 |
| Welcome to my Blog! Wander through worlds real and fictional, meet interesting people, visit exciting places and find good books to enjoy along the way! |
 |
| About the Book |
Summer Paths
This, the fourth and final selection of stories, completes the Seasonal Paths series created by a consortium of best-selling and award-winning North Atlantic writers.
In this anthology you will encounter unintentioned consequences, love in later life, the pull of family dynamics, misguided assumptions and murderous soulmates.
These yarns will take you to new worlds, into a ghostly abyss, across an ocean in pursuit of truth and into the darkness of ancient beliefs.
Make yourself comfortable and surrender to these multi-styled tales, all linked by the theme of summer, within the covers of this book. You will be surprised and entertained by what you find.
Purchase Links
Author Bios:
Sandra Bunting’s publications include two books of short fiction, two poetry collections, a non-fiction book, besides articles, poems and stories in numerous literary magazines. Sandra is on the editorial board of the Irish-based literary magazine, Crannóg, and worked at NUI Galway where she set up the Academic Writing Centre and taught Creative Writing and TEFL teacher training. Now living in Atlantic Canada, she is a member of The Writers Union of Canada, New Brunswick Writers Federation, Words on Water Miramichi, the Grand Barachois group Women Who Write and the Galway Writers Workshop.
The youngest of eleven children, Pierre C. Arseneault grew up in the small town of Rogersville, New Brunswick. As a cartoonist, Pierre was published in over a dozen newspapers. As an author, he has six titles published so far: Dark Tales for Dark Nights (2013) Sleepless Nights (2014) Oakwood Island (2016) Poplar Falls – The Death of Charlie Baker (2019) Oakwood Island – The Awakening (2020) Maple Springs (2022)
Chuck Bowie studied Science at the University of New Brunswick, in Canada. His writing is influenced by the study of Human Nature and how people behave. He loves food, wine, music, and travel, and all play a role in his work. His latest novel is entitled Her Irish Boyfriend, fifth in the international thriller series Donovan: Thief 4 Hire. He has just completed the third novel in a new cozy mystery series: Old Manse Mysteries, set in a small Atlantic Canadian town. Chuck has sat on the Boards of The Writers' Union of Canada and the Writers' Federation of New Brunswick. He is a Fellow of the Kingsbrae International Residency for the Arts, and is an author of note with the Miramichi Literary Trail.
Steve C. Eston has been a lover of the fantastical and the scientific since he was a young boy. He wrote his first story by hand while still in elementary school a five-page story about a tiger-masked ninja — fighting mystical monsters that included his own illustrations. When not spending time with his family, Steve makes time for his numerous hobbies, which include reading (and hoarding) books, listening to music, playing video games, watching movies, making puzzles, and playing hockey and tennis. He also loves to travel and developed an obsession with New Zealand after traveling there in 2015.
Angela Wren is an actor and director at a theatre in Yorkshire, UK. An avid reader, she has always loved stories of any description. She writes the Jacques Forêt crime novels set in France and is a contributing author to the Miss Moonshine anthologies. Her short stories vary between romance, memoir, mystery and historical. Angela has had two one-act plays recorded for local radio.
Gianetta Murray has worked as a technical writer and librarian on two continents, writing everything from specifications to website, marketing, and newspaper copy. She was a Toastmaster county champion and won a Daniel Phelan writing award for a short story casting Peter Rabbit as St. Augustine. She moved from Silicon Valley to England two decades ago after marrying a Brit, and has stories in multiple anthologies as well as having published a collection of humorous paranormal stories (A Supernatural Shindig) and the first of her Vivien Brandt cozy mystery series, Moved to Murder.
Eden Monroe loves giving voice to the endless parade of interesting characters who introduce themselves in her imagination. In her novels she writes about real life, real issues and struggles, and triumphing against all odds. In her short stories she likes to color outside the lines. A proud east coast Canadian, she enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, and a good book.
Growing up in South Branch, Allan Hudson was encouraged to read from an early age by his mother who was a schoolteacher. He lives in Dieppe, NB, with his wife Gloria. He has enjoyed a lifetime of adventure, travel and uses the many experiences as ideas for his writing. He is an author of action/adventure novels, historical fiction and a short story collection. His short stories – The Ship Breakers & In the Abyss – received Honorable Mention in the New Brunswick Writer s Federation ’ competition. He has stories published on commuterlit.com, The Golden Ratio and his blog - South Branch Scribbler.
Angella Cormier grew up in Saint Antoine, a small town in south east New Brunswick, Canada. This is where her love of reading and writing was born. Her curious nature about everything mysterious and paranormal helped carve the inspiration for her passion of writing horror and mystery stories. She is also a published poet, balancing out her writing to express herself in these two very opposing genres. Previous titles include: Oakwood Island - The Awakening (2020), Oakwood Island (2016), A Maiden s Perception - A collection of ’ thoughts, reflections and poetry (2015) and Dark Tales for Dark Nights (2013, written as Angella Jacob).
 |
| My Thoughts |
As with all anthologies containing an eclectic mixture of genres and styles, I found some stories in Summer Paths to be more interesting and appealing than others, purely based on personal preference. The stories are well written and entertaining, well produced and presented.
I was jolted a little by several unfamiliar US/Canadian terms in places - but as a British reader this is to be expected. I think the only instance which did niggle, however, was a (presumably) British woman taking a cruise on a British ship. (Note: this would have been a ship, not a boat as referred to in the story.) The character's narrative used the term 'elevator' but most Brits use 'lift', as this character should have done. Picky I know, but these things do stand out, especially in short stories. The premise and plot, however, was good. Even though this was a short story, and having been on a similar cruise myself, I'd have liked more detail of the ports visited and more of the actual experience of the cruise itself, not just the basic mystery plot. (There's so much more to such a cruise than just ports of call and evening dinner!) Of them all, and despite my comments, I think this was the best story. (It would make a very good full-length cosy-mystery novel!)
I also found most of the stories had predictable and expected endings, a couple even with endings that were somewhat 'flat' - I was a tad disappointed to find that a couple ended where they did, hanging slightly and resulting in a slightly unsatisfactory, almost unfinished finishing point.
That said, these were all entertaining, easy reads, ideal as a companion on a journey perhaps, or where individual quick reads are more suitable. (I read the last, for instance, during a hair appointment.)
Summer Paths will appeal to readers who especially enjoy anthologies.
(ARC copy provided in exchange for a review)
**** 4 star
*** ***
scroll down to leave a comment
thank you!
*
Follow Helen On:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.hollick
Bluesky: @HelenHollick - http://helenhollick.bsky.social/
(and I'm on Twitter @HelenHollick but for marketing only)
*
*
You might also like
books written by Helen Hollick
Website: https://helenhollick.net/
Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick
*
 |
The Jan Christopher Cosy Mysteries set in the 1970s |
*
 |
| available from Amazon https://mybook.to/GhostEncounters |
The SEA WITCH VOYAGES
nautical adventures set during the Golden Age of Piracy
*
THE SAXON SERIES
| The story of the events that led to The Battle of Hastings in 1066 Harold the King (UK edition) I Am The Chosen King (US edition) AND 1066 Turned Upside Down an anthology of 'What If'' tales |
*
KING ARTHUR
The Pendragon's Banner Trilogy
The Boy Who became a Man:
Who became a King:
Who became a Legend...
PLUS MORE!
anthologies (which include award-winning authors)
and non-fiction
Find More Information:
Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick
or website: www.helenhollick.net
*
(plus a short newsletter)
https://thoughtsfromadevonshirefarmhouse.blogspot.com/
(subscription reminder available)
(subscription reminder available)
*
