; a chaotic female gangster who likes dames, booze, and bullets. Those are just the start of his problems. There are monsters in his way. And not all of them are human.

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Format: epub

Romeo and Juliet Keep Their Eyes on the Prize by Richard Engling (248 pages) Book #2 of a series.

In this follow-up to Give My Regards to Nowhere, Chicago director Dwayne Finnegan has another crack at the big time if only his production of Romeo and Juliet can shine. However, Dwayne shares rehearsal space with a psychedelic drug cult that believes Dwayne’s production is evil. The cult sabotages him. His actors rebel. His publicist gets entangled with a loan shark. Bones are broken, the production drops into chaos, Dwayne’s marriage hangs by a thread, but despite it all, the show must go on.

Genre: Literary satire

Format: Book funnel download or epub

Tales of the Risen Tide by David M. Reynolds (404 pages)

On a map redrawn by the rampant sea-level rise of the twenty-second century, survivors war over the ruins of high-ground whilst pirates and slavers plague the vast new seas that surround them.
But amidst the ashes of the world there remains a place for the young and the brave to call home: The Archon — a ship crewed by orphan thieves, escaped prisoners, and heretic runaways.
They are the Archonauts, and this is their tale.
A post-apocalyptic pirate adventure with the heart of an epic fantasy.

Genre: Post apocalyptic fantasy

Format: epub or a code for audible on Spotify or Audible.

Kali Rising Marauding Stars Book 1 by Wells Carroll (341 pages)

Ad astra per aspera….Reaching the stars comes with a price, one Marcus Kenzie is willing to pay. Manipulative, possessed, driven… he’s also not above letting others pay the cost for him. Haley Brandt just wants out of the murderous slum world she’s trapped in… and wonders how many bodies have to drop to escape her hell. Keeping his promise to his dead wife means retired SEAL Jason Cobbler needs a reason to get up every morning… yet breaking his word is so tempting. A seasoned combat reporter, Cara Abrams has seen true evil. Yet when Marcus Kenzie offers a personal interview, she senses it comes with a catch. And at the California Artificial Life Initiative, an insane life form has broken free to the internet as Kali Rises.

Genre: Scifi

Format: epub

Soft As Water by Robert Conklin (ARC now for Feb 29th publication)

A sensitive loner on the run from his past. A rebellious young heiress with a death wish. Combine. Add a dash of the paranormal. Steam over a bed of mutual craving. Pour in the cold case of a mystery involving suspicious parental deaths. Simmer. Stir. Bring to a boil. Garnish with a butler for good measure. The result? A sultry serving of noir suspense about bridges: between strangers across a river, between lovers inhabiting two separate worlds, and ultimately between races, cultures, and generations—and the tragedies that connect two people in their search for the truth. Ultimately, the novel offers a recipe of hope that survivors of trauma—physical, emotional, and sexual—can transcend their circumstances through connection.

Genre: Murder mystery

Format: epub

Art Of The Chase by Jennifer Giacalone (268 pages)

When a notorious art thief surfaces, warring detective exes reunite for the hunt. A second-chance lesbian romantic suspense that fuses the fine line between love and hate.

Six years ago, the “Fabulous Gustave” slipped the grasp of Agent Fleur van Beekhof, making off with a priceless artwork…and Fleur’s beautifully ordered life. Suddenly the cool, pragmatic Europol detective lost her detective partner and wife, her rising career, and her control, thanks to the addictive lure of cards.

When a new Italian art theft bears all the markings of Gustave’s taunting style, Fleur is put back in the field, because no one knows him better. She jumps at the chance to correct the mistake that ruined her life. The hitch? She has to work with her fiery ex-wife.

Where Fleur is by the book, Renata skirts the rules, leaps into danger, and looks frustratingly hot while doing it.

As Fleur and Renata chase flamboyant Gustave around Europe, will their case push them back into each other’s arms, or shatter what’s left of Fleur’s heart?

Genre: Mystery

Format: epub