Cate Callahan, Releasing Sugar: A Guide To Changing Your Perspective on Sweets

Title: Releasing Sugar: A Guide To Changing Your Perspective on Sweets

Author: Cate Callahan

Rating: Five Siren Stones

Genre: Self-Help, Inspiration

Keywords: Sugar, Sweets, Inspiration, Reflection

Page Count: 85          

ISBN E-Book: Amazon Digital Services, LLC

Price: $3.99

Publisher: Self-Published

Buy-Link: Buy Here

Reviewer: Stacey Krug 

 Blurb/Summary:

What if letting go of sugar was the first step toward living the life you’ve always dreamed of?

In Releasing Sugar, Cate Callahan takes you on a witty, heart-led journey to reclaim your health by leaving sugar behind. Through playful humor, quirky illustrations, and a fresh perspective, this book helps you see sugar for what it really is—an obstacle standing in the way of your best self.
Packed with powerful insight and glimpses into your healthiest future, Releasing Sugar is more than a guide to dietary change—it’s an inspiring roadmap to self-love and personal transformation. It offers tips, strategies, and mindset shifts to help propel you onto a wellness path that allows you to embrace a vibrant life filled with energy, creativity, and joy. Whether it’s the way you celebrate, cope with stress, or nourish yourself, Callahan guides you in making choices that align with your dreams and values.
This book is your invitation to reimagine your relationship with food, your body, and your world. By letting go of sugar, you open space for all the possibilities and creativity waiting to flourish inside of you. Get ready to transform, heal, and inspire those around you—one bittersweet decision at a time.
In this playful, yet powerful guide to living a life that truly nourishes from the inside out, you’ll discover the following:

·         How sugar is working against your body and the life you aspire to live

·         Cultivating self-love is an essential part of your nutritional journey

·         How to acknowledge the grief that comes with a dietary transformation

·         The immeasurable impact your healing has on your community

·         How to cultivate a mindset that embraces sustainable health and peace

·         How your relationship with food reflects your relationship with yourself and life

·         Tapping into your creativity is a powerful tool in overcoming cravings and addiction

·         Truly enjoyable ways to track your progress

·         How to reimagine the way you celebrate, show love, and socially connect

·         Tips and strategies for coping with stress, peer pressure, and other obstacles

·         Invitations to reflect on your journey and take actionable steps to heal

Let Releasing Sugar help you let go of the cravings you cling to so that you can invite peace and balance into your life.

Review:

If you are looking to kick your sugar habit or change your diet to more whole foods, then this book would be an excellent addition to your journey.

Cate Callahan draws on her own experience and scientific research, provided in the bibliography, to help inspire and guide others to live healthy and happy. This is an easy read with plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor to lighten the serious subject of getting healthy for the long term.

The author provides numerous examples and ideas to help break out of unhealthy habits and hold yourself accountable. Cate Callahan also provides a chance to reflect and see how these new ideas can fit into your life.

This was an enjoyable and informational read.

Dakota Cassidy: The Accidental Detectives: Tell Me It’s Murder Without Telling Me It’s Murder (An Accidental Detective Mystery Book 2)

Title: The Accidental Detectives: Tell Me It’s Murder Without Telling Me It’s Murder (An Accidental Detective Mystery Book 2) 
Author: Dakota Cassidy

Rating: Four and A Half Siren Stones

 

Genre: Paranormal Mystery

Keywords: Werewolf, Demon, Witch, Vampire, Zombie, OOPs, Man Servant, Mystery, The Accidentals

Page Count: 175          

ISBN E-Book: Amazon Digital Services, LLC

Price: $4.99

Publisher: Self-Published

Buy-Link: Buy it here

Reviewer: Stacey Krug  

Blurb/Summary:

Marty Flaherty here: Half human, half werewolf, aaall girl and proud of it.

First, let me say, we’re not exactly great at this detective gig. Sherlock Holmes wouldn’t be out of a job because we’re on the scene.

