Welcome Home to Murder by Rosalie Spielman

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MWSA Review

If you want to immerse yourself in a captivating, quick read with unexpected plot twists and turns, pick up Welcome Home to Murder by Rosalie Spielman.

Her well-developed characters are colorful, credible, and refreshingly authentic. Despite genuine life issues of PTSD and the loss of loved ones, Spielman keeps the reader uplifted with down-to-earth humor that will have you laughing out loud. Her plot details are vivid and suspenseful, and her use of language is colorful.

The protagonist, Tessa Treslow, left home in rural Idaho after high school and joined the U.S. Army. After two decades, she returns with her dog, Vince, to her family and the small-town life she had left behind. Tessa’s homecoming takes a turn when a body turns up in her aunt’s auto shop, and it appears that someone has set sights on everything her family holds dear. To protect her family from unjust accusations, Tessa takes the investigation into her own hands—a challenging task with a long list of potential suspects.

Welcome Home to Murder is a mystery well worth the read. I recommend giving it a try!

Review by Sandi Cathcart (February 2024)

Author's Synopsis

From author Rosalie Spielman comes a heartfelt cozy mystery that proves sometimes coming home again can be murder...

Tessa Treslow never wanted a small town life. As soon as she graduated high school, she happily escaped her tiny town to join the U.S. Army, leaving New Oslo, Idaho, population 852, firmly behind her. Twenty years later, the hometown hero is finally ready to come back—even if she has just a visit with loved ones in mind while her family is hoping to convince her to stay for good.

With her fawn boxer dog, Vince, in tow, Tessa falls into the familiar small town life, helping out in her family's general store and her feisty Aunt Edna's auto body shop. But her peaceful homecoming is shattered when the dead body of a crooked con man turns up in her aunt's shop, and the police have some serious questions for the family. To make matters worse, the sheriff in charge just happens to be Tessa's ex-boyfriend... and things did not end well between them all those years ago. When it comes out that the con man was trying to get his hands on the family business, Tessa knows they're in trouble.

With her family in danger of being dragged away in handcuffs, Tessa becomes a woman on a mission to find the con man's killer. Between a slew of suspects, a meandering moose, and a handsome newcomer with his eye on Tessa, she has her work cut out for her. But when the killer changes tactics—putting everything her family holds dear in jeopardy—Tessa begins to realize what home really means to her. Can she be the hero for her hometown once again... before it's too late?

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 243

Word Count: 76,000

Fatal Secrets by TR Whitney

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MWSA Review
A who-done-it and more. Lots of twists await you in Fatal Secrets as the reader tries to discover not only a killer but also who and why some characters are trying to frame each other for a murder they did not (or in one case did) commit. If you can figure it out before the denouement, you will be a very astute reader with superb attention to detail.

Fatal Secrets is an easy-to-read, captivating story with unusual characters. The story flows naturally and is easy to follow. Tanya Whitney is going to be heard from again, and let's hope her next book is as good as this one. Recommended.

Reviewed by Jim Tritten (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

After David Masters learns Helen is dead, he realizes he could be the primary suspect because of a letter he wrote. In his search for the letter, he uncovers a list of men with reason to commit the murder.

As he becomes more involved in searching for the truth, it becomes obvious that Helen’s murder is more tangled than her relationships.

Not only does David need to find the person who killed Helen, more importantly…which suspect is trying to frame him?

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 291

Word Count: 91,082

Hive and Seek; A Backyard Beekeeping Mystery by Rebecca O'Bea

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MWSA Review

Hive and Seek: A Backyard Beekeeping Mystery by Rebecca O’Bea fulfills all the requirements for a cozy mystery: amateur sleuth, violence happening offstage, small community, quirky characters. Rebecca O'Bea does all that in her book, and as a fan of cozies, I dove right in.

Indigo Blue Evans finds her former professor dead, covered in honeybees, near her hives in Colette, Kansas. Due to circumstantial evidence, Indigo is immediately blamed for the professor’s demise and is determined to prove herself innocent. Enter Sean Riordan, interim sheriff: tall, dark, handsome, and emitting just the right pheromones to catch Indigo’s attention. He discovers that Indigo’s bees did not kill the man, identified as Professor Bob Fontenot, but a blow to the head with a brick did. Indigo remains the number one person of interest because of a falling out with Professor Bob over an accusation of plagiarism on her graduate thesis.

