Posted on by Jacquie Biggar

#BookReviews- Lunar Boogie by C. S. Boyak, The Sunset Crowd by Karin Tanabe, Bright Lights and Candle Glow by collected authors #reading


Photo by Johannes Plenio on Pexels.com

Still catching up on my reading list before my poor Kindle revolts, lol. Today I have a selection of different genres to share with you.

The first is from creative writer Craig Boyack. His fantasy series The Hat is highly entertaining and imaginative.

The posts on this site may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission should you make a purchase using a link.

Lizzie and the hat are back in action, only this time they’re up against the most tragic monster of all, a werewolf. 

A killer is threatening the city. He preys on people heading home from work and leaves little more than blood and gore behind, confounding the police and Lizzie and The Hat alike.

There are rumors of a creature of the night, part wolf, part man- a hunter without equal. The press label him/her The Sausage-Maker for the grisly remains of the victims. Lieutenant Joe Yoder is called in on the investigation though he’s still mourning the loss of his beloved wife, Mary. The crime spree seems connected to the full moon, adding to the mystery.

Lizzie and her talking companion, The Hat, spend time performing with their band The Pythons, and searching for clues to the creature they think is a werewolf before it strikes again. She visits a witch elder named Evelyn for advice, concerned the creature could be someone they know.

“I need to know how to cure a wolfman.”
“What?!” the hat blurted.
“We’ve been killing monsters, and I understand that. This one sounds like it deserves compassion instead of, you know… that.”
The hat raised his voice. “This isn’t like some benevolent West Coast court. There’s no rehab program for—”
Evelyn extended her hand, then turned her wrist to the left. The hat’s volume went down just like an old stereo.
Lizzie smiled. “You’ll have to teach me that one.”

Boyack, C. S.. Lunar Boogie (The Hat Book 4) (p. 67). Follow me at coldhandboyack.wordpress.com. Kindle Edition.

While many of our favorite characters make appearances in the story, there’s an unexpected twist at the end that takes this usually lighthearted series into darker territory.

I can’t wait to see what Mr. Boyack comes up with next!

From Rodeo Drive to the French Riviera, Karin Tanabe’s The Sunset Crowd is a tale of survival and reinvention, of faking it until you make it, and the glittering appeal of success and stardom, as it seeks to answer that timeless question—who gets to have the American dream?

This book is being compared to Daisy Jones and The Six but for me, it started out slowly and never really came into its own until the latter part of the story.

Set in 70’s Hollywood, The Sunset Crowd follows the lives of a young photographer, Beatrice DuPont, and want-to-be producer Theodora Leigh. There’s a lot of partying with sex, drugs, and copious amounts of alcohol, which made the storyline lag.

I’m afraid I found this hard to finish. Not one of her best, unfortunately.

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

These tales encompass sober themes, heartwarming messages, and uplifting endings, appropriate for the winter season or all year long.

I love heartwarming holiday tales and this anthology hits all the right notes.

Set around the Christmas season, each story starts with an appropriate quote leading to a variety of genres from a Yankee soldier who steps in to help a woman giving birth, to Santa Claus in a weight management program, and a rancher with a young wife who receives an eye-opening lesson of duty over pleasure.

If you’re looking for something to lift your spirits give this collection a try, you won’t regret it.

The trees are starting to bud out, I’m so excited for spring!

This is a fruit salad tree featuring four varieties of plums and a nectarine.

33 Replies to “#BookReviews- Lunar Boogie by C. S. Boyak, The Sunset Crowd by Karin Tanabe, Bright Lights and Candle Glow by collected authors #reading”

  2. We still have severe frosts, so I hope the blooms don’t get fooled by the sunny days and poke their heads up too early! Wonderful reviews. Congratulations to the authors. Thanks for sharing, Jacquie. Hugs 💕🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  6. I’ve never heard of a fruit salad tree, but now I want one.

    Thanks for your candid reviews. I’m sorry The Sunset Crowd didn’t live up to your expectations. I always enjoy Craig’s stories. And I’m tickled you took a chance on Bright Lights and Candle Glow (especially during the off season). Much appreciated.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Great reviews, Jacquie 🙂 I enjoyed Lunar Boogie too. Not sure how I missed reading Bright Lights and Candle Glow but added that to my reading list. Nice to see the blooms, it will be a while before we see them here xo

    Liked by 2 people

  8. Wonderful reviews, Jacquie. I loved Lunar Boogie. It was different and let us see a different side of Lizzie. I have not read the other two, but adding Bright Lights and Candle Glow to my towering TBR list. Thanks for sharing, and congratulations to the authors. I’ve never heard of a fruit salad tree. Interesting!

    Liked by 2 people

    2. Wonderful reviews, Jacquie. I am a big Boyack fan. Karin’s book sounds intriguing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Nothing is budding here in Michigan. It’s still too cold. But we’re seeing warmer temps in the forecast. I am not a fan of Winter. Let’s go, Spring.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. A great bunch of reads from the sounds of them, Jacquie. The only one I’ve read is Lunar Boogie, which was a lot of fun. And I loved seeing your plum buds! We’re seeing shoots and buds down here too. Yay for spring!

    Liked by 2 people

Comments are closed.