Tag: #BookReview

Posted in Cozy Mysteries

Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

(A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series Book 36)

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY WITH A SMIDGEN OF HOMICIDE

USA Today Bestselling author Tonya Kappes brings you southern and quirky characters in her mystery series. Her stories are charged with humor, friendship, family and life in small southern towns.

Get ready to pitch your tents and light the campfire for a wildly entertaining mystery with “Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls,” the latest page-turner in the A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series. When the peaceful plunk of fishing lures at Happy Trails Campground is replaced by the startling bang of gunshots, Mae West and the Laundry Club ladies gear up for their most adventurous case yet in the heart of Daniel Boone National Forest.
Imagine stumbling upon a body in the woods—only it’s not hunting season, and this isn’t a deer we’re talking about. This twist sends Mae and her gang on a trek through a forest thick with secrets, where every turn in the trail could be the clue they need or a dead end. The victim, a real outdoorsman with a complex web of connections to the wilderness, has left behind a trail as puzzling as a switchback path.

“Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls” isn’t just any cozy caper; it’s a romp through the great outdoors, complete with twists, turns, and Tonya Kappes’ signature dose of humor. Prepare to be hooked from the first gunshot to the last guffaw as Mae digs into a case that proves even the most scenic spots can hide dark secrets and dastardly deeds.

This book is the perfect campsite companion for mystery lovers looking for fun, frights, and friendship. With a backdrop as enchanting as Kentucky’s own wilderness and a story brimming with intrigue, betrayal, and, of course, a hefty helping of laughter, you won’t want to put it down. So, pack your sense of adventure (and maybe a flashlight) and join Mae and the gang as they navigate the wilds of human nature. “Bonfires, Backpacks, & Brawls” is more than a mystery; it’s an expedition into excitement, proving once and for all that where there’s smoke… there’s laughter, lies, and a darn good read. Catch your copy today and become a happy camper in the world of cozy mysteries!

, , #MysteryBooks, , ,

Posted in #History

The Pequot War

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

A Captivating Guide to the Armed Conflict in New England between the Pequot People and English Settlers and Its Role in the History of the United States of America (Indigenous People)

If you want to discover the captivating history of the Pequot War, then keep reading…

Free History BONUS Inside!

The Pequot War (1636–1638) was a short-lived but extremely violent and bloody episode in United States history. This event represents one of the turning points in the entire history of North America, as the war changed the balance of power. The Dutch colonial authorities lost their status of being the dominant economic and political force, while the English took over this epithet. The end of the war also represented the first stage in England’s intensive expansion in that part of the world.

This historical event demonstrates the insurmountable antagonisms between two opposing cultures and perceptions. It was just the beginning of the conflicts between the European settlers and the Native Americans, as the Pequot War allowed the Puritans to have a testing ground so they could examine their military capabilities in the New World and observe the capabilities of the Native American tribes.

In The Pequot War: A Captivating Guide to the Armed Conflict in New England between the Pequot People and English Settlers and Its Role in the History of the United States of America, you will discover topics such as

  • The European Conception of the Native Americans
  • Who Were the Pequots?
  • The Massachusetts Bay Colony of New England
  • The Events That Triggered the Pequot War
  • Military Capacities, Organization, and Tactics of the Warring Parties
  • Conflict Escalation
  • Mystic River Campaign
  • The Mother of All Crimes
  • Analysis and Comparison of King Philip’s War and the Historiography of the Pequot War
  • Where Are They Today? A Look at the Pequots
  • And much, much more!

#History, , #WorldHistory, ,

Posted in Cozy Mysteries

Moonlight, Marshmallows, & Manslaughter

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

(A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery Series Book 35) 

Small-town cozy mystery set during a festival

Normal, Kentucky is celebrating National Wildflower Week, drawing botanists, hikers, and nature lovers to the trails of Daniel Boone National Forest. But when a renowned botanist known for controversial research is found dead beneath the moonlit sky, the peaceful festival turns deadly.

Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies are pulled into another small-town investigation when whispers of environmental disputes, land development schemes, and professional rivalries begin to surface. With suspects ranging from a developer with questionable conservation plans to an assistant whose admiration borders on obsession, it’s clear the victim’s work stirred more than scientific debate.

As Mae follows a trail of hidden motives and long-buried grudges, she discovers that danger in Normal grows quietly—and strikes without warning. With the town on edge and another festival event approaching, Mae and her friends must uncover the truth before the killer has a chance to strike again.

Moonlight Marshmallows & Manslaughter is a Southern cozy mystery filled with small-town charm, festival intrigue, and community sleuthing—perfect for readers who love amateur detectives, quirky side characters, and mysteries rooted in place.

