Book review: Max and Charlie's Highland Adventure by Wendy Leighton-Porter

 

Max and Charlie's Highland Adventure by Wendy Leighton-Porter is another gripping adventure in a middle-grade series that will appeal to readers of all ages. Max is being sent on another special mission by the Guardians of Time, but on this occasion, he is not alone. He and Charlie end up travelling back to the Scottish Highlands in 1746, just in time to be part of the fateful Battle of Culloden that ended Bonnie Prince Charlie’s dream of taking back the English throne. It all starts when Charlie, best friend to twins Jemima and Joe, and their talking (yes, talking!) Tonkinese cat, Max, is sent to visit his great-great-Uncle Alastair, who lives in the Scottish Highlands. Charlie doesn’t know his elderly relative and is less than charmed because he’d planned lots of fun stuff with the twins over the school holidays. But Fate has other plans and the twins and Max end up going with him. But that’s where things take a different turn. Usually, the trio ends up travelling back in time, having incredible adventures. However, this time, Charlie is singled out for a very special reason and Max is part of a very special mission. It’s just them and an ancient watch and some incredible events… Are you ready?

This is the nineteenth book in Wendy Leighton-Porter’s Shadows of the Past series. I have read them all, so I am completely au fait with the backstory. However, readers need not fear they will be lost. The author succinctly puts everything into context and explains to the reader why the kids are even travelling back in time, how Max can speak, and why they are important in the grand scheme of things. The language is beautiful and descriptive, setting the historical scene with mystery, intrigue, plot and counter plot, deception, royal gold, and trickery. Young readers will enjoy every minute as the mystery unfolds and the clues are revealed, and they wonder if Bonnie Prince Charlie’s gold was real. They will be swept up in the fray of battle and will hope against hope that the prince wins. But the author does not sugarcoat history, and events unfold as they are meant to. The end of the book offers readers a glossary and historical notes to put the events and characters into context. This is very useful for educators who want to teach history with a dash of adventure and entertainment. I loved this book and the series. I am of Scottish heritage and my father’s name was also Alastair, so this book is special. I encourage readers to start at the very beginning of the series and be taken on the adventure of a lifetime. With a talking cat by your side, you won’t go wrong with choosing the Shadows of the Past series.

Love Revised by Betsy Ellor, author of Hera: Kingdom of Lies

 

Before the gods became. Before humankind was imagined. Before Olympus was more than mist on a desolate mountain — Hera reigned. When the war hero, Zeus, rises to power and moves Hera’s statues aside to make room for his own, the queen of heaven must find her place in a new order. At first drawn in by Zeus’ charm, she quickly realizes she wants no part of life with this petty, egocentric dictator. When she refuses to marry him, what began as seduction becomes a snare. Trapped into marriage, Hera learns that power can still be forged through cunning, seduction, and unexpected alliances. But after she gives birth to the God of War, her influence begins to crumble — and his lust threatens to tear the kingdom apart. Who is the Goddess of Marriage, if she’s bound to a husband who defiles every vow? Who is the Goddess of Motherhood, if she’s raising a child the world misunderstands? What kind of goddess is she willing to become to protect her people and her child? Rich with betrayal, desire, and divine intrigue, this origin story of Greek mythology told from the point of view of its chief villain weaves gods, nymphs, dragons, sex, lies, and strategy into a fierce new legend. Hera: Kingdom of Lies combines the social and political maneuvers of Scandal with the mythic, villain-redemption of Circe.

Love Revised

For years, Hera lived under my skin. I’d always loved Greek mythology, but as I got older, whenever Hera appeared in her usual role of jealous, petty wife, I felt irritated.

Maybe it was because, as a woman with a career, I recognized the pattern of being labeled “difficult” for simply doing your job. (It was Hera’s job to police marriage, after all, not just petty jealousy.) But as I dove deeper into the research, I discovered two things. First, Zeus had to trick Hera into marrying him. And second, in ancient times, Hera’s temples predated Zeus and the Olympian pantheon altogether.

Hera was a queen long before she was Zeus’ wife.

So, what if Hera wasn’t petty at all? What if she was a woman trapped in a relationship too small for her? And what if she decided to quietly, dangerously start fighting for something more? That is the story in Hera: Kingdom of Lies.