More determined than ever, Indigo involves her wacky family and bizarre group of friends to assist in clearing her name, and to find out who committed the crime. I wanted more in-depth character development, but I giggled at the antics of the non-professional crime solving, and I learned a lot about bee keeping as I read Hive and Seek.  Several red herrings had me guessing who the perpetrator was until the very end. Kudos to the author.

Review by Nancy Panko (January 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

It’s a body! More precisely––the body of a man dressed in a white beekeeping suit, lying perfectly still.

“Karl! The bees––they’re all over his face!”

In the small town of Colette, Kansas, murder is practically unheard of. So, when novice beekeeper and washed-out graduate student Indigo Evans discovers the dead body of her former professor covered with honeybees, she becomes a suspect. With the aid of her family, friends, and new acquaintances, plus a cat with an attitude, Indie finds herself thrust into the role of a beekeeping detective.

To solve the mystery of the professor’s death, Indie must work alongside the handsome new sheriff in town, who is determined to push her away from the investigation.

Will Indie and her zany crew solve the case before the killer strikes again? Be prepared for intrigue and a laugh-out-loud caper as you follow the buzz in Hive and Seek, the debut novel of The Backyard Beekeeping Mystery series.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 181

Word Count: 63,000

The Warmaker: a Black Spear novel by Benjamin Spada

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MWSA Review

The Warmaker by Benjamin Spada is the age-old battle of Good over Evil, with Cole West as the protagonist. He and his Black Spear operators give their all to prevent World War III but encounter an enemy using futuristic methods and weapons.

It only takes one little spark to start the world burning: A U.S. Congressman spontaneously bursts into flames while on his way to grab a hot dog for lunch. An undercover CIA agent burns alive, leaving only charred bones where he once stood. Others in the (Common Defense Industries) CDI meet untimely deaths as if methodically eliminated by the faceless enemy.

Cutting-edge foreign military prototypes find themselves in the hands of organized crime on the streets of the United States. All of it leads back to a rogue weapons designer and the horrifying revelation that America no longer possesses the most advanced military in the world. Black Spear faces opponents for foreign and domestic, and politics plays a role in the pressures they face.

The nation is on the brink of war, and it’s up to Black Spear to avert the inevitable. Failure is not an option. Cole is faced with a question: How many people would you kill to stop a war?

Warning: Graphic violence. The Warmaker by Benjamin Spada will keep mature readers on the edge of their seats.

Review by Nancy Panko (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

How many people would you kill to stop a war?

It's the question burning in Cole West's mind as he and his Black Spear allies reload to leap once more into the fire.

A U.S. Congressman is killed in an American city, in broad daylight, by an unknown weapon. An undercover CIA agent burns alive during his extraction before he can reveal what he's learned. Bleeding-edge foreign military prototypes find themselves in the hands of organized crime on the streets of the United States. All of it leads back to a rogue weapons designer and the horrifying revelation that America no longer possesses the most advanced military in the world.

Black Spear's enemies are both foreign and domestic this time. Collaborators, saboteurs, and co-conspirators knife their way through America's political system to compromise the nation from within. Cole and his team are forced to turn to new allies when global tensions inch closer to the breaking point.

The clock is ticking for Black Spear to avert catastrophe, but their very effort seems in vain. With all its rage and all its fury, war is coming.

The entire world is primed to explode, and the Warmaker has already lit the fuse.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 387

Word Count: 98668

Milledgeville's Sesquicentennial Murders by Susan Lindsley

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MWSA Review

Every small town has a story worth telling. Intriguing events, colorful characters, and bizarre circumstances all combine to tell those collective stories. Milledgeville, Georgia, has Marion Stembridge, and the story of the murders he committed in 1953 (and these were not Stembridge's only killings!). Susan Lindsley has told this story, and described the cast of characters behind it, in clever detail, drawing on court records, family biographies, and first-person accounts. It has some of the elements of Erik Larson's Devil in the White City by combining a big-picture view of events that whirled around the horrible crimes committed by Stembridge. A good read for anyone interested in true crime and an insight into mid-20th century America.

