Sophia Rose Reviews: Presidential Seclusion: The Power of Camp David by Charles Ferguson

 

Presidential Seclusion: The Power of Camp David by Charles Ferguson

Non-Fiction, Political History, Biography

Publisher:  Prometheus Books

Published: 11.4.25

Pages:  216

Rating: 4.5 stars

Format: Hardback

Source:  The Globe Pequot

Sellers:  Amazon

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GoodReads Synopsis:

Behind the gates of Camp David—where presidents find solitude, forge diplomacy, and shape history in absolute secrecy.

The Presidential Retreat Camp David is shrouded in mystery, and rightfully so. The hidden retreat atop the Catoctin Mountains is the one place the President, First Family, and invited guests can gather in absolute secrecy for relaxation, rejuvenation, and world-changing decisions. Because of this dedication to privacy, and a desire to maintain the mystery and exclusivity of the last bastion of solitude for the President, few comprehensive accounts exist detailing the storied history of Camp David and the role the “Spirit of Camp David” plays in world affairs.
 
Presidential Seclusion provides an exclusive account of the mysterious and storied retreat. Extensively researched from Presidential Archives as well as from the pages of Presidential memoirs, this non-partisan, informative account weaves exclusive stories into a tapestry revealing the importance of Camp David on diplomacy and world history. Written by the former Camp David Historian, this personalized tour of the exclusive retreat makes tree-shrouded trails, majestic vistas, and rooms where history happened over the last 80 years accessible to everyone. As you read, the “Spirit of Camp David” is revealed to infuse everyone who works and visits the President’s private mountain retreat, mainly how Camp David personally affected its primary guests, the fifteen First Families fortunate to call the private retreat a second home.

 

Sophia Rose Reviews: Dark Arts and a Daiquiri by Annette Marie

 

Dark Arts and a Daiquiri by Annette Marie

#2 Guild Codex: Spellbound

Urban Fantasy

Publisher:  Self-Published

Published:  11.16.18

Pages:  308

Rating: 4.5 stars

Format: ebook

Source:  KU borrow

Sellers:  Amazon

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GoodReads Synopsis:

When I found myself facing down the scariest black-magic felon in the city, practically daring him to abduct me, I had to wonder exactly how I ended up here.

It all started when I accidentally landed a job as a bartender--but not at a bar. At a guild, populated by mages, sorcerers, alchemists, witches, and psychics. Good thing this lame-o human is adaptable, right?

Then my favorite guild members--three sexy, powerful, and intermittently charming mages--asked for my help. Did they want access to my encyclopedic knowledge of cocktails? Oh no. They wanted to wrap me up in a pretty ribbon and plunk me in the crosshairs of a murderous rogue to lure him out of hiding.

So that's what we did. And that's why I'm here. About to be kidnapped. Oh, and our grand plan for safely capturing said murderous rogue? Yeah, that completely fell apart about two minutes ago.

Why did I agree to this again?

--
Note: The three mages are definitely sexy, but this series isn't a reverse harem. It's 100% fun, sassy, fast-paced urban fantasy.

 

Sophia Rose Reviews: All the Dead Shall Weep by Charlaine Harris, narrated by full cast

 

All the Dead Shall Weep by Charlaine Harris, narrated by full cast

#5 Gunnie Rose

Alternate History, Fantasy

Publisher:  Graphic Audio

Published:  3.31.25

Time:  6 hours 5 minutes

Rating: 4.5 stars

Format: Dramatized Adaption

Source:  Library borrow

Sellers:  Amazon

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GoodReads Synopsis:

Lizbeth Rose and Felicia as well as brothers Eli and Peter, are reunited in Texoma only to break apart before the Wizard’s Ball held in San Diego, which will determine all their fates.

Following the murderous events of the “gripping…thrill-ride” (Karin Slaughter) Serpent of Heaven, Lizbeth Rose is awaiting the arrival of her sister Felicia and her husband’s younger brother Eli in Texoma. Both needed to leave the seat of the Holy Russian Empire in San Diego after Felicia’s burgeoning wizardly power in death magic became the reason for kidnapping and assassination attempts from her mother’s family of high-powered wizards in Mexico.