But while In the midst of trying to choose our next case to solve and learning from the mistakes we made with our last investigation, my fifteen-year-old daughter Hollis makes a plea we can’t turn our backs on.
Her best friend, Charmaine Ellis needs our help.

Charmaine's father’s been accused of murdering their house manager’s daughter. Ronald Ellis, guardian of everything werewolf, overseer of ancient were artifacts, is accused of killing Zinnia Hutchins.
A sweet, thoughtful young woman who grew up in the Ellis household—a young woman Ronald once considered a daughter.

The madness in all of this?

He fully admits he’s whodunnit!

That’s right, he makes no bones about the fact that he’s the killer. Loud and proud, Ronald confesses to killing a beautiful young woman. The catch? He can’t remember a single thing about the morning he allegedly murdered Zinnia.
Due to the archaic inefficiency of the were council police, and their deep desire to keep all matters werewolf deeply hidden from the human world, Ronald asks us to help him investigate what happened that morning, even if it means he truly did murder a woman he considered family.

So we jump in both feet and this time, with a hefty list of suspects on our side, but as we dig deeper we find secrets none of us expected, proving murder in the paranormal world is a tricky game of cat and mouse!

Review:

I love that each book in this new series is from a different POV. Book 2 is from Marty Flaherty’s POV and has much to do with the were society. Readers are treated to a teenage Hollis, Marty’s daughter, and we get to see the relationships that have been built over time. Hollis has two aunties that love her like their own. It is apparent that those bonds were forged over time and experiences. Hollis doesn’t hesitate to ask for help for her friend.

The suspected murderer and victim are part of the were community, so we get more insight on their workings. They have some crazy artifacts that should not fall into the wrong hands. Book two is straight forward with some obvious and a couple not so obvious plot twists. It’s also a fairly clean read because Nina is not the protagonist.

Tell Me It’s Murder Without Telling Me It’s Murder has great characters and is a fun read.  

Evangeline Anderson, Savage Union: A Dark Alien Mafia Romance (Brutal Universe Book 2)

 

Title: Savage Union: A Dark Alien Mafia Romance (Brutal Universe Book 2)

Author: Evangeline Anderson

Rating: Five Siren Stones

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Sub-Genre: Erotic Science Fiction, Dark Alien Mafia Romance

Keywords: Mafia, Clans, Goddesses, Humanoids, Humans, Friends to Lovers, Protective Alpha, Brutal Universe

Page Count: 408         

Print Book: 979-8311014595

Price: $19.99

Page Count: 380

ISBN E-Book: Amazon Digital 

Price: $4.99

Publisher: Self-Published

Buy-Link: https://www.amazon.com/Savage-Union-Romance-Brutal-Universe/dp/B0DXF8D45V/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W1BM_6hiJREU8YV4NJcS2MKmV7Sfja_XqrN9fdANwhdsC7FXpm9H-zfIPvYEgosPfY3lYiSubUdf1aZScdGWMw.hVNvOzwZggrjLkdwbtH9eCZqv2IdijVpZDGU89aIlj0&qid=1740420176&sr=8-1

Reviewer: Stacey Krug  

Blurb/Summary:

A Mafia Princess disguised as a boy…

Jessina:
Running from a loveless marriage, I disguised myself and tricked my way aboard the starship captained by my Fated Mate. Only Turk doesn’t know we’re meant to be together and how can I tell him when he thinks I’m a boy? I don’t dare reveal my true identity but what happens when my body starts craving his and he finds out who I really am? Will he believe we’re meant to be together…or send me back to the cruel old man who paid for me?

