Pack Your Bags and Visit Some ‘Novel Destinations’ [REVIEW]

Heather in Concord MA
We love traveling to “novel destinations,” just like we did on this excursion to Concord, Massachusetts, former home to the Alcott sisters, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. (Photo by Jathan Fink, Jadeworks Entertainment)

Greg Iles’ Natchez. Mark Twain’s Mississippi River. John Steinbeck’s Salinas. Heather and I love to travel, and oftentimes our wanderlust takes us to places we have only encountered in books. There is something inspiring about walking in a favorite writer’s footsteps, seeing where he lived, or exploring a place that ignited his creative spark and ultimately fueled the imaginations of countless readers. If this type of travel appeals to you, then you’re going to love National Geographic’s new book, Novel Destinations!   Continue reading “Pack Your Bags and Visit Some ‘Novel Destinations’ [REVIEW]”

‘Beneath A Scarlet Sky’ is the Story Mark Sullivan Was Born to Write [REVIEW]

Duomo di Milano
When World War II arrives in Italy, not even the Duomo di Milano is safe. (Photo by Roberto Guerrini, Flickr)

World War II is one of those unique periods in time which seems to generate an unending supply of powerful stories. Partly, I think, it is because the atrocities people endured and the horrors they witnessed were so outrageous they are still difficult for us to fully comprehend at times. The flip side of the coin, however, is that these stories often celebrate the fortitude of the human spirit and mankind’s tenacious desire to survive even the most dire of circumstances. That is definitely true in Mark Sullivan’s new novel, Beneath A Scarlet Sky. Continue reading “‘Beneath A Scarlet Sky’ is the Story Mark Sullivan Was Born to Write [REVIEW]”

‘Royally Roma’ Is a Hilarious Romp Through the Eternal City [REVIEW]

Falling in love
When Julia Costa meets Niccolo La Torre, she doesn’t realize he’s the Crown Prince of Lazaretto. (Photo by cristian, Flickr)

When a young woman moves abroad to escape the notorious family drama in her past, she goes to great lengths to live a very normal existence. But that may not be possible when she crosses paths with the dutiful grandson of an Italian monarch in Teri Wilson’s delightful new romantic comedy, Royally Roma, the first installment in her “The Royals” trilogy.  Continue reading “‘Royally Roma’ Is a Hilarious Romp Through the Eternal City [REVIEW]”

Unplug in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains [PHOTOS]

Heather relaxes on a beautiful Ozark morning
The Ozark mountains are a restful destination where we love to reconnect with nature and good friends.
(Photo by Jathan Fink, Jadeworks Entertainment)

We love our friends in Texas, but sometimes the chaos of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is enough to drive anyone batty. That’s when we know it is time to escape to the mountains. Continue reading “Unplug in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains [PHOTOS]”

Malice Lurks in Carol Goodman’s ‘The Widow’s House’ [REVIEW]

Woman of the Lake
In Carol Goodman’s The Widow’s House, a woman looking for a new beginning gets caught in a modern mystery.
(Photo by Christos Tsoumplekas, Flickr)

A couple hard on their luck, a decaying estate, and a creepy mystery. All the elements are here to make Carol Goodman’s new Gothic thriller, The Widow’s House, a total scream.  Continue reading “Malice Lurks in Carol Goodman’s ‘The Widow’s House’ [REVIEW]”