Yet bad news has traveled ahead of them, as Eli is called back to San Diego, taking Peter along with him, splitting them apart in more ways than one as their enemies’ plans for revenge come to fruition. In this fifth installment in the beloved and bestselling Gunnie Rose series, #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Charlaine Harris has crafted a family drama of murderous and magical thrills.

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours. This year I'm so thankful for my family who continue to support me, for my friends who are the family I choose and for my very special blog partner Sophia Rose who keeps this blog going.

I'm also thankful to have read my first book in over a year.

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving 

and don't eat too much Turkey :)

Sophia Rose Reviews: Talk Cowboy to Me by Carolyn Brown, narrated by Brian Hutchinson

 

Talk Cowboy to Me by Carolyn Brown, narrated by Brian Hutchinson

#4 Lucky Cowboys

Contemporary Romance

Publisher:  Recorded Books

Published:  4.22.25

Time:  8 hours 54 minutes

Speed: 1.2xs

Rating: 4 stars

Format: audio

Source: won

Sellers:  Amazon

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GoodReads Synopsis:

For Remington Luckadeu, The Double Deuce Ranch is the perfect place to raise his two boys. But some fiery woman is fighting him for it, and Remington is not sharing—no matter how the sparks fly when he and Adele O’Donnell are together

One cowboy. One cowgirl. One ranch.

Who will win the Double Deuce by the Fourth of July?

When Double Deuce Ranch has two prospective buyers, owner Walter Jones decides to let the two run the ranch together to see who comes out on top. Adele O’Donnell and Remington Luckadeau roll up their sleeves for the fight of their lives.

Ready to battle it out over cleaning stalls, milking cows, and training horses, neither expects the attraction that grows between them. Can the two of them change from enemies to more than friends? And what happens when Walter returns to find the two have come up with their own solution for who gets the ranch?

Sophia Rose Reviews: Shakespeare’s Christmas by Charlaine Harris, narrated by Julia Gibson

 

Shakespeare’s Christmas by Charlaine Harris, narrated by Julia Gibson

#3 Lily Bard

Mystery

Publisher:  Recorded Books

Published:  11.24.09

Time:  6 hours 37 minutes

Rating: 4 stars

Format: audio

Source:  library

Sellers:  Amazon

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GoodReads Synopsis: 

Lily Bard heads home for the holidays.

Lily heads to her hometown of Bartley for her estranged sister's Christmas Eve wedding. But there is something in the air besides holiday cheer—there's murder. And Lily must work fast to clean up the messy case before her sister promises to love, honor, and obey a killer.

Sophia Rose Reviews: Murder at Somerset House by Andrea Penrose

 

Murder at Somerset House by Andrea Penrose

#9 Wrexford and Sloane Mysteries

Historical Mystery

Publisher:  Kensington

Published:  9.30.25

Pages:  368

Rating: 4.5 stars

Format: eARC

Source:  NetGalley

Sellers:  Amazon

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GoodReads Synopsis:

Beyond the gilded ballrooms and salons of Regency London lurks a sinister web of intrigue and deception, and when a murder occurs within the scientific community, Lord Wrexford and Charlotte are the perfect pair to unravel it . . .

A welcome interlude of calm has descended on Wrexford and Charlotte, though with three lively young boys in their care and an unconventional circle of friends and allies, quiet rarely lasts long. And sure enough, in the dead of night, an old acquaintance appears and asks for help. His
brother-in-law has been accused of murdering a fellow member of the prestigious Royal Society at their London headquarters, Somerset House. 

Wrexford agrees to investigate, and with a little unexpected help from their young charges, discovers that what seemed a simple case may be part of a darker, more dangerous plot, where science, money, and politics collide. A mysterious new technical innovation threatens to ignite a crisis throughout Europe, with frightening consequences for London’s financial world.

There is also personal upheaval for Wrexford and Charlotte, when a shocking secret from the past brings a profound change to their family, testing the bonds of loyalty and trust as never before . . .