Book Review: Vegas Vendetta by Peter Castrillo

Synopsis: IT'S THE 1960S. War is raging in Southeast Asia, and the draft board is looming over every young man's shoulder, but recent high school graduate Peter Castrillo has a plan; enroll in college for as long as it takes to get a student deferment...and then head to Vegas! And Vegas is everything he dreamed it would be-parties at Sammy Davis's place, hanging out at the bar with Elvis, and flirting with Mia Farrow in the elevators. It's all bank-rolled lavishly by the clever cons that Peter and his pals devise, taking the casinos for a bundle in these low-tech security days. The drugs are plentiful, the girls are wild, and the glittery nights seem to go on forever. But when Peter makes the mistake of a romantic entanglement with the gorgeous trophy-wife of a venal Bulgarian mobster, his Vegas dream turns into a nightmare that he just might not survive. Based on true facts and dished out with equal portions of hilarity and horror, Vegas Vendetta tells one young man's story of his quest to evade the draft, make money, meet women, and find excitement back in the days when Vegas truly was Sin City...

       Available on Amazon e-book available at Friesen Press

REVIEW

Vegas Vendetta is a Hollywood movie wrapped in a book. Our narrator is Peter Castrillo himself and we find him in quite a scenario at the beginning, but let's rewind to find out how he got into this predicament.

Vega Vendetta then takes us on a memory trip which is truly what this story is that is quite dangerously sinful and eye-opening as we get to see a prominent era in history from a different cultural perspective tossed in with some sex, drugs, and Vegas to keep it exciting.

Vegas Vendetta is a double tale adventure as it is part memoir and part true crime. Not a fan of either, but Castrillo hold onto you and take you on an amazing ride. True crime lovers will gobble this book up.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The author grew up in a very narrow time period of social change that was brought on when the war ended. The large influx of immigration that was happening at Ellis Island that allowed the criminal element to enter and flourish with the daily numbers games, parlays, horse racing, and other non-violent crimes was a boon to the economy. Everybody in my neighborhood gambled and betting was a sport that gave hope of winning cash. It was common and accepted to play games of chance, and it was sometimes a relative, neighbor, or trusted family friend who booked the bet for you. It didn't matter that it was turned in to a fella who gave it to another fella, who drove it to Brooklyn to another fella. We trusted the source all the way up the line and felt they were family, after all, they came from Calabria, Naples or Florence...

 FIND MORE ABOUT VEGAS VENDETTA AND THE AUTHOR AT Vegas Vendetta Peter Castrillo

Book Review: Love, Ever Strong: A Romance Novella by Ronnda Eileen Henry

Synopsis:

"Love, Ever Strong" is the story of a love which begins in childhood but doesn't reach fruition until years later. It's also a story of healing and change. Rose and Conor were orphans who were raised together as friends and playmates since she was 2 and he a boy of 10. When Conor is 16, he leaves their rural home to find his way in the world, not expecting to see Rose ever again. Twenty years later, their paths cross again, but life has treated them each very differently. Battle-weary and motivated by revenge, Conor is nothing like the heroic figure of her romantic girlhood memories; or is he? And Rose is no longer the little girl who used to follow him around everywhere. She's a widow with three young children who will surprise him in more ways than one.

                                     AVAILABLE ON AMAZON and BARNES &NOBLE

REVIEW

Love Ever Strong is the 5^th book in Henry’s romance novella collection. As a reader, It takes a lot to get me to swoon and get lost in anything romance, but Henry makes me do just that with her sweet tale of “love fruition”. Rose and Conor’s love tale is sweet, unique and fabulous!

As for the writer in me, Henry’s writing is once again smooth and poetic. Her characters are to fall in love with, well written with the perfect amount of everything. The only distraction was Henry transitioning as she skipped through the story in hours, minutes and years. As a reader and a writer, I found it a little off-putting. It was not THAT off-putting that it dissuaded me from the story at all though as I fell deeper and deeper in love with everything and everyone in this book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ronnda Eileen Henry is originally from Michigan and was raised in California and Virginia. She read a lot of history, biography, science fiction, and Regency romances when she was young, and her three favorite authors are Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, and Aleksandra Layland. She has the heart of a romantic and believes romance is for people of any age. Sweet romance is her favorite, whether it's a teenager or a person in middle age.