This book isn’t a romance about falling in love. It’s about waking up inside a love story gone wrong—and beginning the journey toward something that is true.

In the beginning, Hera and Zeus are electric. Their chemistry is undeniable: charged, intoxicating, deeply physical. The seduction is real. The heat is real. But passion quickly blurs into possession. Zeus is drawn to Hera’s influence. He wants her power beside him but contained. Once he claims her, he wants her smaller, quieter, and decorative.

Hera hasn’t learned yet what love is supposed to look like, so she treats marriage as a duty. An obligation she has to fulfill for her people, her child, and the fragile order of the world. She was queen before Zeus. After marriage, her authority exists only in the ways she can use cunning, strategy, and seduction to steer Zeus’ fickle whims. With time, and the budding connection to an unexpected admirer, she learns that she deserves more.

Hera: Kingdom of Lies is not a typical romance. It begins with a wedding and burns its way toward the moment Hera realizes she deserves a real love story built around more than just a hollow version of herself. It’s a story for anyone seeking to leave behind what they don’t want and find what they deserve.

Betsy Ellor is a women’s fiction author and multi-disciplinary creative whose work blends intrigue, myth, and magic with strong, complex female leads. Known for her tightly woven storytelling, Betsy writes fiction that explores identity, power, and resilience. Her latest novel, Hera: Kingdom of Lies, is a Circe meets Scandal reimagining of the goddess myth in a way every working woman will relate to. Originally from the Midwest, Betsy earned her degree in Creative Writing from Ball State University, beginning her career as a playwright before transitioning into prose. Betsy has spoken on topics including myth retellings, historical research, the craft of writing, balancing creativity with a full-time career, writing visually, and building supportive artistic communities. When she’s not at her desk, she can be found hiking, paddleboarding, chasing after her dog, or annoying her teenage son.

Book spotlight: The Copper Scroll by Nicholas Teeguarden

 

A lost scroll. A deadly secret. A race across the Middle East—where every clue could be fatal…

The Copper Scroll follows historian Joshua “Masa” Bennett as he journeys into the heart of the Middle East in an attempt to unlock the secrets hidden within the legendary Copper Scroll. Just as he begins making progress, disturbing warnings and shadowy sightings reveal that other powerful forces are also closing in: Templars, ISIS operatives, and government intelligence groups, each hiding their own motives for uncovering what the scroll may reveal.

Drawn deeper into a world of danger, deception, and spiritual tension, Masa must navigate hostile territory, shifting alliances, and a truth far more explosive than he ever imagined. As past and present violently intersect, he realizes the stakes extend far beyond archaeology, the secrets of the Copper Scroll could alter geopolitical power and shake the foundations of faith itself.

A blend of international suspense, ancient mystery, and truths long buried beneath history, The Copper Scroll delivers a gripping thriller for fans of Joel Rosenberg, Dan Brown, and archaeological adventure stories rooted in real-world intrigue.

*****

• Genre: Archaeological Thriller/Suspense/Action Adventure
• Sub-genre: International Mystery & Crime
• Pages: 230
• Paperback ISBN: ‎ 978-1509264681 
• Kindle ISBN: 979-8999106025
• Publisher: Independent
• Formats: Paperback, Kindle, Audiobook & Kindle Unlimited

⤷Read sample here.

⤷The Copper Scroll is available at Amazon.

*****

╰┈➤Here’s What Readers Have To Say!

“The Copper Scroll: Masa Chronicles, authored by Nicholas Teeguarden, is extraordinary piece of literature that has made a significant impact on me. The last time I felt this level of excitement about a book was while reading the Bible for the first time, a bold comparison, but one that underscores the author’s exceptional God given talent!” – Louise Jane, CEO The Christlit Book Award

“The Copper Scroll is more of a quest for truth than a treasure hunt. I recommend this book to lovers of historical books with a bit of danger, and it put me in the mood to find out about Qumran myself.” – Mary Clarke for Readers Favorite

I’d recommend The Copper Scroll to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries wrapped in modern storytelling. If you like a blend of Indiana Jones energy with a more thoughtful, personal core, this book will hit the right notes. It would appeal to readers curious about archaeology, faith, or just a good chase story where the stakes feel both grand and intimate. It left me thoughtful, a little breathless, and eager to see where Masa’s journey goes next. -Literary Titan