Review by Frank Biggio (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

His home town of Milledgeville planned celebrations for its 150th birthday, Marion Stembridge planned revenge against those he though had betrayed him. He should have been in state prison, but ole-timey Southern hanky-panky in a nearby courthouse overruled even the U. Supreme Court decisions. On May 2, 1953, he acted and killed his own attorney who defended him in his first murder trial, and also killed the attorney who was representing his wife in her divorce case. Susan Lindsley’s book reveals forgotten details of his life and actions and clarifies the many misconceptions and rumors that have spread through the years. The cover is the only known photograph of Stembridge, taken when he was a student at the local Georgia Military College’s high school; the photograph was discovered shortly before the book was published.

Stories still persist in Milledgeville that his ghost inhabited his last residence and the basement of his store building.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—History

Number of Pages: 241

Word Count: 84,978

Green Light Go! The Story of an Army Start Up by David B Rowland

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MWSA Review

Green Light Go: The Story of an Army Start Up is an excellent developed and personal account by Colonel Rowland of the startup in 2019 of the United States Army 5th Security Assistance Brigade (SFAB). The book covers the anticipated need for and concept for the organization’s creation, development, personnel recruitment, procurement and budget struggles, mission, regional focus, and ultimate utilization and deployment in the Pacific region. Colonel Rowland had presented an expanded after-action report of the startup of the 5TH SFAB. While during the creation of the Security Assistance Brigades there may have been differing opinions by some within the military community as to the need for such an organization, Colonel Rowland proved the need and gained acceptance and admiration from foreign partners for the SFAB. Colonel Rowland has produced a non-biased report and blueprint on the stand up of the SFAB that can be duplicated and utilized as a teaching model.

Review by Warren Martin (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

In 2019, US Army senior leaders urgently needed an organization to work with its partners and allies to meet White House-directed national security objectives. Green Light Go! provides a behind-the-scenes look at how the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) formed and developed into this essential organization, eventually venturing off to the steppes of Mongolia, the humid jungles of Indonesia and the Philippines, and the pristine beaches of the Maldives. National security practitioners, leadership development professionals, and contemporary historians will be fascinated by these insights into the inner workings of a nascent Army organization as unit members navigate through complex obstacles. Never before has such an unlikely group been able to accomplish so much in a short time frame while capturing the essence of entrepreneurship.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Creative Nonfiction

Number of Pages: 372

Word Count: 105000

Steel Soldier: Guadalcanal Odyssey by James J. Messina with Charles Messina

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MWSA Review

In Steel Soldier, Guadalcanal Odyssey, author James Messina tells a fascinating account of his tenure in the marines with a special focus on his experiences during the invasion of Guadalcanal. James grew up in Pittsburgh, and just weeks before the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he enlisted into the marines. As soon as he finished his training, James found himself on a ship heading to the Pacific. After a brief period of preparation in New Zealand, his unit led the invasion into Guadalcanal to take the island back from the Japanese. James recounts the invasion and months of fighting as only someone with firsthand experience could.

Charles Messina, James's son, adds historical perspective and edited his father's work to make this book a truly interesting read. I recommend it.

Review by Bob Doerr (January 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

My father, the most influential person in my life, passed away on March 20, 2008. As an intimate gift to his children, he wrote and illustrated his life story.

In the end, it took him eight years to complete his autobiography, and I was so impressed with his storytelling and artistic talent that I reached out to a journalist who had an interest in regional history. Following an interview with my father, the local newspaper ran a two-page article chronicling his life growing up in West Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, and his time serving as a Marine in World War II. The journalist applauded his work as an enormous achievement and an important part of history. He encouraged me to publish his story and share it with the public, which is something I had wanted to do for a long time. However, my dad was not interested and said it was merely a token of love for his children to remember him by.

This is an American tale about a working-class man who lived an honest life, believed strongly in God, and fought for his country. He represents thousands of other hardworking Americans with untold stories of integrity and honor. It’s also a compelling story of survival that begins in a gritty Pennsylvania steel town during the Great Depression and then transports the reader into the steaming jungles of Guadalcanal, where a young Marine faces death in one of the most pivotal and bloodiest battles of World War II.

