#BookReview - True Story of the Perfect 36 @veronicatabares

True Story of the Perfect 36

By: Veronica R. Tabares
Publisher: Sun Break Publishing
Publication Date: January 2020
ISBN: 978-1609160203
Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger Scott
Review Date: March 2020

Two daring preteen girls from the present join forces with a handsome geek from the 3000s to correct the timeline that caused their father’s death and allowed the world to be dominated by men in this lively fantasy by award-winning writer Veronica R. Tabares. 

The story really begins in 1920, though only Vanessa, the mother in the Rossi household, seems to realize that time has shifted. She has been endowed with the vision to see their former circumstances – a happy family with a loving father, Tony, and several strong-minded daughters – and to know that their new “present” is just wrong – no computers, no phones, not even a TV – “nothing twenty-first century about it.” And she has been embedded with the knowledge of time travel. She and her daughters Becca and Maddie learn, through a quick jaunt into the future, that unless something is done to change things radically, women will be almost eliminated from the planet. Correcting that inequity and the chance to get Tony back will spur them to navigate through time.

But to make any real difference, they will need to collaborate with Philip, the very bumbling fool from the future who inadvertently caused Tony’s demise. Philip is an expert in time travel, if in little else, and they need his help, though the girls still feel hatred toward him. When Vanessa finds out that Maddie and Becca have suddenly also acquired time vision and have a real plan for altering things in 1920 to wipe out the ugly future, she cuts their hair, puts them in boy’s clothing for their own protection, and sends them off with Philip to hobo their way to Nashville, Tennessee. There a crucial vote is soon to take place, with women’s suffrage hanging in the balance.

Tabares has created a crazy ride, not just by boxcars in the 1920s, but through the past and future, her vibrant panorama of events heralding the centennial in 2020 of American women’s right to vote. The two teens are forceful, funny, and sneaky when they need to be, making this a rich read for young adults. And the author has clearly done careful research on the events of that critical Tennessee vote - it being the 36th state to ratify – or not - the suffrage amendment - so older readers will appreciate her treatment of historical fact. She has also devised a devious villain, someone with power to deny women’s suffrage, fueled by his frustration at having learned, through Philip’s ill-timed blunders, that Vanessa’s daughters will one day be credited with the invention of time travel, a distinction he is determined to gain for himself. Balancing these minute-to-minute changes are the gradual changes in the teens, who are growing up as they learn to cope with intrigue, politics, social issues and a strange but still quite human visitor from the future. Tabares is a screenwriter and one can easily envision the cinematic possibilities of this history laden, girl-and-woman-themed, rollicking, action-filled adventure.

Quill says: True Story of the Perfect 36 is an action-packed melting pot of near misses, might-have-beens, time travel glitches, thwarted planetary disasters and coming of age revelations that make for an engaging read.

For more information on True Story of the Perfect 36 please visit the author's website at: veronicatabares.com

#BookReview - Betrayal of Justice @justicefellow

Betrayal of Justice (A Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Book 2)

By: Mark M. Bello
Publisher: 8Grand Publications
Publication Date: November 2019
ASIN: B07ZY9YLK4
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: March 5, 2020

It would be so nice to say that we “look back on” religious persecution, bigotry, prejudice, a political administration that likes to rule from the shadows, etc., when I review this book. Unfortunately, these morally wrong vices are still very much a part of America today. But this is one author who has done a great job of spotlighting these issues, and still allowing readers to see that justice can, and does, prevail.

Mixing just enough action with a great character, Zachary Blake (who was introduced in the first book of the series, Betrayal of Faith), with great forensics scenes and a plot that maintains thrills and intrigue throughout, you’ll soon see this is one series you definitely want to jump on board with.

Now on to Betrayal of Justice - Ronald John is the President of the United States. Elected by running under the campaign promise to “make American pure again,” he proves quite quickly upon taking over the Oval Office that he’s not only a bigot, but his definition of “pure” is not what the voters originally thought. In essence, he’s working hard to become the next Hitler instead of the man who’s supposed to run a free country. 

Enter Arya Khan. Living in Dearborn, Michigan, which has a high percentage of Muslims, Arya is one of those good, decent people who should not be corralled in with the bad ones. Translation: Just because you see or hear of a Muslim terrorist, doesn’t mean all Muslims are terrorists. This is a fact you’d assume all people understand, especially in the present, but under an evil administration opinions can be altered.