Retired now, she lives in Florida.

Book Review: Freed by Love: A Romance Novella by Ronnda Eileen Henry

Synopsis:

"Freed by Love" is a short romantic suspense novella with a very happy ending. Lady Violet of Ramey is a member of the minor nobility of the region of the Kingdom of Penrudduck known as Corby. She's been married three times to successively higher-ranking noblemen. All three marriages ended in her widowhood, but the last may end her freedom. Fleeing her husband's castle, the same night someone murders him, Violet is assumed guilty by many, based on circumstantial evidence. She must stand trial. If she is returned to Ravensworth Castle, the verdict is decided before she ever sees a judge.

Her family is able to arrange her trial in their district instead, but they're at a loss as to how to defend her. They hire the best of lawyers, but everyone sees little hope. That is, except for a mysterious man known only as Brother Lancelot. Freedom from jail and imprisonment for a crime you didn't commit is one thing. But aren't there other freedoms we can cherish...

AVAILABLE NOW on Amazon                        

REVIEW

I am immensely enjoying Ronnda Eileen Henry’s little historical romance novellas. In Freed by Love it once again takes place in the fictional Kingdom of Penruddock where we meet Violet who happens to innocently have the black widow curse. Once again in her third marriage, her husband ends up dead, and now Violet is named the culprit. Then enters the mysterious Brother Lancelot…well the title kind of speaks for itself.

Henry’s writes with a Jane Austen touch and a Masterpiece Theater quality. No matter who you are the ending will just make you smile.

End results?  If you want to be transported from the darkness of today’s world pick up one of Henry’s books. They will just warm your heart in sweetness.

Rating ***** (5 Stars)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ronnda Eileen Henry is originally from Michigan and was raised in California and Virginia. She read a lot of history, biography, science fiction, and Regency romances when she was young, and her two favorite authors are Jane Austen and William Shakespeare. She has the heart of a romantic and believes romance is for people of any age. Sweet romance is her favorite, whether it's for a teenager or a person in middle age.

Retired now, she lives in Florida.

Book Review: Love, Savory, and Sweet: A Romance Novella by Ronnda Eileen Henry

                                                       

                                                       Synopsis -

This is a historical-like novella set in a world that is not of our own. Lady Krysantha is a young widow with a son, a large mansion in the city, and just enough of an annuity to pay for living there. If she's going to provide her child with the future his father intended, she must earn an income; but how? Her stepsons, who were on bad terms with their father and whom she's never met, will do nothing to help their half-brother. In fact, they wish he would put on the house and gone.

Noblewomen aren't supposed to work like commoners and the only things she brought to the marriage were her family's impoverished title, a small dowry, and her grandmother's cookbook. With the help of an older widow from her late husband's regiment, she buys a business and works, without appearing to. When a handsome officer from her husband's regiment offers to help them for a time, she accepts, without revealing her secret. But has he really come to help, or is he a spy for her stepsons?

"Love, Savory and Sweet" is about a young woman who experiences two very different relationships with two very different men.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON    

REVIEW

Love, Savory, and Sweet is the third installment in what will soon be called “The Flowers of Penruddock Romance Novella Collection”. Each of her previous romance tales (Read their reviews here and here) take place in the historical fantasy world of Penruddock in different times and settings. In her third installment Love. Savory, and Sweet it’s a tale of widowed love. We first meet the widowed Colonel William who finds love again in the young Krysantha who becomes the heroine of this tale as tragedy strikes (Which I am still distraught over. The moment his character is introduced you cannot help but fall for him!). It is now the newly widowed Krysantha that discovers the same thing her widowed husband discovered in her, that you can find love again. Well, it’s that mixed along with sweet and savory teacakes and a step parent’s nightmare.

Overall this tale of widowed love would be depressing if it was not so dramatically romantic. Henry again writes smooth and poetically placing shocks and surprises just at the right moment to keep you on board throughout the whole tale.

