Slanted Light is a heart-wrenching novel by Teddy Jones about a nurse practitioner and her family’s life while living in the drought-ridden Texas panhandle. It’s during this drought year that Claire and her family experience an onslaught of hardships. Slanted Light is emotionally-impacting in its examples of what someone can experience in a lifetime or in a fraction of it. Through strong words and detailed writing, Jones is able to provide us with a story that is told in a realistic way, with all it’s messy human emotions and experiences. Not many stories can go this way and make it work, but Jones does a fantastic job at doing so. I know that reading can be a form of escapism, but personally, I am a huge fan of reading about real human emotion - and this isn’t just received from only real-life stories. I love that fiction can cause those same emotions in us too. 

Reader, if you’re going through some tough times right now, I can understand why you wouldn’t want to read about real life and all the ups and downs (and down downs) that it entails. But something I can definitely share with you is that what Slanted Light also does is provide you with something relatable. You know that saying, “There’s strength in numbers”? You have the ability to feel that support from this story. I recommend this story to all readers, but especially those who thrive on reading about family and all the hardships that can entail. 

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE 
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly:
8/25/20
Sneak Peek
Chapter Break Book Blog

8/25/20
Book Trailer
KayBee's Book Shelf

8/26/20
Review
Nerd Narration

8/26/20
Bonus Post
Hall Ways Blog

8/27/20
Author Interview
Max Knight

8/28/20
Review
Forgotten Winds

8/29/20
Excerpt
StoreyBook Reviews

8/30/20
Guest Post
All the Ups and Downs

8/31/20
Review
Book Fidelity

9/1/20
Top Five List
Texas Book Lover

9/2/20
Review
The Clueless Gent

9/3/20
Review
Reading by Moonlight
​

Camp Lenape
by Timothy R. Baldwin

Synopsis

It’s supposed to be a fun summer… then a girl goes missing.

When a girl goes missing, and none of the adults can give a straight answer, a childhood game suddenly turns into a real, secret mission. 
Phone lines are down. Strange men roam the campgrounds. Financial documents indicate something’s amiss. And hidden security cameras point to a mysterious cottage in the woods. 
With heightened suspicions, junior camp counselors Marcus and Alissa recruit their friends to help find the missing girl. In their search, the teens will learn to rely on each other, especially when they encounter a terrible and dangerous secret.

Review

A fantastic young adult mystery story revolving around a missing girl and the campers that find it in themselves to take matters into their own hands in trying to find her. Timothy R. Baldwin does a wonderful job in intertwining the aspects of mystery and suspense with coming of age trends and experiences. The story was able to hold my interest, especially with the creepy backdrop of taking place in campgrounds - have I mentioned I’m a horror movie buff? That’s what this reminded me of and I appreciated it very much. 

While I would classify this story as more of adventure/mystery, and not horror, it was still a great setting for a great story. Readers and listeners of all ages will definitely find themselves enjoying Camp Lenape​!

How happy was I to read a book about one of my favorite foods? EXTREMELY.

Nacho’s Nachos is a non-fiction book about the creation of nachos. Sandra Nickel, along with Oliver Dominguez’s illustrations, have created a fantastic way of teaching us all the history of this tasty treat. This book comes just in time since nachos are celebrating their 80th anniversary this year!

Ignacio Anaya’s on-the-fly creation of what became known as “nachos” portrayed in a storytelling picture book is probably the best way to teach, not only children but adults as well, the importance of hard work and imagination. In such a slim volume, Nickel was about to portray the history and importance of culture and its food. The illustrations by Dominguez gave shape to the story - gorgeous throw-back illustrations that reminded me of old Mexican comics and advertisements. It was truly a nostalgic read even though I had never read anything about nachos before! How can one not enjoy a book that gives you that warm feeling of familiarity? Of home? 

I appreciate Nacho’s Nachos for the rich story that it is and the book itself is a work of art. This isn’t a book that’s meant to show only its spine - it’s meant to be SEEN - so act accordingly, reader. Pick this book up for yourself and your fellow book people - it’s a story meant to be seen and read. 