*****

╰┈➤Read if you love…

Ancient Secrets

Modern Thrills

Intriguing Historical Details

Secrets That Connect the Past With the Present

High-Stakes Quest

Keeps You Guessing

Excerpt: 

Joshua “Masa” Bennett hummed the Villines Trio’s familiar refrain, “I’m going all the way, I made up my mind…” as he drove toward the University of Arkansas. The song, a staple from his Lincoln church, bookended his commute, its quiet grace a lifeline since his Army days tromping biblical lands. No atheists in foxholes, they say, and Masa carried that faith into civilian life, fueling his master’s in archaeology. Today felt routine, just another class, but a spark flickered beneath it, a path to mysteries buried for centuries, secrets that could shake faith’s foundations. The lecture hall buzzed with late-afternoon chaos. High ceilings arched overhead, intricate moldings catching golden light through tall, narrow windows. Dust motes danced in the beams, stirred by restless students shifting in tiered rows of scarred desks with etched initials, coffee rings, and doodles of bored minds. Chalk dust bit the air, mingling with the musty scent of old books and the hum of flickering fluorescents. At the front, Professor Thaddeus Luke commanded the room, his wiry frame dwarfed by a blackboard scrawled with frantic chalk lines and gray hair flaring like a storm cloud as his voice boomed with passion. 

Joshua sat near the back, his lean frame hunched over a desk that creaked under his weight. His leather backpack, a frayed relic from his grandfather’s desert-wandering days, slumped against his leg like a loyal dog. Dark hair fell into his eyes as he scribbled furiously in a notebook already thick with ink: sketches of jagged cave mouths, snatches of Hebrew script, arrows darting between wild theories. Around him, classmates slumped in their seats, some doodling aimlessly, others sneaking glances at their phones beneath the desks. A girl two rows ahead twisted a strand of blonde hair around her finger, whispering to her neighbor with a smirk. Joshua barely noticed. His world was the blackboard, the professor’s words, the tantalizing riddle unfolding before him. 

Professor Luke’s chalk scratched against the board as he recited from the Copper Scroll, his tone reverent yet edged with excitement. “Item four: ‘In the cave of the pillar that is in the valley of Achor, which is near the house of the washer, dig three cubits: there are twenty-two talents of silver.’” He paused, turning to face the room, his eyes glinting behind wire-rimmed glasses. “Discovered in cave three at Qumran in 1952, this scroll stands apart from the Dead Sea manuscripts. Sixty-four locations, each a cryptic promise of treasure, not scripture, not prophecy, but a map. A cipher waiting to be cracked.” 

– Excerpted from The Copper Scroll, 2025. Reprinted with permission.

About the Author

Nicholas Teeguarden is the award-winning author of Masa Chronicles: The Copper Scroll, a biblical-archaeological thriller blending international suspense, ancient mystery, and faith-driven storytelling. His debut novel is a ChristLit Book of the Year Finalist, a Titan Gold Medal Winner, and has earned praise from readers for its gripping pace and moral depth. Nicholas hosts Teeguarden’s Writing Room, a weekly series chronicling his creative process and the ongoing development of the Masa Chronicles. He resides in Oklahoma and is currently working on the next book.

Visit Nick’s website at www.nickteeguarden.com. 

Connect with him at the following social networks:

X: https://twitter.com/nickteeguarden 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579248636306 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickteeguarden

BookBub: The Copper Scroll: Masa Chronicles (The Masa Chronicles Book 1) by Nicholas Teeguarden – BookBub

Goodreads: Masa Chronicles: The Copper Scroll by Nicholas Teeguarden | Goodreads

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF_TUwTK0lQI0eu6_6QEyYQ/

 

10 Things You Might Not Know About Trina Spillman, author of A New Dawn

 

A pulse-pounding political thriller where love, betrayal, and democracy collide...

A catastrophic explosion at a New Orleans convention hall critically injures presidential nominee James Sinclair and ignites a national crisis. Attorney Ian McCullough soon uncovers evidence tying the attack to Vice President Jay Buckley, who has orchestrated a false-flag EMP event to mimic a Chinese assault and destabilize the country for his own rise to power. With the economy collapsing, industries crippled, and global alliances shifting against the United States, Buckley intends to weaponize fear, chaos, and national confusion to consolidate control. Secret recordings obtained by Lee Chang confirm collusion between the administration, foreign officials, and powerful tech interests. The evidence is strong enough to expose the conspiracy if Ian can deliver it safely.