****4 Star Rating

Check out Henry's previous novella's all available on AMAZON

        

                        

About the Author

Ronnda Eileen Henry is originally from Michigan and was raised in California and Virginia. She read a lot of history, biography, science fiction, and Regency romances when she was young, and her two favorite authors are Jane Austen and William Shakespeare. She has the heart of a romantic and believes romance is for people of any age. Sweet romance is her favorite, whether it's for a teenager or a person in middle age.

Retired now, she lives in Florida.

BOOK REVIEW:Golden Skye of Ansgar 2nd Edition (A Windflower Saga Middle-Grade Novel) Along with Short Story Fly Percy, Fly! by Aleksandra Layland

Synopsis

This is the second edition of the middle-grade fiction novel "Golden Skye of Ansgar" from the epic fantasy book series, the Windflower Saga. It also includes a non-fiction short story about the real Percy the Parrot, after whom a fictional bird character is named.

Set in a medieval-like world, "Golden Skye of Ansgar" is a short middle-grade story based on characters from the epic fantasy novel "Of Wisdom and Valor: The Art of War. The Path of Peace." (Part II of the Windflower Saga trilogy). It features a royal family with young children aged from toddlers to twelve years old, their friends, and their animals including horses, ponies, a dog, a cat, and three parrots.

Golden Skye is the name of a beautiful golden warhorse mare sent to Queen Keridwen as a gift. In the stable of the Royal Palace, she makes many new friends. Everyone likes her. She is gentle yet brave, calm yet strong, playful yet ready to work hard. Whenever her friends need help, they know they can count on her, and Skye becomes involved in several adventures.

                Available Now ON Amazon!!!  

REVIEW

Layland revives herself in glory in this second edition of Golden Skye of Ansgar (Review my review of the previous edition here.) The special changes she made turned this story golden.

Golden Skye of Ansgar tells the precocious tale about a special golden coated horse name Golden Skye and her adventures to finding her destiny. Youth readers especially horse lovers will find Golden Skye’s story adventures engaging and gripping. The real star of the tale though may just be a parrot named Percy. Layland’s sweet writing tone will instantly lull young reader in making them feel at home in this sweet tale that unfolds for them.

Golden Skye also includes a special short story Fly Percy, Fly! that tells the tale of the real-life Percy the parrot that inspired the Percy in the story, which I thought was beautiful. I thought it gave the story that little extra something and brought it to a nice conclusion.

Rating ****4 stars



About The Author

Aleksandra Layland is a retired civil engineer and a federal civil servant who worked primarily for the United States Air Force as a senior installation engineering manager responsible for buildings, airfields, infrastructure, fire protection, and emergency preparedness. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Western Caroline Islands where she helped build school classrooms and cafeterias, low-income housing, and simple village water distribution systems. Her other interests include arts and crafts, family genealogy, religion, and spirituality, fostering peace in the world, and enjoying retirement with family and friends.
The Windflower Saga series is comprised of the following volumes which trace the lives of members of the fictional Ansgar ducal family against a background of struggles between forces such as good and evil, love and hate, and war and peace. The series is a unique blending of traditional love stories and adventure and action stories in an "other world" setting, with serious spiritual and moral themes which are addressed in an overall uplifting tone. For all that the characters may face harsh realities, the story of the Ansgar family is a happy one.

Part I of the Trilogy: 
"Ansgar: The Struggle of a People. The Triumph of the Heart."

Novellas and Stories Related to Part I:
"The Feathered Crown"
"Far Endeavor"
"Three Brothers of Ansgar" 
"Bright Star, A Pony of the Kimbrii, A Windflower Saga Story for Kids"
"Tiyo, The Dog Who Saved Ansgar, A Windflower Saga Story for Kids"

Part II of the Trilogy:
"Of Wisdom and Valor: The Art of War. The Path of Peace."

Novellas and Stories Related to Part II:
"Bind Not the Heart"
"Leofric of Longridge"
"Keri and Kalina, A Windflower Saga Chapter Book"
"Golden Skye of Ansgar, A Windflower Saga Middle-Grade Novel"

Part III of the Trilogy:
"Far Haven: A Quest for Certitude. A Fight for Justice."

