Blog Posts

Posted in Cozy Mysteries

Monday the Rabbi Took Off (The Rabbi Small Mysteries Book 4)

A bomb plot draws Rabbi Small into international intrigue while he’s vacationing in the Holy Land in this New York Times–bestselling novel.

Edgar Award–Winning Author

David Small has spent six years as the rabbi of Barnard’s Crossing, Massachusetts, and every year his job has been in crisis. In desperate need of time away, he embarks on a three-month trip to Israel. He expects a relaxing, soul-nourishing stay, but wherever Rabbi Small goes, murder follows.

A bombing disrupts his vacation and the rabbi finds himself thrust into a world of terrorism and political discord in the divided city of Jerusalem. He teams up with an Orthodox Israeli cop to hunt down the terrorists before they can attack again. Dispensing Jewish wisdom as he employs his astute detective skills, Rabbi Small might be the only one who can crack this explosive case.

“Salty, smart, shrewdly funny, well-plotted and fast-moving . . . Will take the blue out of Monday.” —The Detroit News

“A fascination and delight from beginning to end.” —Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Salty, smart, shrewdly funny, well-plotted and fast-moving . . . Will take the blue out of Monday.” —The Detroit News
 
“A fascination and delight from beginning to end.” —Library Journal
 
“Ingenious . . . Highly recommended.” —The New York Times on Thursday the Rabbi Walked Out
 
“A first-rate mystery.” —The New Yorker on Friday the Rabbi Slept Late
 
“Vintage Kemelman—clean prose, quiet wit, absorbing characters, and revealing conversations, with David’s discourses on Judaism as fascinating as ever.” —Publishers Weekly on That Day the Rabbi Left Town

Posted in #LGTBQ+

Hal’s Silence (Arrowtown Book 8)

Determined to do more than hide out in Arrowtown, Lion shifter Hal Lamont decides to head out on a road trip. Armed with his speech app, enough pens and papers to sink a battleship, and a deep desire to find his long lost confidence, he sets out, planning a short stay in Jackson before seeing where the open road will take him. But a random night out in the predominantly human town changes his world in a way he doesn’t imagine – and not necessarily for the better.

Blade Morgan was a shark shifter, but he didn’t see why it should stop him making a success of the casino he had been operating in Jackson. Unfortunately, the local council see things differently. One night, while doing his best to keep patrons happy, he sees the haunted yet amused eyes of a shifter as the man was heading out the door. Blade was compelled to give chase – and got more than he bargained for.

Surprisingly communication was one of the easiest hurdles in Hal’s and Blade’s new mating. But between the local council, a woman hellbent on revenge, and a shooter who missed his target, the start to their new life together wasn’t easy. Keep an eye out for a Jaws-fixated waiter, a Fae who finds Hal’s phone at just the right time, and some grumpiness from Doc among others.

Hal’s Silence is an MM Paranormal Romance story featuring Fated Mates. It was written for mature audiences. Please store your e-content responsibly. This book can be read as a standalone, but you will get more understanding of the secondary characters and more details on how Hal lost his tongue, if you read Liam’s Lament (Book 3) first.


Guardian_angel54
5.0 out of 5 stars.
Shark and lion love.
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2025.
Format: Kindle. Verified Purchase.
I think one of the things that I love most about Lisa Oliver's stories is that she tackles real life scenarios and situations in such an amazing and understanding way. She gives her characters real hurdles to overcome - just like in real life - and she shows that love, communication, family, and tenacity are all that is needed to prevail. Hal has been kind of a background character since Liam's book and I loved that he was given a chance to shine in his own story. The trauma that he went through was deeply profound yet Lisa doesn't let him fall into simply being a "rescued victim" but allows him to bloom into a determined survivor. Blake was a great mate for Hal to have been fated to, because he truly wanted to be supportive, without patronizing, and was also tough enough in his own right, to stand next to the lion shifter that the Fates determined was his. I love the veritable variety of shifters that we get to meet - in this case a Great White Shark - and all the fun idiosyncrasies that each one brings! The entire Arrowtown series is just fantastic and I highly recommend each and every one. 5/5*
Posted in Daily Thought

Verse of the Day January 25, 2026

Posted in Cozy Mysteries

Sunday the Rabbi Stayed Home (The Rabbi Small Mysteries Book 3)

As Passover approaches, Rabbi Small contends with infighting, backstabbing, and an actual murder in this New York Times bestseller.

Edgar Award–Winning Author

As Rabbi David Small’s five-year contract winds down at the synagogue in Barnard’s Crossing, Massachusetts, some members of the congregation are plotting to remove him; others are whispering about starting a new temple of their own across the street. When the rabbi gets an invitation to perform Passover services at a local university, he’s eager to get away from the bickering and spend a few days on campus. But instead of peace and enlightenment, he finds a murder wrapped up in drug deals and racial tensions.

From tuned-out hippies to political zealots, the college is full of potential suspects. Once again it’s up to the rabbi to draw on his deductive skills to solve the case—and avoid getting sucked into the bitter culture war—before the killer strikes again.

“Detective work at its most telling . . . The puzzle is a good one . . . but the best part of this and any Small tale is the wondrous warmth and assurance of the portrayal of Jews and Judaism.” —The New York Times Book Review

“The Rabbi’s best adventure yet.” —Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Detective work at its most telling . . . The puzzle is a good one . . . but the best part of this and any Small tale is the wondrous warmth and assurance of the portrayal of Jews and Judaism.” —The New York Times Book Review
 
“The Rabbi’s best adventure yet.” —Library Journal
 
“Ingenious . . . Highly recommended.” —The New York Times on Thursday the Rabbi Walked Out
 
“A first-rate mystery.” —The New Yorker on Friday the Rabbi Slept Late
 
“Vintage Kemelman—clean prose, quiet wit, absorbing characters, and revealing conversations, with David’s discourses on Judaism as fascinating as ever.” —Publishers Weekly on That Day the Rabbi Left Town

Posted in From My Kitchen

Delicious Meals You Can Make in Minutes

You’re home from work and everyone’s hungry. Here’s what you can make in a jiff with ingredients you probably already have in your fridge and pantry.

Taste of Home