Archive | February 2024

**Steel Valley**

Feb22

Book Title: Steel Valley: Coming of Age in the Ohio Valley in the 1960s

Author: Jerry Madden

Publication Date: January 20, 2023

Publisher: Potomac Publishing Company

Page Length: 350 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Twitter Handle: @JerryMadden1948 @cathiedunn

Hashtags: #HistoricalFiction #SteelValley #ComingOfAge #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/01/blog-tour-steel-valley-by-jerry-madden.html

Book Title and Author Name:

Steel Valley: Coming of Age in the Ohio Valley in the 1960s

Jerry Madden

Blurb:

For readers of The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni and Last Summer Boys by Bill Rivers

Love is never easy…even in easier times, like the 1950s and 1960s in the Ohio Valley with the steel industry booming.

Second-generation immigrant families were reaching for the American middle class. And Catholic schools-made feasible by selfless Catholic nuns-promised bigger lives for everyone, including Jack Clark and Laurie Carmine. As they spent years searching for their separate futures, though, they were also stumbling toward love just as their world came crashing down.

Steel Valley depicts a story of love longed for, lost, and perhaps still within reach, just as our nation’s mythic yesterday became our troubled today, our last summer of innocence.

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/3nGw5K

Author Bio:

Jerry Madden grew up in the Upper Ohio Valley in the 1960s. He holds a B.A. from the College of Steubenville and law degrees from the University of Dayton School of Law and the Georgetown University Law Center. After law school, Jerry served as the sole law clerk to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, C. William O’Neill. He served in the United States Marine Corps (R) between 1970 and 1976.

Jerry has practiced law in Washington, D.C., since 1979, including fourteen years at the Department of Justice as a trial and appellate attorney. He is the principal of The Madden Law Group PLLC in Washington, D.C.

He lives in Northern Virginia with his wife, Cyndi, a retired educator. They have two children, Kelsey and Jack, both of whom hold M.Ed. degrees. They have one grandchild, Jamie Maclennan.

Author Links:

Website: https://steelvalleymadden.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JerryMadden1948

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jerry-Madden/author/B0BV19VM3FGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199752995-steel-valley

This entry was posted on February 22, 2024. 2 Comments

Murder by Numbers

Feb21

Book Link

From Amazon:

Our two zany sleuths, Page and Betsy, return in Book 3, landing another twisty murder case. The two cousins stop by The Perk Coffee Shop for pumpkin lattes to celebrate the first day of fall. An ever-observant Page notices Shell Isle’s High School math teacher sitting nearby. His odd actions awaken her curiosity. Hunched over the newspaper’s classified section, the teacher is frantically circling numbers and mumbling to himself. More troubling, the sleuth witnesses a bruiser of a guy joining him. With a quick exchange of laptops and heated words, the thug disappears out the door, leaving the teacher rattled. Immediately, Page gets one of her inklings, signaling there’s more than coffee brewing at The Perk.

The story’s twisty plot will keep readers guessing until the last chapter. Splashes of light romance, plenty of shenanigans, and a few unexpected surprises await.

BONUS: Betsy’s recipes are included. Calling them a ‘bonus’ may be a stretch. She’s a lousy cook.

My Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Shell Isle HitReviewed in the United States on February 20, 2024

Verified Purchase

This is another Shell Isle Hit for sleuths Page and Betsy. I tried to figure out the suspect that killed Dean and I failed. Page and Betdy are on it thanks in part to Page and her inklings and nudges. Romance is alive on Shell Isle, and I think it’s way past time for Page and Steve to at least become engaged. The use of ciphers gives a slighte sliver of a spy noir feeling.

Verbiage From Literary Titan

Feb21

Book Link

Christmas in Evergreen: Heart of Evergreen by Mary Schmidt presents a riveting narrative centered around Kim Dailey’s profound personal upheaval. The story begins as Kim uncovers a shocking truth about her husband of five years, leading her into a vortex of emotional and physical danger. The discovery of her name atop her husband’s ominous hit list propels Kim into an unforeseen journey of survival and self-discovery.

The novel is captivating from the outset, with Schmidt’s meticulous writing effortlessly drawing the reader into Kim’s world. The intimate portrayal of Kim’s life with her husband, Steve, and the subsequent unraveling of their seemingly idyllic existence is both compelling and emotionally resonant. Schmidt’s narrative deftly navigates the complexities of betrayal and resilience, making Christmas in Evergreen a page-turner. Kim’s character is particularly engaging, her strength and vulnerability painted with a realistic brush. The suspenseful elements, particularly the looming threat of assassination, add a thrilling dimension to the plot. Schmidt’s ability to intertwine themes of suspense, romance, and mystery is noteworthy, crafting a story that is as much about self-discovery and new beginnings as it is about love and danger. The novel’s detailed settings and well-crafted dialogue enhance its immersive quality. Each character is rendered with depth, allowing readers to feel a genuine connection to their journeys. The twists and turns of the plot maintain a gripping pace, ensuring that readers remain engaged until the final page.