Novellas and Stories Related to Part III:
"Albina"
"Courage of Ansgar"
"Swords of Ansgar"

(being written) "The World of The Windflower Saga, An Illustrated Companion and Author's Commentary"

BOOK REVIEW: Forged in Love: A Romance Novella by Ronnda Eileen Henry

Synopsis:

A new village blacksmith, a bachelor in his forties, even one who is as quiet and serious as Henry is reported to be, might well be of interest to any unmarried 40-year-old woman if it weren't that he was so apparently contented in his singlehood. The truth be told, it put the cheerful and witty Penny quite at ease around him, especially when she's introduced to him as a confirmed spinster. With romance off the table, the two quickly become friends.

But how far will friendship go when Penny must find a husband so she can keep an adorable foundling left at Henry's door? And can simple friendship ever be forged into a romance that will fill their hearts as nothing before has ever done?

This is a sweet story that reminds us of the power of love to enter our lives at any age, and in more than one way.

                            AVAILABLE NOW @ AMAZON and BARNES & NOBLE

REVIEW

Forged in Love: A Romance Novella is the second released by Ronnda Eileen Henry. Set in the same time frame and land as her previous title (Love in Two Acts) Forged in Love is a tale that says it is never too late in life to find love.

Forged in Love is a sweet enjoyable read, but sadly it felt like Henry was holding back on this one. While an excellent story I just wished there was more to it. More detail. More depth in the characters. More depth in the obstacles and challenges these characters faced. It all resolved too easily which made it hard for me to fall in love with the situations and the characters. Overall Henry’s writing is poet sweet and pure, but her goal of novella status to me, in my opinion, hurt this awesome tale. I wanted more storytelling.

RATING ****4 Stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ronnda Eileen Henry is originally from Michigan and was raised in California and Virginia. She read a lot of history, biography, science fiction, and Regency romances when she was young, and her two favorite authors are Jane Austen and William Shakespeare (though she prefers to see Shakespeare acted). Retired now, she lives in Florida.

Book Review: Love in Two Acts: A Romance Novella by Ronnda Eileen Henry

Synopsis

Set in a fantasy world, “Love in Two Acts” is the story of two people who seem to be one thing but aren't, as three kingdoms collide in long-held disputes and life and death hang in the balance. Marigold has been the companion and protector of Princess Rozabela since they were children. When Rozabela’s entourage is attacked on her way to her own royal wedding by those wanting to take her captive and marry her to the son of a different king. Who else can step in to save her except confident courageous Marigold even though it may mean her death if she’s caught in the act?

           

                              NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON and BARNE&NOBLE  

REVIEW

Not one to really get swept up in romances whether they are books, movies, or music. I have to admit Ronnda Eileen Henry swept me away in her charming royal court fantasy adventure romance tale “Love in Two Acts.”

 Set in a medieval fantasy setting Love in Two Acts is a refreshing sweet romantic read. Henry’s heroine Marigold is brilliantly written. I just loved her. She is ever the kind polite lady but doesn't take any BS reminding me of a medieval version of Princess Leia with the smart witty tongue to boot.

Henry’s writing flows flowery and eloquent reminiscent of the time period the story takes place in, with a couple of hiccups at times. For instance, Andro’s calls Marigold by her true name in one scene to which I think this was just a typo on the author's part, not a jaw-dropping plot twist for when Marigold gets discovered…well do not want to ruin the book for you all. Thanks to Henry’s strong driven characters they override these little nit-picky details.

Love in Two Acts is a pleasantly pure, yet alluring romantic adventurous tale perfect for young and old readers alike. I love books that can totally sweep me away making me forgot life's problems for a moment and take me on an adventure, stirs things in my soul I had forgotten totally about. Henry did just that. I think I just might read it again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ronnda Eileen Henry is originally from Michagan and was raised in Califorinia and Virginia. She read a lot of history, biography, science fiction, and regency romances when she was young, but her two favorite authors are Jane Austen and William Shakespeare(though she perfers to see the later acted rather that simply read). Retired now she lives in Florida.

BOOK REVIEW: Thomas Blackwing & the Crystal Heart (Part 1 of the Immortal Chronicles) By M.V. Grimm

The Story Unfolds...