A white supremacist firebombs a mosque in Dearborn. Unfortunately, for Arya, she witnesses the brutal murder of this terrorist and, instead of being horrible, actually goes to the man and tries to help him. Why? Because she has morals. What happens to her for her decency? Arya is charged with the man’s murder, and high-profile attorney Zachary Blake enters her world.

Now arrested for murder, there seems to be no hope in sight because the local police act like this is an open-and-shut case. Because she’s Muslim? Oh, you’ll have to read to find that out. But as the investigation proceeds, a white supremacist group is unveiled, as well as an administration wanting to prove they’re right when it comes to their beliefs that “those people” are not one of “us.” The president has many plans, such as implementing a “Muslim ban” which would stop travel and immigration to the U.S. from various Muslim countries, and allow America to hunt down and deport illegal Muslim immigrants, while trying to get citizens to hate the legal immigrants as well. There even comes a point, based upon a new law, when the president works to throw Arya’s parents out of the country based on the sole fact that they raised a murderer.

Zachary, who worked hard to redeem himself in the first book, must now go toe-to-toe with some of the biggest, most powerful people in the U.S. in order to see that justice prevails. Readers who have a need to support a character who has been dealt a vicious hand and are wrongly persecuted, will love this book. And even if the first one hasn’t been read, this works as a standalone and is so good it will have you going back to see what Zachary Blake did the first time around. Be careful, though. Do not classify this in your mind as being another political book, or a “terrorist” book, because it is so much more than that. 

Quill says: Zachary Blake proves, yet again, to be an attorney with courage, power, and the strength to right the wrongs of this world.

For more information on Betrayal of Justice, please visit the author's website: www.markmbello.com

#AuthorInterview with Mark M. Bello @justicefellow

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Amy Lignor is talking with Mark M. Bello, author of Betrayal of Faith (A Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Book 1).

FQ: Because you are a Michigan native and, of course, a lawyer – can you tell readers a bit about how Blake came into being? Is he based on you and your career in some ways? 

BELLO: Betrayal of Faith is loosely based upon an actual case I handled earlier in my career. The novel fulfills a 'bucket-list' item for me.

While the book and The Coalition are fiction, both depict how it felt to handle a case where a revered religious institution behaved badly, lied under oath, engaged in a cover-up and did everything it could do to deny justice to its young parishioner-victim. I have been married to my terrific wife, Tobye, for almost 45 years. I do not abuse alcohol in any way, shape, or form. Blake's failures are his, not mine, but his case is based on my real case. 

Despite his failures and flaws, Blake is more talented, and gutsy than I ever was. After he regains his moxy, he becomes the kind of lawyer I always aspired to be and he is based on a compilation of me and other lawyers I have know well over the years. His legal strategies are mine; his approach to the case and willingness to go anywhere to find witnesses and answers are based on my crusade for justice back in the day. I really enjoyed creating him and developing his character over the six novels. I also enjoy comparing his career to mine and often wonder what I would have done with the cases he has handled in those novels. Bottom line: I'm having fun with him.

FQ: In your bio it states that you have worked “extremely high profile legal cases.” Is this particular case written about in Betrayal of Faith based on a real one you fought inside the courtroom, or is this one you wished to focus upon for some particular reason?

BELLO: As I indicated in my previous answer, yes, Betrayal of Faith is based on an actual case I handled in the 1980's. The struggle for justice against a defendant with unlimited funds, a high capacity for deceit and cover-up, and the disappointment I felt at how they treated one of their own (a child, no less) are present in the novel. "The Coalition" is a fictional organization, but it accurately depicts the experience. It felt like some sinister entity was pulling strings behind the scenes and the lawyers were only following orders. When the case was over, I promised myself that I would, one day, write a book about the experience. Betrayal of Faith is the product of that promise.

FQ: Looking at this sickly “facet” of the world that makes headlines, people who have taken vows to the Church but then hurt children, do you think the tides are turning; or, if one day this is something that will not be heard about again because justice has been served?

BELLO: The Church acknowledges wrong-doing these days; it has issued multiple apologies and paid out millions to victims. It has handled the crisis better than it has in the past. Still, it has done far too little to address the problem and still justifies keeping predators in its midst based, primarily, on a shortage of priests. I don't get the philosophy and why they would pay out millions and billions and cover-up these abhorrent activities. Full disclosure, immediate defrocking of offending priests, abolishing the oath of celibacy and permitting priests to marry would, in my opinion, help enormously.

