Sparkle Abbey creates wild fun with Pampered Pet Mystery Series

If you love pets and mysteries, you'll fall in love with the Pampered Pet Mystery Series by Sparkle Abbey (aka Mary Lee Woods and Anita Carter). With delightful characters, priceless pets and tony Laguna Beach, CA as the setting, you're in for a treat.

The first book in the series, "Desperate Housedogs," introduces Caro Lamont. She's feisty and determined and finds herself in a little bit of a pickle - a murder investigation. You can read my review here.

Volume two, "Get Fluffy," focuses on Caro's cousin Melinda Langston. She's every bit as wacky as Caro and just as prone to trouble. You'll find that review here.

The two books bring murder and family relationships into humorous focus. Great summer reading!

Book review - 'The Bricklayer's Helper' by Amy Corwin

"Mistaken identities, murderous secrets and a years-old mystery set the stage for Amy Corwin’s Regency novel, 'The Bricklayer’s Helper.'

Young Samuel Sanderson prides himself on his skillful work as a bricklayer’s helper. He has grown in the job for thirteen years, since a tragic fire killed his family and left him a homeless orphan. Ingratiating himself to bricklayer Mr. Hawkins, he found a home of sorts and a profession. Now Hawkins was ready to wed his daughter to Sanderson and help him open a branch office of the business in London. There’s just one problem with the plan – Samuel is a girl and someone is trying to kill her."

Learn more here.

Book Review - 'Small is big: Unleashing the big impact of innentionally small churches'

"There are two movements going on in America today in terms of church growth. One is the trend toward mega-churches and multi-site churches, where congregants from one service may not know any of the congregants from other services. The second movement is toward smaller, home-based churches. This second trend comes under discussion in 'Small is big: Unleashing the big impact of intentionally small churches.'

Church planters Tony and Felicity Dale teamed with George Barna to examine the effect that these small churches have on the growth of Christianity in America."

Read more here.

'The Scroll' - Destiny awaits!

"What determines the worth of an archaeological artifact? Does the value come from the component materials, the previous owners’ identity, the historical significance or something else? In “The Scroll,” Grant R. Jeffrey and Alton L. Gansky offer their opinions on the topic and that opinion is enormous, as are its implications.

The title scroll, a document scribed on copper, provides clues to the location of hidden treasures spirited away from the Temple in Jerusalem prior to its destruction. A team of biblical archaeologists assemble to follow the clues in the document in an effort to locate the precious artifacts. Here’s the catch: the treasures won’t go in to a museum. Instead they will be used to rebuild the Temple and outfit its priesthood."

Read more here...

Coloma, CA Provides the Setting for 'Sourdough Creek' by Caroline Fyffe

"Stories about Gold country usually contain greed, treachery and sometimes violence. When Carolyn Fyffe writes about Gold country, she includes the beauty of the area, a mystery or two, and a love story. Her knowledge of horses adds deep richness to the story."

Read more here.

Atlanta Sets the Stage for Murder in Tina Whittle's 'Darker Than Any Shadow'

Georgia author Tina Whittle visits the world of competitive performance poetry in "Darker Than Any Shadow," sequel to her earlier "The Dangerous Edge of Things." This edgy mystery combines vivid characters and elegant word play for a satisfying romp in Atlanta.

Gun-shop owner Tai Randolph has deepened her relationship with former police officer Trey Seaver. She's learning to deal with the personality quirks that dog him since a near-fatal automobile damaged resulted in brain damage. He's learning to survive her impetuosity.

Heat up Atlanta with Tina Whittle here.

Bob Rawleigh's latest album offers plenty of love songs to love

Valentine’s Day is more than candy and sentimental greeting cards. It’s a day for expressing your deepest emotions. Local song stylist Bob Rawleigh delivers a calorie free but most satisfying album of classic love songs guaranteed to help the most tongue-tied suitor get the message across.

Rawleigh’s mellow sound combines the best of cool jazz and smooth ballads on "Classic Songs For The Love Of My Life," his fifth album. He is a mixture of Perry Como, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. He has chosen an intriguing blend of songs and arrangements to express the facets of love.

Learn more here.