 Fourteen years following the assassination of the royal family, the Aries Council prepares to elect a new ruler. The King’s Candidates event is lauded as the premiere event for first-year cadets anxious to secure their place in history. Hailing from three of the most prestigious schools in the kingdom, knights, wizards, witches, and rangers will compete to secure their place behind the throne.

Among the brave contestants stand a pair of fourteen-year-old orphans. Their shared quest will pit them against each other, but a strange turn of fate will seal their bond. As an ancient mystery begins to unravel, startling revelations and mystifying incidents around them lead to a sinister game of deception.

Will they solve the legend of the Seven Immortals before the chaos of a great war erupts?

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

REVIEW

Thomas Blackwing & the Crystal Heart enters you into a fantastical fantasy land filled swords and sorcery. Think Harry Potter meets the Hobbits and you, kind of get the vibe for this coming of age fantasy story.  A brand new story from brand new author M.V. Grimm the overall the story has magic potential, yet Grimm’s layout of storytelling leaves you as the reader lacking to get fully drawn into the story. I wanted to get drawn into this story for there were some good parts in which I was drawn into, then Grimm made an odd choice of writing style and lost me causing the writer in me to cringe. His chapters with his two main characters Thomas and Will shine brightly though. These are two characters are strong, likable, and well-constructed characters that you will fall in love with instantly. Sadly, the rest of his world and characters fall short compared to Thomas and Will.

Perhaps this is maybe due to the writing style and format Grimm chose to use. It is really a distraction from getting fully engrossed in the story. Overall Grimm has a good story it is just his weaving of his tale falls short from you really getting involved.

Overall rating **** (4 stars) It’s got potential thanks to the Thomas and Will characters if it were only written not so oddly.

Check Thomas Blackwing & the Crystal Heart for yourself.    

Available now on AMAZON

______________________________________________________________________________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Sword and magic can keep the enemy at bay,

While bow and arrows will always win the day.

M. V Grimm is an author with a love and passion for mystery and fantasy stories. He currently works doing odd jobs while concentrating most of his attention to a flourishing writing career.

Thomas Blackwing and the Crystal Heart is M.V Grimm’s first novel and is a fantasy story of a pair of fourteen-year-old orphans who compete with others for a throne left vacant after the murder of a royal dynasty. It is available through Amazon and is the first in a planned series.

His hopes for the future are to carry on writing fantasy novels full-time and to bring them to as wide an audience as possible and when he has some time to himself he enjoys fishing, which helps to clear his mind of troubles and all thoughts for a few hours, before dreaming up new stories and adventures.

Follow/Contact M.V. Grimm on his blog http://immortalschronicle.blogspot.sg/

Also, follow him on Twitter @mv_grimm

Book Review: The Ansgar Kids Treasury by Aleksandra Layland

*Editors Note* We would like to apologize for the misspelling of author Aleksandra Layland's name in our previous review.

The Ansgar Kids Treasury is a collection of four books for younger readers which are part of the Windflower Saga epic fantasy series. These books introduce kids to characters from the first two books in the Windflower Saga trilogy of novels: "Ansgar: The Struggle of a People. The Triumph of the Heart." and "Of Wisdom and Valor: The Art of War. The Path of Peace." 
The four books in this collection are two short picture books for K-2nd grade: "Tiyo, The Dog Who Saved Ansgar" and "Bright Star, A Pony of the Kimbrii." It also includes a short chapter book, "Keri and Kalina" and a middle-grade novel, "Golden Skye of Ansgar." "Keri and Kalina" is the story of two cousins aged about 10 and 7 who are orphaned or left with only one parent and share a room at a boarding school run by nuns. "Golden Skye of Ansgar" is about a horse belonging to Queen Keridwen of Kimbria, now in her 40s, who was Keri in "Keri and Kalina." The Queen has children who have adventures with horses, a dog, a cat, and several parrots.