FQ: What brought you to writing? Did you have a particular “fictional” attorney that you were or still are interested in that inspired you to walk the writer’s path? 

BELLO: As I indicated, the case brought me to writing; completion of the novel and recent events in our country caused me to continue. When I see an injustice, I try to tackle it, expose it, and demonstrate how the justice system might handle it. In Betrayal of Justice, it was a bigoted president and a young Muslim woman falsely accused of murdering a white supremacist. In Betrayal in Blue, it was a good cop falsely accused by bad cops. Betrayal in Black tackles the issue of white cops shooting and killing black citizens, an exploration of institutional racism in the criminal and civil justice systems. Betrayal High takes on school shootings and bullying, while Supreme Betrayal handles sexual assault and the me-too movement. All of my novels are based on real-life events; they are realistic, 'ripped from the headlines' fiction, so to speak.

I have been inspired by many novelists, in and out of the legal thriller genre. Harper Lee, John Grisham, Steve Martini, Daniel Silva, Ken Follet, David Baldacci, Pat Conroy, George RR Martin, Dan Brown, Elmore Leonard, and many others come to mind. I certainly like reading novels from my own genre.

FQ: What do you like to do when out of the courtroom and away from the computer? Do you have any specific hobbies or things you like that inspire you? 

BELLO: Surprise! I like to read! I love movies and television dramas. Many reviewers compare my books to the Law and Order television series. I like to watch and play sports. I'm almost 68 now, but I still play golf, tennis, pickle ball and softball. My favorite pastime? Seeing and playing with my eight grandchildren. Grandfather (they call me "Popi') is my favorite role in life.

FQ: Readers love to hear the answer to this: If you could have your choice of having coffee with one person (this could be a writer, political entity, historical figure, etc.), who would that be, and why?

BELLO: Ruth Bader Ginsberg—she is the ultimate legal hero and champion for justice in this country. I wish her good health and long life. The country needs her.

FQ: Are there other places readers can find out more about you, or perhaps sites that you write for in regards to the law and/or writing? 

BELLO: People can read my blogs at Mark M. Bello|Author/Attorney|Michigan.

I write articles for The Legal Examiner.

I also co-host a podcast on Blog Talk Radio (it might be moving, though) called Journey into Justice where today's newsworthy legal and political topics are discussed in some detail. I have an active social justice page on Facebook. I'm @justicefellow on Twitter. Check them out!

FQ: Looking forward, and I know there are four books at the moment starring Zachary Blake, do you see more stories on the horizon? And if not with Zachary, in particular, is there another character and/or genre you would love to take a crack at?

BELLO: There are two more finished novels awaiting publication, Betrayal High, about a bullying and a school shooting, and Supreme Betrayal, about a sexual assault committed by a now candidate for the United States Supreme Court. I'm not sure what the future holds; publishing and marketing books is an expensive endeavor and I need to develop a loyal following to continue. Can you help a fellow out? 

#BookReview - Betrayal of Faith @justicefellow

Betrayal of Faith (A Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Book 1)

By: Mark M. Bello
Publisher: 8Grand Publications
Publication Date: November 2019
ASIN: B07ZL16H3B
Reviewed by: Amy Lignor
Review Date: February 27, 2020

Whether it be Perry Mason, Atticus Finch, or even Turow’s famous lawyer, Rusty Sabich in Presumed Innocent, who was actually pursued by his own kind, everyone out there most likely has a favorite fictional lawyer. You know...the one who when a new book or movie or TV episode came out, you just had to watch, or read, and find out what happens. When it comes to this brand-new lawyer (in my life, anyway), a man called Zachary Blake, I can honestly say that with just his first starring role in a series of legal thrillers written by Mark M. Bello, he has captured my imagination, earned my respect, and made himself a “must-read” for the rest of time.

This is not an easy tale, by any stretch, but I can’t remember when I found a lawyer more riveting. When we first meet and begin to understand Zachary, we learn that he is definitely the epitome of a lawyer and man who’s down in the dumps and is at a point where it may just be impossible to turn his life around and put his career back on track. Changes alter his life awfully fast, however, when Jennifer Tracey decides to become his client.

