Skip to main content

Inconvenient Attraction, Lurking Danger + More Books

Baking Ice Cubes (Hank Hart #1) by Alexi Venice 
contemporary legal suspense thriller 
2025 

What happens when a potential love connection ends up being a professional conflict of interest? Star-crossed legal eagles attorney Helen "Hank" Hart and Judge Olivia "Livvy" Marshall find out in this courtroom whodunit. A sliding timeline filled with an assortment of dramatic shady characters and justice seekers makes this mystery thriller a fast-paced, entertaining read. Established fans of this author's Monica Spade series will likely experience a bonus enjoyment boost as that one launches this one.  

Alexi Venice is one of 9 authors of sapphic romantic suspense contributing to The Sapphic Suspense Collection. 



[front cover art of trade paperback Baking Ice Cubes, A Legal Thriller by Alexi Venice; a woman dressed in a hooded jacket, sweat pants and running shoes is running away from a Greek structure that's in flames] 

As much joy as reading books adds to my life, reading others' opinions about books provides almost as much fun. QBR the Black Book Review is one source that always delivers engaging bookish content. The March 2026 e-zine arrived a few days ago. A time crunch forced me to do a quick browse in preparation for a complete read later this week. 

[front cover of QBR the Black Book Review, March 2026 issue with It's Never Too Late, A Memoir by Marla Gibbs, and in memorium images of Ms. Alice M. James and Rev. Jesse Jackson] 

Final proofing of a completed manuscript kept me from reading much just for pleasure this past week so my TBR got even longer after a trip to the nearest public library. #sorrynotsorry 

[a bookstack of 7 books, from top to bottom: Hearts on the Fly by Toni Shiloh, The Charmed Library by Jennifer Moorman, The Harvey Girl by Dana Stabenow; those 3 books perched atop 4 trade paperback books showing only the bottom edges of their pages] 

These are challenging times for those of us whose intrinsic equal value of our humanity is constantly discounted and dismissed. My constant reminder to myself is that my ancestors accomplished more with fewer resources and opportunities than I inherited from them. Doing one thing to support equality, safety, justice, and opportunities for all while taking good care of myself, my family, friends, and community contributes to creating the loving, ethical, thriving world of my and my ancestors' dreams.  

Always wishing you good health, peace of mind, safety, joy & some pleasure every day  
Happy reading!  
(in whatever formats work for you;-)  



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Our Poet Laureate's Memoir + More TWWBF2025 Prep

Educator, poet, short story author, mindfulness guide and now the moniker of memoirist has been added to the long list of creative accomplishments earned by Poet Laureate of The Write Women Book Fest Aressa V. Williams.  She was born and raised in the vibrant community of Washington, D.C.'s Northeast neighborhood of Deanwood. Her Memoir evokes the nostalgia, challenges, victories, heartaches and joys of her life that connect with readers across generations and locations.    [photo credit: H.L. Brooks; image: two paperback ARCs of In Deanwood, A Memoir by Aressa Verdell Williams arranged on a tabletop; cover art of a sepia toned two-story colonial house with four columns - two on each side of the front door]  The ebook is currently available with print copies coming soon! https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-deanwood-aressa-verdell-williams/1147594007   Just under 3 weeks before day one of The Write Women Book Fest and we've finished decorating t-shirts for our aw...
Post a Comment
Read more

DIY Marketing TWWBF2025 + the Usual BAC Issues

Six(!) days until day one of the 6th and grand finale year of The Write Women Book Fest!!!  Last week was another hard one for federal workers in the DMV area along with other ongoing challenges, making it tough for a lot of people to prioritize joy. This coming weekend TWWBF2025 intends to celebrate and support talented authors, poets, creatives, and publishing industry professionals and their work, readers and literacy advocates while we also celebrate everything positive that this event has contributed to our community since 2019. [a two-image collage: right side - two posters atop the closed lid of a baby grand piano; both with "The Write Women Book Fest, 100+ authors Golden Angel, Eden Appiah-Kubi, Courtney Duke Foster, Jeaniene Frost, Maria Vale, Erin Wright, EC Poetry & Prose, July 19th QR Code thewritewomenbookfest.org, Use code FESTNEWS25 for 30% off!"; left side - an incomplete poster with "The Write Women Book Fest" and a blank sheet of paper with a g...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tapping into Your Power

The following two books celebrate powerful characters who overcome their fears to manifest their greatness for the benefit of themselves, their loved ones and communities. So satisfying.  [2 books from left to right: A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna, Direct Descendant by Tanya Huff]  A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna  contemporary speculative romance  Berkeley, July 2025   Sera's story of navigating otherness was worth the wait. The advantages, responsibilities, and consequences of being powerful are explored with nuanced observations, humor, and compassion. Themes on distinctions between family by blood, choice, and intention weave throughout this poignant tale about paying attention and recognizing personal details as fundamental to the evolution of one's perspective on who and what are valuable.  One of my favorite passages from the end of chapter nineteen:  Like this was a thing that had, somehow, become...
Post a Comment
Read more