Determined to return to Washington, Ian turns to naval commander Sean Hennessey and asks for a plane. Their strained past reignites when Ian finally admits how deeply Sean’s emotional withdrawal wounded him, especially after concealing the deaths of Ian’s mother, brother, and sister-in-law. Despite the unresolved pain between them, Sean agrees to help. With presidential immunity shielding those in power and time working against him, Ian risks everything to expose the conspiracy, protect James, and prevent the nation from descending into manufactured chaos.

A New Dawn is available at Amazon at https://a.co/d/7vJUkhy. 

If you like to read:

Suspense

Romance

Betrayal

Political

High Stakes

Emotional

Page Turner

You’ll love this book!

Excerpt: 

The explosion ripped through the hall like a hellish fireball, leaving chaos and devastation in its wake. Charred confetti rained down from above as smoke billowed through the air. The presidential nominee was missing. Ian McCullough’s heart pounded as he scanned the scene. He had to find James. The sight of the first responders rushing to aid the wounded spurred him into action. Secret service agents were already combing the debris around the stage, their movements frantic and purposeful. Out of the corner of his eye, Ian spotted a glint of something shiny on the ground, a monogrammed cufflink. Recognition struck him with a visceral force. It was one of the anniversary gifts he had given James. With desperation fueling him, Ian shouted, “Over here! He’s over here!” Ian scrambled to the edge of the collapsed stage. His desperate attempts to lift the structure were futile. The secret service detail, alongside a squad of firemen, swiftly intervened, pushing him aside to use hydraulic jacks on the massive wooden platform. The creaking and groaning of the wood echoed in Ian’s ears as they carefully raised the wreckage. Firemen pulled James out just before the stage gave way in a splintering crash. A dust cloud enveloped Ian, blurring his vision. In the haze, he glimpsed James being whisked away. Ian fought to catch up with the firemen carrying James’s unconscious body, but he was swept aside by the panicked tide of people evacuating the building.

Out on the sidewalk, Ian faced a barrage of questions from reporters. Emergency vehicles, their lights flashing, lined Convention Center Boulevard. The entire scene was a surreal, macabre circus. Spying one of the firemen who helped rescue James, Ian pushed through the throng of people. “Hey, do you know where they took the senator?” Ian screamed. “He’s being taken to University Medical Center,” the fireman replied, his face etched with concern. Ian thanked him and pushed through the crowd. The streets around the convention center, which had been cordoned off, were now choked with cars, first responders, and camera crews. Navigating through the dense, swirling crowd, Ian walked toward the French Quarter. With mechanical precision, Ian’s body moved forward while his mind remained trapped in a labyrinth of nightmarish images. The humid New Orleans air clung to his skin, thick with the mingled scents of bourbon, jasmine, and Tabasco sauce. It hung heavily, like a shroud. Ian’s mind drifted, transporting him back to that warm spring evening of March fifth, the night James had first shared his presidential ambitions. Their dining room had been bathed in soft amber candlelight, the table adorned with crisp white linens Ian had carefully pressed earlier that afternoon. Crystal wine glasses captured the flickering light, their refined edges creating small prisms that reflected across the walls. Ian had spent hours preparing a menu that told their story, each course a carefully curated celebration of their years together. The cufflinks had been his masterpiece. Crafted by an artisan who specialized in customized metalwork, they were more than mere accessories.

Each link bore James’s initials in an elegant, flowing script, the letters intertwined so intimately that they seemed to breathe with the same rhythm as their relationship. The twenty-four-carat gold caught the candlelight, warm and rich, a tangible representation of their deep, unbreakable bond. When Ian presented them to James that night, the vulnerability in his eyes spoke volumes. These were not just cufflinks but a promise, a private emblem of their commitment to one another. A violent shudder tore through Ian’s body, shattering the tender memory. Suddenly, all he could see was a blood-splattered cuff, James’s hand emerging from beneath the stage, the cufflink’s intricate engraving barely visible beneath the dried blood, a brutal testament to how quickly hope could be transformed into horror. A group of boisterous tourists, their laughter sharp and discordant, collided with Ian, jolting him from his nightmare. The French Quarter continued its relentless celebration, a cacophony of jazz and drunken revelry. He moved like a ghost among the living, barely registering the kaleidoscope of colors and sounds surrounding him. A nearby bar’s raucous applause caught his attention. As he stood at the threshold, Ian’s eyes were drawn to the television mounted above the bar. The president, a man Ian had long despised, was delivering a national address, his carefully crafted words sliding like poison into the nation’s consciousness.