Jennifer is a woman of unending faith. She believes in the Lord, but is now stuck in a position that brings pain to her heart and could just shatter her faith completely. Recently widowed, saying goodbye to her true love, Jim, she’s now a single parent of two boys: Jake (9 years of age) and Kenny (age 11). A new priest was transferred to her parish when the man the boys felt close to, Father Bill, left. He was transferred to Virginia which caused the boys to feel sorrow again; it was as if their “substitute” father had also died. Worse was that he was replaced with Father Gerry, a man Jennifer soon finds out brought harm—and not friendship or kindness—to her two sons. But, don’t shy away just because you “think” you’ve read this plot before. It’s not just a lawyer against a sick man who wears a cross around his neck in order to get away with sin; this abuse has links to something on a much larger scope: The Coalition. This is one organization that is not only a “secret” club run by the church, but it’s also run by a man who’s drunk on power and will stop at nothing to protect this group who needs to, quite literally, be punished by God on high in order to receive the right amount of wrath.

Absent the Lord being able to wreak vengeance, Zachary steps in with his P.I., Micah Love. Zachary needs to get his head on straight, so to speak, as his life has been made up of binge drinking at strip clubs after his wife kicked him to the curb and took everything. But somewhere deep inside this man’s soul lies the intelligence, ego, and ability that once made him “Detroit’s King of Justice.”

Clues start to add up about this sinister church group, including the fact that Zachary and Micah discover two families actually “disappeared” after they had an encounter with Father Gerry; as well as finding out that a person who could have provided much-needed information about The Coalition died under mysterious circumstances.

But with Jennifer’s determination, Zachary will rise up from the darkness he’s been in for a while and fight with everything he has—both in the courtroom and outside of it. Readers will immediately get pulled into Zachary Blake’s intuitive mind, and it is not an overstatement to say that they will be entertained throughout the entirety of this tale that actually makes Detroit thrilling.

Quill says: The greatest thing you can say about a book will be said here: Book II awaits, and everything will be set aside in order to dive right back in to Zachary Blake’s life!

For more information on Betrayal of Faith, please visit the website: www.markmbello.com

#AuthorInterview with Mark Daniel Seiler @markseiler3

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Anita Lock is talking with Mark Daniel Seiler, author of Shave Ice Paradise.

FQ: What would you say was the turning point in your life that led you to become a writer?

SEILER: When you’re a kid, you notice little things, like air. “Hey! Why isn’t anyone talking about this invisible stuff?” Even though we can’t live long without air, we just kind of get used to it and don’t really think about it much. Little invisible things, like air, tend to go unnoticed until the tiny unseen things gather together into a storm: a tornado carries away your home or a gale blows your ship off course and you find yourself shipwrecked on a desert island. What was the turning point? Why did I begin writing? I blame the little invisible forces.

FQ: Who would you say are your inspirational authors, and why?

SEILER: Just the right book, at just the right time in your life, can change the world. As a terrible teen, a kind, older woman gave me Tolkien’s ​Lord of the Rings​. Looking back on it, had I not run into those hobbits and elves at just that precise moment, I probably would have become an orc? Books aren’t just “okay.” Books change the world.

FQ: What books would you say have had the most influence on your life as a writer, and why?

SEILER: Before I ever dreamed of becoming a writer, reading Hermann Hesse’s ​Narcissus and Goldman​ in high school had a profound effect on the trajectory of my life. Many of Hesse’s novels follow a similar pattern: childhood friends take diverse paths, one quits school runs away and has unexpected adventures and experiences, while the other youth goes to university and leads a conventional life. By chance, many years later, the two friends meet and compare mythologies. I love stories that blend the knowledge learned from experience with the knowledge that can be taught. And yes, I was the friend who ran away.

FQ: Since Hawaii is your place of residence it makes perfect sense to write a story that weaves everything Hawaii in them. There are under fifty novels (according to Wikipedia—thirty-three, to be exact) written with Hawaii in the backdrop. Have you read any of them, and if so, would you consider any of them to be inspirations to why you’ve chosen to write a Hawaiian-based novel? If not, what inspired you to write this story?

SEILER: I’m shocked there are only thirty-three Hawaiian novels. If you walk around the neighborhood you’re bound to bump into at least thirty-three storytellers. Life is a struggle on the island. Locals work three jobs to make ends meet, but they make time to talk story. Along with the constant Trade Winds, there is also a prevailing attitude of giving on the islands. A little respect, a measure of kindness, and a pinch of generosity returns to you thousandfold. If you’re very lucky, you will encounter the true Aloha Spirit which can’t be captured with words, but must be experienced. I’m constantly inspired and humbled by the people I meet.