Steel Soldier serves as a testament to the special man my dad was. It’s not a gripping mystery that concludes with a thrilling climax. Rather, it is a series of vignettes with some entertaining moments of a bygone era, which have been compiled by a very talented storyteller.

To look at him, you’d never guess this mild-mannered, unassuming, and kind man had once been a fierce warrior. He was loved by everyone who knew him, and to me he is a true American hero. Semper Fi, Dad

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 306

Word Count: 93,670

The Dog Soldier by Kim Kinrade

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MWSA Review

The Dog Soldier is a novel set in the closing years of the Vietnam War, during the chaotic period of “Vietnamization,” as seen through the eyes of Canadian volunteer “Nucky” Benson, and to a lesser extent, his Native American friend Jimmy Whitebull. Dog Soldiers are a warrior tradition from Jimmy’s Northern Cheyenne nation, who when forced to make a stand in battle pin themselves to a spot with a ceremonial “dog rope” and fight till their death.

Benson enlists in the U.S. Army after blowing a hockey scholarship, seemingly his only ticket out of his hardscrabble Alberta mining town. He becomes buddies with Whitebull when their basic training Drill Instructor christens Benson “Canucklehead” during a drill field formation. Unable to restrain himself, Whitebull laughs out loud. Turning his attention to the Native American, the DI assigns Jimmy, much to his chagrin, the nom de guerre of “Whitey,” and group punishment for all courtesy of Benson and Whitebull.

The two continue their training through Airborne and Ranger schools and are assigned to Vietnam, ironically into the 7th Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division, the unit commanded by George Armstrong Custer at the Little Bighorn and wiped out by Jimmy’s ancestors, many of whom he is happy to name. Nucky and Whitey become the mainstay of an infantry squad faced with declining U.S. military resources in country and communist forces going over on to the offense. This leads to a date with destiny for the two in the elephant grass of a hot, improvised helicopter landing zone.

The book, at over 400 pages, is long, but the action is fast-paced. The combat action is intense and realistic, no doubt assisted by a bevy of veterans the author acknowledges, including Vietnam veteran and author of The Thirteenth Valley, John Del Vecchio. The book avoids most of the cringy cliches often associated with the genre and turns several of them on their head. Some of the scenes in the book can be quite emotional, even to a seasoned reader of military history and lore. The perspective of the Canadian author is insightful and serves to highlight both the valor of the 30,000 Canadians who volunteered for the U.S. military and served in Vietnam and the ambivalence of many Canadians and the hostility, at the time, of the neutral Canadian government.

Readers with an interest in the Vietnam War, especially the closing years of that war, the history of southeast Asia during that time, and Native American culture will enjoy this book.

Review by Terry Lloyd (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

In bestselling author Kim Kinrade’s ninth book, The Dog Soldier, Jackie Benson, a seventeen-year-old runaway from Southern Alberta, leaves behind a shattered life to join the American army during the last throes of its involvement in the Vietnam War.

Impressed with Jackie’s heroism, his best friend, Jimmie Whitebull, teaches him the philosophy of the Dog Soldier clan of the Northern Cheyenne and tells Jackie of his forefather’s involvement in fighting Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. On a trip home, Jackie visits his friend’s family in Montana and, because of his heroism in staying behind to fight the enemy so that a helicopter of wounded comrades can escape, Jackie is given honorary status in the Dog Soldier clan.

After returning to Vietnam, Jackie uncovers a Chinese and Soviet connection to help the North Vietnamese army capture Saigon and end the war in North Vietnam’s favor. After capturing a Soviet colonel, he becomes embroiled in a political tug-of-war that goes directly to the White House.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction

Number of Pages: 450

Word Count: 175,000

If I Had a Baby Elephant... by Nancy Panko

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MWSA Review

If I Had a Baby Elephant by Nancy Panko is a children’s picture book written in rhyme. Children will enjoy the cadence and rhyming as well as the imaginative ideas about what you could do with a baby elephant as a pet. The book is geared toward young children and portrays activities that are familiar to them like singing, swinging, having tea, playing hide-and-seek, and puddle jumping. The pictures are fun-loving and consistent, with facial expressions that will appeal to children. The unusual font is whimsical and I thought it might be hard for young readers to recognize the words, so I visited a neighbor with a first grader. She had no problem reading the text and laughed out loud on at least every other page. She loved the book!