– Excerpted from A New Dawn by Trina Spillman, The Wild Rose Press, 2026. Reprinted with permission. 

10 Things You Might Not Know About Trina Spillman

1. I didn’t start in fiction.
   My writing career began in technical writing, creating use-and-care manuals and product documentation for major corporations long before I ever wrote novels.
2. I survived the era of snail-mail queries.
   I came up in publishing when you mailed pitch letters with a self-addressed stamped envelope and waited months for a polite rejection. That experience shaped both my resilience and my realism about the industry.
3. I’ve written across wildly different genres.
   My work spans political thrillers, romance, fantasy, science fiction, nonfiction guides, and yes, a bit of playful erotica. I’ve never believed stories should stay neatly in one lane.
4. I’ve worked inside political systems.
   I’ve freelanced within political circles and seriously considered running for office, which gave me an unfiltered view of how power actually operates behind the scenes.
5. I believe hope is a radical choice.
   Even when writing about corruption, betrayal, and manipulation, I deliberately resist dystopian endings. I write stories that imagine solutions, not just collapse.
6. I write cinematically on purpose.
   I prefer momentum over ornamental description. My scenes are built to move, like a film unfolding on the page.
7. My award-winning fantasy series breaks all the rules.
   The Fablecastle Chronicles blends fairy tales, portals, political satire, and a version of Lucifer who is decidedly not what mythology promised.
8. I’m finally writing only what matters to me.
   With my children grown and my mortgage behind me, I no longer write under financial pressure. That freedom has fundamentally changed the kinds of stories I choose to tell.
9. Marketing is harder for me than writing.
   I love connecting with readers, but self-promotion doesn’t come naturally. I’d much rather be writing the next book.
10. Every story I write asks the same question.
    Who really holds power, who pays the price, and what happens when someone decides not to play along anymore?

About the Author

Trina Spillman, who also writes under the pen name Selene Greenleaf, crafts both practical witchcraft guides and immersive works of fiction that span romance, magical realism, and contemporary thrillers. Splitting her creative life between Colorado’s mountain landscapes and a growing library of story ideas, she blends current events, folklore, plant magic, and real-world rituals to invite readers into transformative experiences. Under Selene Greenleaf, she’s the author of Witchcraft Essentials: A Modern-Day Guide to Spells, Herbs, and Crystals; Cupid’s Craft: Love Spells for Valentine’s Day; and her forthcoming Plant Magic Encyclopedia: Rituals & Remedies, resources designed to help modern practitioners weave intention and botanical wisdom into everyday life. Writing as Trina Spillman, she’s best known for her engaging fairy tale retellings. Upcoming projects include: 

A New Dawn — a gripping political thriller of power, ethics, and love, to be released by The Wild Rose Press 

Collateral Justice — the powerful sequel to A New Dawn, where a hidden alliance of the world’s elite blurs the line between justice and vengeance. 

The Witches of Fablecastle— When a witch hunter’s mirror exposes her forbidden magic, Holly McCool flees through a portal to Fablecastle, only to learn she’s the one destined to stop him from tearing both worlds apart. 

The Quantum Hitchhiker’s Guide to Escaping the Matrix — a witty, mind-bending manual on how to hack reality, rewrite your personal code, and manifest with humor, consciousness, and a touch of modern witchcraft.  

Whether she’s exploring the ethics of power in a thriller or sharing herbal recipes for daily rituals, Trina/Selene’s work reflects her unwavering belief in the healing and transformative power of words.

Trina’s latest book is A New Dawn.

Visit her website at https://authortrinaspillman.com. 

Connect with her on social media at:

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/authortrinaspillman/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18389879.Trina_Spillman

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