A Mafia Captain tricked into hiring his Fated Mate
Turk:
I thought there was something strange about my new crew member. He was so quiet and shy—and much too pretty to be male. But he was also the best damn navigator I’d ever seen. Still, why did I feel so drawn to him? It didn’t make sense—I’m no lover of males. When another crew member attacked him, I was forced to take him into my own cabin to protect him. But then our bodies started reacting and the cravings began. Little did I know that the pretty new navigator was hiding a secret that would blow my life apart…

Author’s Note—Savage Union is a secret identity, forbidden fruit, Dark Alien Mafia Romance—the second book in the Brutal Universe Series. It can be read as a stand-alone novel, but you might enjoy it more if you read Cruel Union, the first book in the series first.

Enter The Brutal Universe

Years ago everyone who could afford it left the dying Earth and traveled to the stars. There, humanity found that they were not alone—there was plenty of sentient life to connect with…if they wanted to.

A core group of humans refused to have anything to do with the aliens. The Untainted, as they chose to call themselves, have pure human blood in their veins—their DNA has remained unchanged for centuries. They marry each other and do their best to ignore the outsiders—but there are some who are hard to ignore…for instance, the Brutal Crime Lords.

The Brutal Crime Organization operates like the Cosa Nostra back on Dying Earth. Made up of four different Alien Crime families, they rule over whole sectors of the Imperium Galaxy and extract tribute from anyone living in their territory. The Brutes, as they are called, have inhuman lusts. Always searching for their Fated Mate, once they find her, they develop The Thirst which compels them to taste her juices. Some have tails and most have horns. All of them have special equipment that’s big enough to split a woman in two…or give her pleasure beyond her wildest dreams.
When a woman enters a Permanent Binding with a Brute, she can never, ever be free of him.

*Author's Note--I hope you'll enjoy this new series--I wanted to take Mafia Romance themes and tropes and put them in a sci-fi setting filled with cruel and irresistible Alien Mafia Enforcers. Expect to find Love and Betrayal, Enemies to Lovers, and growly, grumpy Morally Grey Heroes determined to find their Fated Mates at all costs.

The Four Families
Clan Cruel--these Alien Mafiosos carry a Darkness inside them that other Clans fear
Clan Savage-- Serpentine blood ensures these Alien Enforcers have fangs and a desire to taste their woman's blood
Clan – Vicious--Moving neon tatts and an ability to read their enemy’s intentions are the characteristics of these Morally Grey Alien Capos.
Clan Ruthless -- These Alien Crime Lords have bat-like wings and burning red eyes.

*All Four Clans have 3 things in common-- Horns, Knots, and The Thirst--an insatiable desire to taste their Fated Mate

Review:

Turk and Jessina have great chemistry together. Savage Union has a fun plot with plenty of action. Evangeline Anderson uses creative descriptions of all the aliens and different worlds. The world building is fantastic. As a reminder, this book is set in the Brutal Universe not the Kindred Universe. There is a scene that may be triggering to some readers. It is on par with other scenes that this author has written so you can rest assured that there is a good outcome.

We do get to see Slade in this book as he is Turk’s best friend and Jessina’s brother. Jessina disguises herself as a boy to get on Turk’s ship. She is completely qualified for the job, but they never would have hired a woman, and she was on the run from her parents. Jessina’s disguise leads to some very sticky and even triggering situations. Once the charade is over with Jessina’s disguise there is a lot of “you’re off limits” drama coming from Turk.

I enjoyed the journey Turk and Jessina had to take to get to where they are at the end of the book. Jessina made new friends along the way and grew as a person. Savage Union has a HFN ending. Their future was not hammered out with certainty. As a reader, I would love to see how they are getting along in their new life together and how their small family unit is functioning. 

