Book Reviews – Dena Weigel

The Rabbi’s Knight by Michael Cooper, winner of the 2025 Overall Grand Prize CIBA Award!

“Knight Templar Jonathan St. Clair bears two messages for Rabbi Samuel of Baghdad, one of mortal treachery and another of mystic wonder. In The Rabbi’s Knight by Michael J. Cooper, they journey across the Holy Land to Jerusalem while divisions of faith portend the bloody conclusion of the Crusades.” – Chanticleer Book Reviews

Sometimes you meet an author, whether in person or “between the covers,” and you just know their books are going to fit just fine in your collection. This is what I felt during my first conversation with Michael Cooper, the winner of the Overall Grand Prize CIBA Award for Best Book of 2026 for his latest novel, The Rabbi’s Knight!

Cooper’s topics come to us during one of the world’s most tumultuous periods when the old empires transformed into new alliances, new boundaries, and new dangers leading up to World War I. Having been a pediatrician in the Holy Land during his professional career, Cooper’s wealth of knowledge about the area and it’s history offers a broad canvas for his characters to be painted upon.

I encourage you to take a look at author Michael Cooper’s books. You won’t be disappointed!

Four book covers by Michael J. Cooper: 'The Rabbi's Knight,' 'Wages of Empire,' 'Crossroads of Empire,' and 'Foxes in the Vineyard.'

The Adventure Continues! It’s the Little Boy with a Big Imagination, Adventure Ace in Deep Sea Danger!

Little Adventurers will find thrills when they go for a swim with Adventure Ace in Deep Sea Danger!

Adventure Ace, that daring young lad, is back in Deep Sea Danger by Mac Bell, illustrated by Andy Vanderbilt!

Far below us, at the bottom of the sea, you’ll find treasure—and danger! Our hero, Adventure Ace, finds both when he searches for a mysterious artifact in the depths of the sea.

With his loyal sidekick, Sandwich Joe, by his side, Adventure Ace sets out on his first watery adventure and finds danger along the way. Little Adventurers will find thrills when they go for a swim with Adventure Ace in Deep Sea Danger!

Find Adventure Ace in Deep Sea Danger here!
For 4-8 year olds

A Critical Time in History, the Keeper of Royal Secrets – Tsarina’s Jewels by Jerena Tobiasen

It’s 1918. Simon Temple has returned to England with his new wife, Mary-the once Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna. Having only narrowly escaped the grim fate of the Romanov family, together they seek to put Mary’s past behind them and settle into a comfortable, uneventful life.

“Tsarina’s Jewels, the second novel in Jerena Tobiasen’s heart-stopping series, The Nightingale and Sparrow Chronicles, invites readers into the heart of Turkey’s national history during the Turkish War of Independence between 1919 and 1924. It is a rollercoaster of political upheaval, breathtaking romance, family drama, shocking personal redemption, and good old-fashioned revenge.” – Chanticleer Book Reviews

Read more here.

Audiobook Review: The Life & Times of Sarah Good; Accused Witch by Sandra Wagner-Wright

“Sandra Wagner‑Wright’s The Life & Times of Sarah Good, Accused Witch is a historically grounded and emotionally compelling exploration of one of 17th century Salem, Massachusetts’ most tragic figures.”

“Sandra Wagner‑Wright’s The Life & Times of Sarah Good, Accused Witch is a historically grounded and emotionally compelling exploration of one of 17^th century Salem, Massachusetts’ most tragic figures.”

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hanging, woman, man, crime, salem, murder, patriarchy

Book Review: Chasing Czars by Tina Sloan

Cleo Gallier is Chasing Czars across the slopes of St. Mortiz. But the enigmatic oligarch Sergei comes with treacherous secrets which sweep up Cleo’s family.

In Tina Sloan’s latest book in the Cleopatra Chronicles series, Cleo Gallier is Chasing Czars across the slopes of St. Mortiz. But the enigmatic oligarch Sergei comes with treacherous secrets which sweep up Cleo’s family.

Read the full review

Book Review: Success With Hydrangeas by Lorraine Ballato

Success With Hydrangeas by Lorraine Ballato is the perfect guide for anyone wanting to upgrade their landscape with this big, beautiful flowery bush.

Springtime is the right time for planning a beautiful summer garden, and one of the most popular garden shrubs is the colorful and hearty Hydrangea. I recently reviewed Success With Hydrangeas and fell in love with this beautiful flowering shrub.

With several colors to choose from, these bountiful flowering bushes add a bright spot to anyone’s yard. They also handle weather well, so you don’t have to worry about them during turbulent spring weather.

Professional horticulturist and CIBA award-winning author Lorraine Ballato’s Success with Hydrangeas: A Gardener’s Guide offers a comprehensive collection of information and photos for one of the world’s most popular flowering plants. With her sage advice, she helps gardeners “make your hydrangeas thrive” in gardens and landscapes to share their beauty.

“As well as describing varying hydrangea types in minute detail, accompanied by dazzling photography, Ballato describes the processes of fertilization, soil testing, and the crucial issue of water, presenting specific examples of such treatments needed for differing varieties.”

-Chanticleer Book Review-

If you are planning on upgrading your landscape this spring, consider adding hydrangeas to your yard and help them reach their full bloom with this informative guide.

Read the full review here…

Book Review: Naked In The Now: Juicy Practices for Getting Present by Marijke McCandless

Discover your true self with ‘Naked in the Now’. Embrace mindfulness and self-compassion to reconnect with what matters most.

Naked in the Now, book, white, orange, red

Naked in the Now invites readers to journey inward to find or redefine yourself after a life dedicated to others.

With simple, doable practices you’ll experience a more grounded and feel more alive. Whether you’re short on time, craving more presence, or just curious about how to feel better without overhauling your life, this book will meet you exactly where you are.

Author Marijke McCandless shares practices meant to spark insight and self-compassion, quite the inner critic, encourage connection and joy, and reconnect you with what really matters in your life.

Read the Review on Chanticleer Book Reviews

What is an Editorial Book Review?

Editorial Book Reviews – An authors’ first conversation with readers.

People sometimes ask me if I’m a full-time novelist. Well, not yet, but it’s a dream I’m working toward.

Breaking into the Publishing Industry

I’ve made great strides toward getting into the publishing industry through my day job at Chanticleer Book Reviews. I manage the reviews process, working as the go-between with our remote review team and our authors to provide quality editorial reviews they can use in their book marketing. I also do a variety of other things, including writing a majority of the blog posts that I often share links to here on my blog.

I’ve learned so much since I first sat down at my desk at Chanticleer! The writing community is so generous and interesting, and I’m looking forward to many years growing and communing with the great authors I’ve met.

In the meantime…

Find Out More About Editorial Book Reviews

If you are interested in our review process, why reviews are helpful to authors, and how an editorial review can boost your book sales check out this article I recently wrote on the Chanticleer website by clicking here:

Chanticleer Editorial Book Reviews

CHanticleer Book Reviews, CBR, CAC, Chanticleer International book awards, CIBAs

Book Review – THE SHADOW Of WAR: The Rise of Oceania Book 5 by Timothy S. Johnston

My day job as a book review coordinator/facilitator puts me in the enviable position of reading book reviews all day. It’s a fantastic job and I get to know so many great books—I’ll never be able to read everything on my reading bucket list!

Timothy S. Johnston’s The Shadow of War: The Rise of Oceania Book 5 is a great dystopian, sci-fi thriller that takes us deep into the ocean where he has created a unique undersea world full of compelling characters, intrigue, and thrills! He is the 2023 Grand Prize winner of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBA) for the Cygnus (sci-fi) division.

Click here to read the review