Title: The Mermaids Melt at Dawn Author: Grendolyn Peach Soleil Publisher: Self-published Publication date: July 19, 2020 Genre: Fairy Tales, Folklore, Mythology, Fantasy One Sentence Summary: Deep in the bayou, Rok is a rowdy Cajun boy who was raised on the stories of the mermaids of Barbiche Island, who hold their own terrible stories. While dragons will always be my favorite mythological creature, mermaids come in at a very close second. From beautiful and sweet to ugly and terrible, the stories about them kind of run the gamut. As soon as I saw the title of this one, I couldn’t resist. Add in mythology and folklore and Poseidon and I was hooked. I was actually…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 42
Chapter Fourteen Mirabelle shouldn’t have been at the garden party. She was just passing through town. Of course I didn’t know that, but she made it clear she could and would only stay for a few days. I was desperate for some company other than Mother’s and Nigel’s, so I agreed and we spent a pleasant two days wandering the Hall and just chatting. I planted the __ for her. Just to be respectful. Robert was giving her funny looks, but it wasn’t her fault the wardrobe was only stocked with fancy dresses. She’d pulled out the least fancy one she could find, one that looked like it had been…
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Book Review: Nousopolis by Mack J. Lou
Title: Nousopolis Author: Mack J. Lou Publisher: Self-published Publication date: July 11, 2020 Genre: Science Fiction One Sentence Summary: When the network allowing people to thought-stream each other remotely is abruptly shut off, a group of 4 scientists race to figure out why and how to solve the problem before Nousopolis is destroyed. I was hooked when the description mentioned people can communicate through thought. And then to have that shut down? I was intrigued and needed to know what was going to happen next. I was also sold on the fact that one of the main characters is a mom of two as I am as well, and that some of the characters are scientists.…
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Safer at Home Order Journal #10
Dear Kids, It’s been about a month. A month full of distance learning and wildfires. Yes, the pandemic is still going on. We’re 6 months in, and Mommy is finally starting to lose it. I hope you’re both young enough that, when you read this when you’re older, you have no clue what I’m talking about. The days have been hard, kids. They’re long. I’m ready for you to go to bed by noon. I’m barely making it to bedtime without collapsing most days. But distance learning isn’t too bad. Brother’s teachers seem to have gotten into a rhythm. It’s interesting that he’s being taught by all 3 of the…
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Guest Post: Strange Karma by Willow Healy
The Lily Cafe is thrilled to welcome author Willow Healy! She is the author of the historical thriller Strange Karma, which is set in the past and the present and surrounds the question of who climbed Mount Everest first. Title: Strange Karma Author: Willow Healy Publisher: Booklocker,com, Inc. Publication date: August 13, 2020 Genre: Historical Thriller The Inspiration Behind Strange Karma The inspiration for this book occurred while trekking to Mount Everest base camp. At a lodge, my friend and I met mountain climbers searching for two mountaineers who had disappeared in the mists on Mount Everest in 1924 along with their newly invented pocket camera. The Kodak corporation informed the searchers that if the…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, part 1 (revisited)
Wow, have I really been posting this story for over a year?! Why on Earth is it taking me so long to write it? It’s still not even finished. But at least I’m getting to the really good parts now! At least, the parts I really want to write. Originally published August 7, 2019 A work in progress based on Beauty and the Beast that will hopefully be finished. Unedited and for your amusement. Chapter One Linda was beautiful. Beautiful and elegant and sophisticated. Nineteen to my seventeen, she was every guy’s dream. Poetry fell from her lush red lips. Her blue eyes twinkled with naughty secrets. Her hips swayed like a…
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Novel Excerpt: Stardust Destinies I: Variate Facing by Celinka Serre
The Lily Cafe is thrilled to present author Celinka Serre and her YA High Fantasy novel Stardust Destinies I: Variate Facing! Title: Stardust Destines I: Variate Facing Author: Celinka Serre Publisher: Binky Ink Publication date: May 3, 2019 Genre: Fantasy, YA Prompted by a cryptic message from her deceased master, Niome, a young wizardess, embarks on a journey to discover many truths. Leaving her country, Teloria, behind, and accompanied by her brother, his best friend, her brother’s master and his best friend, she discovers the prophecies that were written in the stars and dictated by the dragons. Being the guardian of the remaining safe magical book of spells, the Compliment Book, Niome and her companions…
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Book Review: Someone Else’s Life by Kevin J. Simington
Title: Someone Else’s Life Author: Kevin J. Simington Publisher: Self-published Publication date: July 11, 2020 Genre: Mystery and Thriller One Line Summary: How far would you go it you were a PI and your daughter was in danger? Honestly, I’ve been trying to cut down on the mystery and thriller reading. They’re just a little too real right now. But, when Mr. Simington contacted me for a review, there was just something about the blurb that excited me. Maybe it had to do with his description mentioning “character-driven” and “fascinating characters”. Sometimes I find authors’ descriptions of their novels to be a bit overblown, but, in this case, I’m glad I went with my instincts because…
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Queen of the Garden of Girls, Part 41
Chapter Thirteen, continued Rose was not the most predictable person, but Robert knew her better than anyone else. It happened when you were cooped up with the same person for years on end. There were only a handful of people on staff, and Nigel. Well, he was technically a member of the staff, but Robert had grown up with him so he was really Robert’s best friend who happened to be paid by Rose to keep her son looking presentable. As he expected, Rose was in her favorite room, a little unassuming study in a corner of the Hall. It was sparsely furnished with a small writing desk, an uncomfortable…
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Book Review: Strand: The Silver Radio by Justin Attas
Title: Strand: The Silver Radio Author: Justin Attas Publisher: Self-published Publication date: February 14, 2019 Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, YA One Sentence Summary: Quincy doesn’t fit in in the great tower called Strand no matter what he tries, but, when he’s forced into the Nether Layer, he finds adventure, danger, and purpose. I have a love-hate relationship with dystopian sci-fi novels. On one hand, there’s something that’s just appealing about them. I love when authors take our world, push it far into the future, and re-imagine what life might be like if there had been some major catastrophe. On the other hand, most dystopian sci-fi novels have let me down. They tend to follow the same…