Christmas in Evergreen is a commendable work by Mary Schmidt, showcasing her talent for creating a multifaceted story that blends mystery, thriller, and romance elements. It is a recommended read for those who appreciate a story that skillfully combines suspense with emotional depth, set against the backdrop of a festive season. Schmidt’s next work is eagerly anticipated as she continues to establish herself as a versatile and skilled storyteller.

Pages: 165 | ASIN : B0CRGH8ZVY

Masked Intent : A Modern-Day Morality Play

Feb16

Book Link

From Amazon:

CAN YOU TAKE SOMEONE AT FACE VALUE?
OR IS THERE A DEEPER STORY BENEATH THE MASK?

Masked Intent is a debut novel that takes a taut, complex look at how we hide behind inauthenticity to guide us through interpersonal relationships. Through a series of detailed, interconnected storylines, the novel takes a timely look at our relationship with the truth and how it drives our actions and motivations.

Where do you draw lines in a world where authenticity takes back seat to the power and seduction of influence?

“An excellent romance novel (complete with several steamy scenes) that is also literary, intelligent, and partly inspired by ancient Greek plays.”

From being denied by her birth parents to marrying the wrong man, Alexa Winston has learned to cope with disappointment and heartache by masking her true self from the world.

Divorced and finally living on her own terms, she shrouds herself in half-truths and bravado, content to live her quiet, predictable life – until she finds the job and the man of her dreams.

As she falls deeper into both, and into a world ruled by powerful players jockeying for influence and dominance at all costs, she’s forced to weigh her truths against reality.

Trouble is, though she’s a master at detecting self-deception in others, she’s slow to recognize it in herself.

My Review:

This book is a true epic read. One can not help but feel the emotions except when cloaked and shut off to the world. This love story is different from others I’ve read and unique. Alexa must protect her heart. Mateo brings out deep emotions. Do you hide your heart, or are you an open book? I’ve been an open book all my life. The pain is devastating to relate my life to that of Alexa. Regardless, pain and doubt are dominant in this novel, but so is love. The characters are realistic and that’s not found in many books. Definitely a deep novel.

Senseless Insane Acts Kill and Devastate…

Feb15

The events at Union Station yesterday has forever changed the landscape. What started as an epic live outdoor event for the Kansas City Chiefs back-to-back Super Bowl win with a parade and speakers, turned into tragedy of enormous proportions. The numbers of those injured keeps on rising. The children trampled by adults keeps on rising. One mother of young children lost her life. I was there with my son and one of his friends. The gunshots were below us. A madhouse of people running and scared, trampling on children and breaking their bones and much more. Three critically wounded may or may not survive and, if they do survive, how will they be? Brain damage? Spinal damage? This is nuts!

What was epic turned deadly and for no reason. It happened below us and I didn’t go to help. As a nurse, I’ve helped in every situation that has crossed my path. I feel bad for not helping, but I knew that it was an active situation. My son and Cory with me, no, if by myself, yes, I would have tried to help. Right now we are at Legends and Famous Dave’s for a meal. It was so hard to not go with all the ambulances and vehicles. We went the opposite direction. Yet it happened in front of us. I’m just so sad…

I think back to the shooting in Vegas on October 21, 2017, at the outdoor music venue. Did we learn anything from that? No. What happened today was senseless. We are at the brink in which decisions must be made to stop all outdoor events that have no way of using metal detectors and crowd control, just like its done for political events and rallies. Union Station is not set up that way and it can’t be. The area has highly varied terrain and so many ways to get in tall buildings. That leaves holding events in stadiums must be held in with great metal detectors and more security.

What’s more scary? What is to stop anyone from deciding that parades are the new thing for killing people? Anyone could start shooting at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or the Rose Parade in Pasadena.

When does the insanity end? I’m home now, but what happened us was senseless. The heros? That would be the first responders and police who ran right into the thick of things to save people. They are true heros. Why the h@ll can’t those who respond to school shootings do the same and be true heroes.

Guns do not kill people, but people do kill people. There is difference.

This entry was posted on February 15, 2024. 2 Comments