                                                        Available on AMAZON NOW

 



REVIEW

Fully completing the Windflower Saga is THE ANSGAR KIDS TREASURY: A WINDFLOWER SAGA COLLECTION. This treasury collection features the kid-friendly books Tiyo, The Dog Who Saved Ansgar; Bright Star, A Pony of the Kimbrii; Keri and Kalina; and lastly Golden Skye of Ansgar. 
You may think to skip this treasury collection since they are kids themed books.  You also may wonder why input kid friendly books into the more adult oriented Windflower Saga? The answer is I have no idea, but oddly it kind of works for if you read each book they give you a hint of a new perspective on the main trilogy. To be honest, they are charming books, and Layland’s tackle at writing for kids is fair. I just love how these books are like the final touches on a great epic cake. Kids books or not if you have read the main trilogy saga you are going to want to read the kids books too. These little books actually add the finishing touches that complete this epic fantasy saga that Mrs. Layland created.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aleksandra Layland is a retired civil engineer and a federal civil servant who worked primarily for the United States Air Force as a senior installation engineering manager responsible for buildings, airfields, infrastructure, fire protection, and emergency preparedness. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Western Caroline Islands where she helped build school classrooms and cafeterias, low-income housing, and simple village water distribution systems. Her other interests include arts and crafts, family genealogy, religion, and spirituality, fostering peace in the world, and enjoying retirement with family and friends.

The Windflower Saga series is comprised of the following volumes which trace the lives of members of the fictional Ansgar ducal family against a background of struggles between forces such as good and evil, love and hate, and war and peace. The series is a unique blending of traditional love stories and adventure and action stories in an "other world" setting, with serious spiritual and moral themes which are addressed in an overall uplifting tone. For all that the characters may face harsh realities, the story of the Ansgar family is a happy one.

BOOK REVIEW: The Windflower Saga Collection by Aleksandra Layland

FINALLY! The royal epic Windflower Saga comes home in an EPIC deluxe collection. The first being THE ANSGAR TREASURY: A Windflower Saga Collection. This collection includes book 1 of the epic saga Ansgar: The Struggle of a People. The Triumph of the Heart along with its 3 companion novellas The Feathered Crown,
 Far Endeavor, and Three Brothers of Ansgar that further develop the fantasy world of Kimbria that Layland has created.

 This collection is perfect for readers who like to read their series in chronological order, and it makes it an easy share read with friends, for now, you have book 1 along with its 3 sub novellas all wrapped up in one beautifully covered package.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

THE WISDOM AND VALOR TREASURY:  A Windflower Saga Collection is the second book in the Windflower Saga Treasury collection containing book 2 of the trilogy Of Wisdom and Valor: The Art of War the Path of Peace and its companion novella’s Bind Not the Heart, Leofric of Longridge, and Keridwen Rose (Part 1) from Swords of Ansgar. It was in 2015 that the main trilogy was written. Then Layland went back to her world in 2016 writing a series of novellas that were companion books to the main trilogy that re-visited some of the characters from the trilogy adding more depth to the storyline.

Now Layland has brought the saga together as it intentionally should be read now with the second Windflower Saga Treasury book.

Masterfully done!

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

 THE FAR HAVEN TREASURY: A Windflower Saga Collection concludes your treasury collection with the adventurous book 3 Far Haven: A Quest for Certitude. A Fight for Justice in the Windflower Saga Trilogy as well as its 3 companion books that followed. Albina, Courage of Ansgar, and “Kimbria Ke’ilani” (Part 2) from Swords of Ansgar.

The final books wrap up this dramatic family fantasy saga in the fashion it was designed in…EPIC.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Aleksandra Layland is a retired civil engineer and a federal civil servant who worked primarily for the United States Air Force as a senior installation engineering manager responsible for buildings, airfields, infrastructure, fire protection, and emergency preparedness. She also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Western Caroline Islands where she helped build school classrooms and cafeterias, low-income housing, and simple village water distribution systems. Her other interests include arts and crafts, family genealogy, religion, and spirituality, fostering peace in the world, and enjoying retirement with family and friends.

The Windflower Saga series is comprised of the following volumes which trace the lives of members of the fictional Ansgar ducal family against a background of struggles between forces such as good and evil, love and hate, and war and peace. The series is a unique blending of traditional love stories and adventure and action stories in an "other world" setting, with serious spiritual and moral themes which are addressed in an overall uplifting tone. For all that the characters may face harsh realities, the story of the Ansgar family is a happy one.