FQ: What would you say is the inspiration for your characters in ​Shaved Ice Paradise?​

SEILER: Though other people appear in our dreams, I’ve read that we are all of the people in our dreams, which is crazy to think about. Dreams are wonderful and wild—pure storytelling. We have little, if any, control over the characters in our dreams. Similarly, the characters in ​Shave Ice Paradise​ have minds of their own and seldom, if ever, listen to my advice. They are willful, troublesome, stubborn, and fun. I’d like to say we have somethings in common, though I’m not sure they would see it that way.

FQ: You’ve chosen to portray all your characters in ​Shaved Ice Paradise —​ protagonists and antagonists alike — with redeeming and flawed qualities, which is not common in literature. Why did you choose to do this?

SEILER: “Redeeming and flawed,” you say? Flawed sounds like a piece of pottery that comes out of the kiln with an imperfection. We’re all certainly works in progress. Somethings in life come easily for us, while other things are just plain hard, if not impossible. What’s in the way, what are the obstacles keeping us from being content? One can make a compelling argument that the reason we’re not happy is because of things that can’t be changed, that we ourselves can never change. One of the dirty secrets is we ​are​ able to change. Transformation is not only possible, it is taking place around us all of the time.

FQ: You incorporate environmental issues in ​Shaved Ice Paradise. ​Are they based on events that have happened or are presently happening in Hawaii?

SEILER: Yes, there are many serious environmental issues at present in Hawaii.

FQ: With two award-winning books under your belt and a possible third with your latest novel, ​Shaved Ice Paradise,​ what plans do you have for your next literary project?

SEILER: If you love fun characters, my new novel, ​RIFT,​ is coming out in the spring of 2021, followed by a thriller, ​Black Tango. T​he genres may vary, but at the heart of all my novels is a love story.

FQ: What do you hope your audience will come away with after reading ​Shaved Ice Paradise?​ 

SEILER: Mostly, I want readers to have fun and enjoy the story. If I’ve done a proper job, there might be one or two points of interest along the way. One of the many things I love about being a writer is hearing from readers. I’ve learned to never underestimate the reader’s imagination. I’m constantly amazed by the rich, wonderful world the reader creates from the words I’ve strung together. When the reader describes the story they read, the tables are turned, and I’m the one who comes away with something new.

FQ: Do you foresee writing more Hawaiian-based mysteries in the near future?

SEILER: My hope is readers enjoy ​Shave Ice Paradise​ and they leave me no choice but to write the continuing adventures of Gina Mori.

#BookReview - Shave Ice Paradise @Markseiler3

Shave Ice Paradise

By: Mark Daniel Seiler
Publisher: Owl House Books
Publication Date: May 2020
ISBN: 9781947003682
Reviewed by: Anita Lock
Date: February 21, 2020

A mysterious murder leads the daughter of a Buddhist into more than she bargains for in Mark Seiler’s mystery, Shave Ice Paradise.

Something fishy surrounds the mysterious death of Gina Mori’s Auntie Nalani. The feisty daughter of a Buddhist minister contacts her police friend, Carla Moreno, for details on the crime scene for starters before Gina investigates. Curly (aka Julius), a stream biologist, is busy gathering samples for the Department of Land and Natural Resources near the crime scene at the time she shows up. The two hit it off, and Gina takes Curly with him to search for more clues after he finds Auntie Nalani’s missing handbag.

Even though Curly becomes immediately enamored with Gina, he has a difficult time reading Gina’s feelings because of her hardcore persona. It doesn’t help that she is the complete antithesis of what he would expect from a foxy-looking female. While Gina, undoubtedly, is a force not to be reckoned with, the two become an item until one of them divulges a bit of their skewed past.

A chain of events, spurred by a bus accident and an agrochemical company, leads Gina to further sleuthing, and this time without Curly’s help. The more information she gathers, the more she fears that she may be the next on her aunt’s murderer’s hit list.

Award-winning author Mark Seiler weaves in “all things Hawaiian” in Shave Ice Paradise. Although Seiler’s new mystery opens with the plot’s crime scene, readers should expect immersion into the fauna, flora, culture, traditions, and language of Wai Nau, the northwestern portion of the Island of Hawaii, from the get-go.