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE 
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly:
8/20/20
Author Interview
All the Ups and Downs

8/20/20
Sneak Peek
Hall Ways Blog

8/21/20
Review
Book Fidelity

8/21/20
Guest Post
StoreyBook Reviews

8/22/20
Review
Book Bustle

8/23/20
Author Interview
Texas Book Lover

8/24/20
Review
The Page Unbound

8/25/20
Review
Rainy Days with Amanda

8/25/20
Scrapbook Page
Reading by Moonlight

8/26/20
Guest Post
Forgotten Winds

8/27/20
Review
The Clueless Gent

8/28/20
Review
The Adventures of a Travelers Wife

8/28/20
Top Ten
Missus Gonzo

8/29/20
Review
Chapter Break Book Blog

8/29/20
Review
That's What She's Reading

 

   blog tour services provided by

The Reluctant Bandit:
Lawlessness and the Law Book 1
by Ami Hicken King

Genre: Historical fiction (western & romance elements)
 
About the Book
Good guy or villain?

Charlie Stapleton begins his day with one dilemma—rob the mercantile in a booming mining town or his brother Jimmy dies–ending the morning with another–kidnapping the sheriff’s daughter.  Conscientious and guilt-ridden, he’s now responsible for Jimmy and Annabelle, against their wishes.

Annabelle, the sheriff’s daughter, grew up sheltered for reasons beyond her understanding.  Chafing at the restrictions placed on her by her single father and unwilling to be courted by her father’s deputy, she begins planning a “trip.”  

Charlie’s actions propel himself and Annabelle into a long-standing chain of events so intertwined they blur the lines between law and disorder, and right and wrong.  In the battle between the law, lawlessness, and corrupt business, who will be willing to sacrifice their goals and principles to gain resolution?

Hey there reader! I was excited to read The Reluctant Bandit because I am still new to cowboy tales and, as I was reading along, I got the inkling that I was going to get a little bit of romance - and I did! Now, do not get me wrong, I hesitate to call Bandit a romance book because it isn't heavy in the subject and it would be dishonest to make you think this was a "bodice ripper". It isn't (as much as I was really hoping for it! haha). Instead, what The Reluctant Bandit does is precariously balance what it is to be a historical western and a romance. Author Ami Hicken King did this extremely well. I wasn't left feeling like I was missing something - the story is whole and reads as such. 

Anyone who reads my reviews knows that I am a character-driven reader. I need to be able to feel something for your characters. Sometimes it's love, other times - quite the opposite. Hicken King managed to make me do both. I truly came to care for and love Charlie and Annabelle while cursing Wrighty and whoever found themselves helping him. Back to the love. Charlie's story with his brother Jimmy tugged at my heartstrings and I felt that there was so much to unpack there. Some of it was - and I'm hoping we'll see more of them in future books? Maybe? Please?

All in all, The Reluctant Bandit was a well-rounded, well-written, and expressive story. I see this work being loved by western-readers and romance-readers alike. Each group may find themselves wanting more (especially romance-readers, present company included lol), but I truly think there is so much to appreciate from this story and to take from it. I especially recommend it for those readers that have been reluctant (ha! involuntary pun!) to start reading cowboy tales - this is the best story to get you over that hump! Try it out - you will not be sorry!

​

​The Feast and Other Horrifying Tales
by David Vorhees

Synopsis

A collection of short stories that take place on different holidays over the course of the year. The collection opens with “A New Year, a New Day, a New Life.” Grant Curtis is arrested on New Year’s Day and charged with the murder of his wife Carla. In “Easter: The Resurrection,” a resurrected Kyle Gardner seeks vengeance on Pastor Brian. “The Vengeance of Cassidy Clay” is a narrative poem that takes place on Halloween. The poem tells the story of a slave-hunter who haunts the woods long after his death and many more spine chilling tales.



Review

This is the first book I've read/listened to by David Vorhees, and it will definitely be the one that will stick around in my nightmares for awhile! Maybe listening to it added to the eeriness for me? Perhaps. Summer to me has always been filled with horror stories. There is something about the chills of a horror book during a hot summer's night that is truly nostalgic for me.

As for The Feast, there was an eerie candor that was added when listening to the narrator of each story. I had to listen to the stories while in the car and in the daylight because I couldn't fathom listening to them in the dark, at night, in my apartment. Too eerie!

Each story is filled with fantastically creepy imagery, and added elements, such as the music lyrics sang in the first story, simply add to the dreaded feeling as you listen on. Lovers of horror will definitely want to check out this book. They can do so in print, but to get the full effect, I would recommend listening to the audiobook. Be braver than me, and listen as the sun goes down...