The back of the book includes three pages of facts about elephants in general, with characteristics of baby elephants listed separately. This is a great addition and adds to a child’s knowledge base and vocabulary without interrupting the reading of the book. A recipe is included at the end of the book as a project for young children to make with an adult. It is simple enough that I might whip up a batch of “Elephant Ears” myself.

Review by Randy Beard (January 2024)

 

Author's Synopsis

Who hasn't daydreamed about having an exotic pet? For a child, baby animals have a unique appeal. "If I Had a Baby Elephant..." personifies the dreams of a little girl playing with her pet, a baby elephant. Catchy rhymes and colorful illustrations are bound to enchant any reader, young or old.

This whimsical story is followed by fun facts about baby elephants and their life within the herd.

You're not done until you've tried the yummy recipe on the last page. Elephant Ears are a delicious pastry that any child can help a grown-up make in the kitchen.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Picture Book

Number of Pages: 38

Word Count: 900

Chicken Scratchings: Fifty Inspirational Stories from a Mother Hen by Nancy Panko

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MWSA Review

Chicken Scratchings is an inspirational collection of short stories by the award-winning author, Nancy Panko. This anthology includes many of Nancy’s stories published in the popular Chicken Soup for the Soul series, plus several personal recollections of Nancy’s daily life and family. As a backyard chicken keeper, I must confess I was intrigued with the title and thoroughly enjoyed each little “nugget” of inspiration.

I was brought to tears by Nancy’s recollection of the death of her brother and the impact it would make on her future as a registered nurse and eventually the impetus of her writing career. The stories are personal and intimate. You feel as if Nancy is sitting across the table from you imparting the wisdom gained over many years throughout her rewarding career. As Nancy has, many of us face challenges in our day-to-day lives. How we face those challenges is up to each individual. Nancy’s stories focus on the positive. They exhort divine intervention of God in the face of adversity. Nancy’s strong faith is an ongoing theme throughout the collection and will make a wonderful addition to one’s daily devotional.

Review by Rebecca O’Bea (January 2024)

 Author's Synopsis

This collection of short stories can make you laugh and cry, give you the life advice you've been looking for, or inspire you to do something you've always wanted to do.

Chicken Scratchings is a great book to tuck in your purse for a read while in a waiting room or as an easy-breezy beach read. From the first chapter about a miracle in the Intensive Care Unit to another where firemen have to extricate the author's husband from the bedroom ceiling, Panko draws the reader into her reality.

Nancy Panko's short stories have been published dozens of times in Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

Reader's Digest, Woman's World and Guideposts magazines have also published her work.

Chicken Scratchings draws all of her short stories together to give readers a snapshot of this award-winning author's life and a glimpse of her family and the depth of her faith.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Other—Anthology

Number of Pages: 150

Word Count: 38,322

Down a Dark Road by H. W. "Buzz" Bernard

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MWSA Review

Down a Dark Road by Buzz Bernard is the fourth in his World War II historical fiction series When Heroes Flew. While based somewhat on a real person and some of his experiences, additional characters bring the story to life. The characters and the setting were superbly done and quite believable. Many of the descriptions are not only creative and different with the use of literary devices, but they also have a memorable quality.

The characters were written so that I cared about them and was sad when any of them died.  
The author uses language that is precise and paints a picture that is easily understood. He uses repetition only for effect (scenes of the death camps). The death camp scenes are well told, although a difficult subject, and may seem overdone to some, but I find that the repetition pointed out exactly how horrible they were.

World War II aficionados will find new material relating to some of the less well-known missions.

Review by Betsy Beard (January 2024)

 

Author's Synopsis

DOWN A DARK ROAD, based on a true story, hurls readers into the shadowy forests of WWII Austria where a weary and battle-worn Army platoon is about to discover the war’s most horrific secret.

As the war in Europe draws to a close, young Army lieutenant, Jim Thayer, finds himself and his platoon on the point of the American advance into Austria. Jim and his men are no strangers to the horrors of war. But what they find hidden in the forests of western Austria plunges them into the true heart of darkness.