There is more to Gina Mori than the bumbling, awkward persona she displays around the Buddhist temple where her father serves as minister. Once she gets wind of her aunt’s death, Gina morphs into stealth mode. Her gutsy, no-nonsense approach to how she handles herself around the townsfolk makes her a complicated character to read for several chapters. One thing is for sure though: she’ll do whatever it takes to get answers.

Curly enters her life very early in the plot. A bit reserved to her gutsiness, Curly has no idea what’s in store when he falls head over heels for Gina and joins her on some of her sleuthing adventures. While a light romance builds, there are other issues brewing, such as their pasts...

This first glimpse into the protagonist’s flaws is just the tip of the iceberg as Seiler slowly but deftly develops the inner workings of his cast—a vital and attractive element to his literary writing style. It is from this character-building element that Seiler’s storytelling takes off and provides the perfect setup for him to cleverly weave in a Hawaiian word here or there, the area’s landscape, and even environmental issues.

Scenes mainly shift between Gina’s investigations and her relationship with Curly, but as the story develops, scenes begin to glance at other characters with their strengths and shortcomings. Chapters are short and engaging and close on light cliffhangers until the plot thickens. Seiler pulls from the several tangled situations to create unpredictable twists and turns, a ticking-bomb climax, and a slam-bang ending.

For more information on Shave Ice Paradise, please visit the website: www.sighingwomanteas.com

#BookReview - Juliet and Dead Romeo @thatacus

Juliet and Dead Romeo (Shakespearean Murder Mysteries, Book 1)

By: C.J. Love
Publisher: Columbine Publishing Group, LLC
Publication Date: January 2020
ISBN: 978-1945422836
Reviewed by: Barbara Bamberger Scott
Date: February 21, 2020

Mixing and matching with equal ease, author C. J. Love has recreated elements of Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet, in the process creating a new, modern sleuth - the very feminine, very gutsy Juliet Da Vinci.

Juliet loves a policeman named Nicolo whose surname – Montague - would be anathema to her feisty father Santos, who has been in a feud with the Montague clan ever since Mariotto Romeo tried to steal his secret recipe for risotto – and might have seen his wife naked, accidentally. Juliet has kept her feelings for Nicolo a secret, and that means playing hard to get. Meanwhile her mother Italia, eager to arrange a marriage, has introduced her to the handsome Paris, who finds her quite attractive though she is not in the mood to reciprocate. But the two find themselves taking a walk on a dark night, and together discover the dead body of Mariotto floating under a bridge. Santos is summoned, tampers with the scene, and makes Juliet and Paris swear to tell no one since the corpse is on his property. But after the conflicted Juliet sends a surreptitious text to Nicolo, Mariotto’s demise is deemed murder with Santos the prime suspect. The actual perpetrator will not be discovered until many layers of truth and lie have been unveiled, bringing in a cast of characters with Shakespearean names and roles recalling the bard’s famous drama. Identifying Mariotto’s killer will expose Juliet to the ultimate threat and show her what she is capable of, not only in solving a murder case but also in the art of self-defense.

Author C.J. Love has set out in a new direction in her writing, moving from the romance genre to this whodunit saga, with Juliet and Dead Romeo already designated as Book 1 of a series. She cleverly injects notable names from the original script: Tybalt (kind of a drunk, hothead, sneak, rather like the original character); an overbearing mother bent on finding Juliet a husband; lovely Roseline who has the power to charm Juliet’s would-be lover and evoke her jealousy; and a priest, Father Larry, who knows enough herbal lore to concoct a poisonous potion. A few other names and situational echoes borrowed from the bard crop up in the narrative, but even those who have never read a word of Shakespeare’s plays will be hooked by the strong personalities and the action-packed storyline in this strong new offering. Love’s crime thriller begins with a brawl and ends with a fight to the near-death, yet remains centered on the heart of the matter: who loves whom, and how and when will they acknowledge it and go on an actual date, instead of mainly meeting on several well-placed balconies? 

Quill says: C. J. Love’s Juliet and Dead Romeo innovates by melding modern parlance with reference to a great classic, throwing out alluring clues and revealing the development of a nervous, doubt-ridden girl into an adventurous, self-confident woman poised to solve more mysteries in future volumes. 

For more information on Juliet and Dead Romeo, please visit the website: lovecj316.wixsite.com