Dakota Cassidy: The Accidental Detectives: It’s Called Murder, Benda. Look It Up (An Accidental Detective Mystery Book 1)

 

Title: The Accidental Detectives: It’s Called Murder, Benda. Look It Up (An Accidental Detective Mystery Book 1) 
Author: Dakota Cassidy

Rating: Five Siren Stones

Genre: Paranormal Mystery

Keywords: Werewolf, Demon, Witch, Vampire, Zombie, OOPs, Man Servant, Mystery, The Accidentals

Page Count: 151           

ISBN E-Book: Amazon Digital Services, LLC

Price: $4.99

Publisher: Self-Published

Buy-Link: https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Detectives-Brenda-Detective-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0D8SNRC1P/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39URFDJDZEEPH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HfTelbtl1NGWriJpaCnRuuCPIU5LhhUf4NdP3NJfy-yJH67jWbp_PciimbNWLU1AysDdSohZn9MGvOtrilPVAdk6VGYSIfsb3BUgVpxaDIhwPPQfJ5bdQy366kcdCi04MZ4_Utjo8I_TBbwgZXVA2Cldl3zcFv6b5vO6Nb6w1agidSuateaHzBFx6C5DANoQfOdL2S-sO1KBXNaLG4DEBgejfiycQUST2kPXt1c8iwA.7ytZmOMJ34xSw2ZpIR8NO78X0LTR7y8Lhy7TT88zyL4&dib_tag=se&keywords=its+called+murder+brenda&qid=1735586357&sprefix=its+called+murder+%2Caps%2C704&sr=8-1

Reviewer: Stacey Krug 

Blurb/Summary:

 Welcome to my worst effin’ nightmare—The Accidental Detective Agency…

I’m Nina Statleon, a vampire (with a little bit of witch thrown in for good measure—a sucky, magic less one), for those interested. My best friends, Marty, a werewolf and and Wanda, a halfsie, have talked me into opening a detective agency for paranormals.

Let me be real clear, I do not want to be a detective and I think this idea is bananapants. Now the dungeon in my castle in Long Island is our new office, I call the murder basement, filled with watercolor landscapes, throw rugs and uncomfortable furniture—all in the name of making our clients comfortable.

That said, my partners in this new adventure don’t care about all my protests. That’s how we end up with our first client, Brenda Bronkowski, an older vampire the human police are hunting down for murder…

Brenda fell for one of the oldest tricks in this new age of technology’s book—a romance scam. Lonely and sad with only her pets for companionship, Brenda hooked up—with a human—a much younger one. You guessed it, Brenda was catfished.

Now that much younger human, Owen Barker, is dead, leaving behind a wife and two kids. Brenda swears she’s never even met him, let alone murdered him and she’s come to us for help finding the person responsible for his murder.

Not only is the suspect list low (like, we only have two), there’s a glitch, and it’s a big one.

The clan.

They don’t like it when a vampire’s been accused of murdering a human. They take you out, ask questions later. Brenda’s technically a fugitive we’re harboring while we investigate. It’s bad enough the human police like her for Owen's murder, but if the clan finds out we’ve got her holed up in the murder basement, it won’t only be curtains for Brenda, our little private investigating gig could be over before it’s really begun.

Which wouldn’t exactly be the end of the world for me, but my overachieving BFFs would never let me hear the end of it. That means, we need to solve this pronto, so we can get the clan off our backs, but more importantly, so Brenda doesn’t end up expunged...

Review:

Great debut novel in a spin off series from the Accidentals. I loved that it was written in Nina’s point of view but had all the OOPs ladies. This new series is also a fantastic way to bring in previous OOPs clients to help solve the mystery, and let readers see how they have progressed in their new paranormal lives.

Although this is the first book in a spin off series, you do not have to have read the previous series. Nina, Wanda, and Marty have a strong relationship already established in this first book based on their previous experiences. If you want to see how those bonds were formed, then check out the Accidental Series. If not, then just enjoy this book. They are still managing to get into major scrapes even after all this time.

This new series was set up a little in the last Accidental book. We knew it was coming, and it did not disappoint. The Accidental Detectives: It’s Called Murder, Benda. Look It Up has great characters, some old and some new, a fast-moving plot with action, and can be read in one sitting or savored.

I enjoyed the new twist on what and how the ladies will be interacting in their world going forward. Great first book!