Battling remnants of the legendary Waffen SS, Germany’s elite fighting force, Jim and his men come face to face with the cruel brutality of the Nazi regime. They bear witness to the fields of death left in its wake.

Determined to catch the architect of this atrocity, Jim dispatches an unofficial team of unlikely allies—an American bomber pilot, a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot, and a young Austrian woman—to track him down.

The war may be ending. But for these strange comrades in arms, the final battle is only just beginning.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction

Number of Pages: 220

Word Count: 65,000

The China Connection by Timothy Trainer

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MWSA Review
Kellie Liang (Chinese name - Kaili) and Aaron Foster embark on a combination business/pleasure trip to Hong Kong. Kellie has two days of meetings with a Chinese business group, and on the second day, she is offered a ride back to her hotel by one of the attendees, Hsieh Liwei. Kellie accepts, and the presumed ride to her hotel evolves into a kidnapping. Liwei takes her to his lavish country home in southern China, determined to get the information he believes she has in order to aid his business exports. Liwei drugs Kellie’s tea and holds her captive in his home, guarded by two young thugs. Liwei searches the young woman’s briefcase and removes her passport and other travel documents to ensure she does not leave mainland China.
Liwei instructs his thugs to return to Hong Kong to retrieve Kellie's belongings for her stay in China. They are not expecting to run into Aaron, Kellie’s boyfriend, waiting in their hotel room for Kellie’s return. The men overcome Aaron at knife point, and he watches while one of them gathers all of Kellie’s stuff. Helpless, Aaron enlists the aid of his friend, Roger, a retired customs attaché in Hong Kong. Aaron and Roger cobble together a group of people to rescue Kellie.

In this rather lengthy story, author Timothy Trainer illustrates the vast cultural differences between Chinese and Western business relationships and the lengths the Chinese will go to achieve their goals.

Review by Nancy Panko (January 2024
 

Author's Synopsis

It’s a year after Hong Kong’s reversion to China. Aaron and Kellie’s dual purpose Hong Kong trip for business and pleasure descends into chaos when Kellie fails to deliver the blueprint Chinese entrepreneurs seek in hopes of greater riches in the U.S. market. After a day-long meeting, she awakes the next morning across the border in southern China without her travel documents. Aaron, while waiting for Kellie’s return, is attacked in his hotel room. He panics.

Helpless, Aaron enlists the aid of Roger, a retired Customs attaché in Hong Kong. Roger questions the nature of the contents of millions of containers leaving Hong Kong and wonders how he can profit from it. Aaron and Roger cobble together a group of people to rescue Kellie from across the border. This small group of government and non-government people engage in questionable tactics to find Kellie.

Can the group come together to save Kellie or will their personal ambitions prevail?

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 281

Word Count: 110,000

The Outlaws: In Pursuit of Gold by Tim Deal

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MWSA Review

The Outlaws: In Pursuit of Gold is a young adult novel by Tim Deal. This novel is stand-alone in the Colin, Gert, Gannon, and Tye Adventure Series. The story is a fictionalized account of Marshall Bass Reeves and the search for lost gold in the Utah Territory in 1884.

The novel opens in the past when Bass Reeves, a compelling character of historical significance, tracks down a pair of bank robbers, siblings James and John Reynolds. Reeves captures one brother while the other one escapes and hides the gold. Fast-forward to a present-day when a distant relative of the bank robbers is determined to track down the gold he claims is rightfully his.

Enter the main characters, Colin, Gert, Gannon, and Tye, a tight-knit group of friends united in their loyalty from their prior adventures together. When the group find an old journal among the effects of U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves, they embark on a classic treasure hunt across the Old West. Whether by jeep, train, horseback, or boat, they follow the clues through a series of misadventures. Along the way, they learn the most valuable treasure of all is the one found in their friendship with one another.