, , #MysteryBooks, , ,

Posted in #History

The Wounded Knee Massacre

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

A Captivating Guide to the Battle of Wounded Knee and Its Impact on the Native Americans after the Final Clash between Federal Troops and the Sioux (Indigenous People)

If you want to discover the captivating history of the Wounded Knee Massacre, then keep reading…

Free History BONUS Inside!

The Wounded Knee Massacre is often glossed over in textbooks, talking about the event in a generalized manner. But such a generalized representation undermines the real impact and significance of the events that happened on that fateful day, making it one of the most tragic events in Native American history.

To establish the facts of what occurred, most of the details taken into account in this book while analyzing and discussing the events of the Wounded Knee Massacre are taken from the records of the American participants of the war, as well as from military records of the investigation into what happened and the subsequent trial of one of the participants of the massacre. In this book, we aim to provide the reader with a more in-depth look at the factors and major players that played a role in the Wounded Knee Massacre, as well as the significance of its aftermath.

In The Wounded Knee Massacre: A Captivating Guide to the Battle of Wounded Knee and Its Impact on the Native Americans after the Final Clash between Federal Troops and the Sioux, you will discover topics such as

  • A Short Introduction of the Lakota Tribe and the Ghost Dance Movement
  • A Brief Overview of the Relationship between the US Government and the Native American Population of America
  • A Brief Overview of the Key Players of the Wounded Knee Massacre
  • Prelude to the Wounded Knee Massacre
  • The Wounded Knee Massacre and the Truth behind the Events
  • The Military Investigation of the Wounded Knee Massacre and the Medal of Honor Debacle
  • And much, much more!

#History, , #WorldHistory, ,

Posted in #BookTours

A Hundred Black Sunrises

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Keeping secrets keeps you alive.

Sienna would know.


A Hundred Black Sunrises

A Friday the 13th Story

by Tamela Miles

Genre: Dark Paranormal Romance


A hundred different ways to break your heart, a hundred different ways to take your last breath. Sienna and Finn are exploring their strange attraction to each other until strange becomes something sinister. The clock is ticking as they fight to unravel the mystery of what draws them together on fateful Friday, the 13th.

 

What readers are saying:

A Hundred Black Sunrises is a haunting and emotionally charged horror short that blends reincarnation, cursed love, and inevitable tragedy. The story follows Sienna and Finn, two souls drawn together across lifetimes, only to face the same dark fate again and again. What begins as an intriguing connection quickly spirals into something far more sinister, as the truth behind their bond unravels. Though short, the narrative delivers a powerful mix of supernatural horror and tragic romance.

 – Alicia Dean, Goodreads Reviewer

 

Amazon * Bookbub * Goodreads





A loud cracking sounded across the room and a huge, sil- ver gilded mirror fractured in half, splitting apart their reflec- tions. Elijah grabbed her hand and spoke softly. “Let me get you away from here, Poppy.”

As they moved toward the dining room entrance, one of the kit- chen servants appeared. Her brown eyes widened and then narrowed at the scene laid out before her. She hastily wiped her hands on her white apron and latched onto Poppy’s other hand.

“Run far, far away from this cursed place. Take nothing with you. His evil was contained while he was alive, but his death means…” she trailed off and shrugged her shoulders.

“What…what did he mean by “a hundred black sunrises?” Poppy asked in a tremulous voice.

 The servant smiled sadly. “Nothing good, you can believe that.” She gestured towards the hallway leading to the front door as a dozen other servants from the kitchen suddenly crowded around them. “Now, go! Take her and go!”

Elijah needed no further encouragement and pulled a dazed Poppy down the hallway, already filled with black smoke. As he opened the heavy door, she looked back one last time to say goodbye to every- thing she had ever known, and her gaze lit on Christianpaul’s smiling portrait of himself as a much younger man. She shivered as Elijah led her out the front door and she clutched his arm fearfully. Poppy knew every brushstroke of that painting and never in her life had the bastard worn a smile in it.






Tamela Miles is a California State University San Bernardino graduate student with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development and a former flight attendant. She grew up in Altadena, California in that tumultuous time known as the 1980s. She now resides with her family in the Inland Empire, CA. She’s a horror/paranormal romance writer mainly because it feels so good having her characters do bad things and, later, pondering what makes them so bad and why they can never seem to change their wicked ways.

She enjoys emails from people who like her work. In fact, she loves emails. She can be contacted at tamelamiles@yahoo.com or her Facebook page, Tamela Miles Books. She also welcomes reader reviews and enjoys the feedback from people who love to read as much as she does.

 

Website * Facebook * Instagram * Bluesky * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads

 


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