Review by Rebecca O’Bea (February 2024)

 

Author's Synopsis

Rocky Mountain News, May 6, 1888 Outlaw John Reynolds, leader of the Reynolds Gang, died at the end of Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves’ famous revolver!!! Witnesses say that on his dying breath he told the marshal the location of the stolen gold from one of Colorado’s greatest heists. Reeves, the West’s most feared and cunning marshal denied the claim. Present day - Colin, Gert, Gannon and Tye stumble upon an old, black book owned by the late Marshal Bass Reeves. The discovery leads them on a hunt for long-ago hidden treasure deep in the vast, unforgiving landscape of the American West. Unraveling century-old clues, the four adventurers must follow the footsteps of the notorious bandit John Reynolds, on a journey fraught with danger. In a race against time, they must battle a deadly foe from their past, Abigail Younger who is ruthless, smart and deadly. In the high stakes gamble for treasure, Colin, Gert, Gannon and Tye team up with the marshals of the Four Corners Region to find the gold and bring Abigail and her posse of criminals to justice. They must be as fearless and cunning as Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Reeves to survive and return home.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Young Adult (Fiction or Nonfiction)

Number of Pages: 302

Word Count: 70,540

Holes in Our Hearts: An Anthology of New Mexican Military Related Stories and Poetry by Jim Tritten, Dan Wetmore, and Joe Badal, editors and contributing authors

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MWSA Review
Holes in Our Hearts: An Anthology of New Mexican Military Related Stories and Poetry is a moving book with a diverse collection of short stories and poems. Compiled by SouthWest Writers and edited by Jim Tritten, this anthology weaves together the written perspectives of a group of New Mexicans.

This anthology provides a glimpse into what it means to serve one’s country—from the perspective of those who served as well as their family members and caregivers. Within these pages, you’ll find a wide variety of emotions. Some pieces are humorous, while others are gut-wrenchingly personal. Fear, camaraderie, loss, and resilience are all explored. The searing honesty of these narratives is both moving and enlightening.

I recommend Holes in Our Hearts to anyone who is interested in hearing the authentic voices of New Mexico veterans.

Review by John Cathcart (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Holes in Our Hearts provides snapshots of military life and how the military has affected lives. It is written from the perspective of New Mexico active-duty military members, veterans of the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, as well as their family members and caregivers. Eight of the authors had never been published before, and another dozen had only seen minor letters or book reviews in print. Two of the veterans do not own computers, and one is legally blind.

Some of the writing represents the first time many authors have revealed their innermost thoughts to anyone. Some of the stories are written by established authors with numerous publishing credentials. All are worth your time to learn why we continue to honor the military on behalf of a grateful nation.

Very few of the original submissions were camera-ready. Jim Tritten fully edited all prose. Dan Wetmore oversaw all poetry submissions and adjusted text as needed. Joe Badal assisted with prose editing and wrote the Foreword, which was used as the back cover material and the book description on Amazon. Jim researched military affiliations and terminology where necessary to ensure the correct acronyms, names, and dates were used. Jim also recruited additional volunteers who converted hand-written submissions. Jim then fully edited the digital versions produced by those volunteers. Note: all poetry formatting was as submitted by the author - many poems do not have traditional punctuation or formatting, as desired by the authors.

The anthology was funded by New Mexico Arts (NMA), a state government organization in the Department of Cultural Affairs. Copies were provided by NMA to all public libraries in New Mexico.

The contributions are organized alphabetically with memoirs, poetry, essays, humor, fiction, etc. mixed. A total of ninety-five written contributions were accepted from fifty-four New Mexicans. Each represents a tale worth reading, internalizing, and contemplating the experiences we as a nation expect our young men and women, their families, and their caregivers to deal with — sometimes long after their military service has ended, and nothing is left but holes in our hearts.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Other—Anthology

Number of Pages: 332

Word Count: 77,000

Cheerful Obedience by Patrick McLaughlin

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MWSA Review

Patrick McLaughlin walked the walk in Vietnam, and he does a great job of talking the talk in his first novel about the Vietnam War.

Although fiction, it's not hard to tell that the experiences of the hero McKall were experienced first-hand by a young McLaughlin during his year as a "grunt" in 1967-68. The author does a great job of making the reader feel like he is on patrol with McKall and his squad. Most of the time they dish out death; sometimes it's dealt to them, but they work and live and survive and execute the mission not because it's their job, but because they don't want to let each other down. The action is vivid, the dialogue believable, and the situations will resonate with anyone who has served on the ground in a war zone. McLaughlin is already working on a sequel, and most of those who read Cheerful Obedience will be looking forward to it.

This book will appeal to anyone who enjoys historical fiction about Vietnam and also those who enjoy books about ground combat from the "grunt's" perspective.

Review by Rob Ballister (March 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Ignoring his 2-S selective service deferment, Conor Patrick McKall volunteers for the draft, and Uncle Sam promptly deposits him in the Big Green Machine.

Six months later McKall is walking point in jungles, rice paddies, and rubber plantations. In nine short months, he's made an infantry squad leader responsible for a dozen other grunts. In the "boonies," life is lived one day at a time.

Joining McKall's squad is Jack "Red" Sheridan whose near-death encounter with a black panther presents challenges to his credibility from other members of Lima Platoon. When McKall stands with Sheridan, an unbreakable bond develops. They meet Red Cross Donut Dollies and together experience the infamous Black Virgin Mountain where the good guys control the top and the bad guys the rest.

Escaping Vietnam for a handful of days on R&R in Sydney, Conor experiences Aussie hospitality and the attention of a green-eyed beauty who offers him a chance to escape the war. Loyal to his oath and to his men, Sergeant McKall barely has time to supplant the fading scent of Chanel before he and his squad must face their determined and deadly adversaries. The arbitrary gauntlet of Vietnam offers no guarantees.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction

Number of Pages: 378

Word Count: 109,000

Shadow Sanction by Steve Stratton

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MWSA Review

Only one minute into the read of Shadow Sanction by Steve Stratton, I was on the edge of my seat. Lance Bear Wolf and his wife, Elle Parker, travel to the Crow Indian Reservation for the funeral of a friend, and discover an active drug problem. They are brazenly followed onto the reservation and attacked by bad guys from the Sinaloa Cartel, intent on eliminating them both. Wolf’s number one priority is the safety of his people from cartel activity. That is, until the President of the United States orders Wolf and his organization, Shadow Tier, to drop everything to stop the Taliban’s opium trade, or risk losing his black ops funding.

Wolf and his extraordinary Shadow Tier operators must stop the re-emergence of The French Connection and its terror funding connection to the Taliban. With infiltration operations on three continents, including the cartel, Wolf’s squadrons track various opium connections, putting together an intertwined network of drug trafficking that all need to be busted.

Shadow Sanction is a complex story that is surprisingly easy to follow, despite a wide array of characters and locations. Steve Stratton is a masterful storyteller, and I can’t wait to read his next installment.

Review by Nancy Panko (February 2024)

 

Author's Synopsis

Lance Bear Wolf and his Shadow Tier operators must stop the rebirth of The French Connection and its terror funding connection to the Taliban. By any means necessary.

When the resurgent Sinaloa cartel attacks Wolf and his wife, Elle Parker, on the Crow Indian reservation, the safety of his people becomes Job One—until the president of the United States orders Shadow Tier to stop the Taliban’s opium trade. The president’s underlying message: The drug war is a failure. Fix this now, or your black funding disappears.

Torn between saving his people and the president’s demands for direct action, Wolf sends Shadow Tier’s Bravo Squadron to Afghanistan to infiltrate the Taliban drug organization. He sends Kieran Kennedy, his executive officer, to stand up and train a new international Charlie Squadron in the U.K. While Wolf bends the rules to protect the reservation on the home front, the squadrons track opium with a mysterious United Nations connection out of Afghanistan to a new “French Connection” in Marseilles, France.

The teams identify a likely distribution hub and its leadership. But going deeper will take initiative and innovation. Kennedy takes the dangerous decision to operate in the open … as a drug cartel. The operation yields results, but there is a piece missing. Parker and Kennedy believe a government contractor providing logistics flights into and out of the war zones is involved.

Plans are made by the fake cartel for a large shipment of heroin to go to the mafia in New York City, where wholesale arrests will be made if all goes as planned. As the data pours in from three continents, the heroin network unfolds and things to do not go as planned. The takedown of a multi-national drug production, shipment, and sales operation is unlike any operation Shadow Tier has attempted.

For the president, it’s a no-fail mission or his administration is doomed.

For Shadow Tier, it’s time to bring the war back into “the war on drugs.”

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller

Number of Pages: 452

Word Count: 109000