Recovering from trauma, Todd interviews for a job and finds redemption instead of employment.
A Sci-Fi Psychological Drama About Trauma, AI, and the Human Condition
The 2025 short film The Jobis a tightly woven sci-fi psychological drama that explores artificial intelligence, human trauma, and the messy search for personal redemption.
The story follows Todd, played with raw vulnerability by LeJon, who arrives at an empty office building already burdened by past trauma. The deserted setting only heightens the tension. When Todd reconnects a loose wire, he unknowingly awakens Athena 2.0, an omniscient AI acting as a human-interface interviewer. Dawna Lee Heising delivers Athena with a controlled, commanding presence that becomes the film’s backbone.
A Job Interview Turned Emotional Interrogation
The standard interview turns into an intense psychological confrontation. Athena forces Todd to face his deepest wounds and past mistakes, pushing the “job offer” aside as the real mission becomes emotional reckoning.
The contrast between Athena’s calm precision and Todd’s unraveling creates a gripping dynamic that propels the film forward. Rather than relying on action or twist-heavy storytelling, The Job embraces atmosphere, introspection, and character-driven tension.
A Powerful Sixteen Minutes
The Job presents redemption not as a reward but as a painful, necessary process of facing the truth. For a short runtime of approximately 16 minutes, itleaves a surprisingly lasting impact.
“I’m not some algorithm to be optimized.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Genre
Sci-Fi, Drama
Cast
Dawna Lee Heising – Athena
LeJon – Todd
Director
Craig Railsback
Writers
Heather Joseph-Witham, Craig Railsback
Photo: IMDb
*Thank you to Joe Williamson for the screener link for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Pearl launches a first-ever outdoor ice rink. Photo: Pearl, used with permission.
Pearl Unveils New Outdoor Ice-Skating Rink for the 2025–26 Holiday Season
SAN ANTONIO — Pearl is bringing even more magic to the holidays this year. The beloved destination announced that its anticipated mini golf experience will transform into a sparkling outdoor ice-skating rink for the 2025–26 season. (Pearl, 2025)
The rink opens Friday, November 28, 2025, and will welcome skaters through Sunday, January 4, 2026. Guests are invited to lace up their skates and enjoy a festive winter escape right in the heart of San Antonio. Make an evening of it by stopping by Pearl’s Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony from 3:30 to 7 p.m. in Pearl Park, perfect before or after some time on the ice.
A Festive Setting in the Heart of Pearl
Located next to 1100 Springs Plaza, between Stable Hall and Ladino, the seasonal rink promises twinkling lights, holiday music, and joyful memories for all ages. Tickets will be available for purchase online.
A New Tradition Kicks Off With a New Festival
The debut of Pearl’s outdoor ice rink arrives just in time for another exciting first: the Taste of Pearl Festival, happening Saturday, November 29, from 3 to 8 p.m. This property-wide celebration invites visitors to explore live music, culinary experiences, art, shopping, and more.
Guests can skate beneath the lights, then wander through a festive hub featuring:
A live DJ
Special market vendors (to be announced)
Seasonal sips from Otto’s Ice House
Participation from beloved Pearl restaurants and shops
The Taste of Pearl Festival aims to deliver a vibrant day filled with discovery, flavor, and holiday spirit.
A Message from Pearl
“The holidays are a time for gathering and joy, and Pearl is honored to be part of those traditions. The addition of a new ice-skating rink offers a beautiful way for the community to come together, celebrate, and create lasting memories in the heart of San Antonio.” — Mesha Millsap, CEO of Pearl
About Pearl
Pearl is a dynamic cultural hub in San Antonio, built around the historic former Pearl Brewery along the Museum Reach of the San Antonio River Walk. Known for its iconic plazas, chef-driven restaurants, independent shops, and lively entertainment, Pearl celebrates the creativity of the city’s chefs, artists, musicians, and makers.
The neighborhood’s architectural treasures—including the 1894 brewhouse and stable—house the MICHELIN Two-Key and AAA Five Diamond Hotel Emma, along with Stable Hall, a standout live-music venue. At the center of Pearl, Pullman Market features acclaimed culinary concepts, including two MICHELIN-starred restaurants.
Pacific Music Group aims to discover and develop top Pan-Asian talent for the global stage and serve as a gateway for international artists entering Asia. Photo: Pacific Music Group, used with permission.
Pacific Music Group Launches in Hong Kong, Uniting Global Icons to Shape the Future of Asian Music
Hong Kong — Three-time Grammy Award–winning superstar NE-YO, Indian music legendSonu Nigam, and pioneering Chinese American rapper MC Jin have joined forces with veteran music executive Jonathan Serbinto launch Pacific Music Group, a visionary entertainment company headquartered in Hong Kong and positioned to transform the global music landscape. (Miller PR, 2025)
A New Force in Global Music
Pacific Music Group sets out with a bold mission: to build world-class music careers from the heart of Asia. The company will focus on discovering, mentoring, developing, and promoting the region’s next wave of influential artists, while also offering international talent a strategic gateway into Asia’s rapidly expanding music ecosystem.
Launching with a diverse slate of genre-spanning imprints, including pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, electronic, and regional Asian styles, Pacific Music Group aims to cultivate a dynamic roster of artists who transcend borders. The company’s reach spans the entire continent, from Japan to India and from China and Korea to Southeast Asia. Their commitment: deliver impactful releases, culturally resonant collaborations, and original music that speaks to global audiences.
Artist-Driven Leadership
“Launching Pacific Music Group isn’t just a business move, it’s a personal mission,” NE-YO shared. “As an individual of Chinese descent, I’m proud to use my resources to help discover and elevate the next generation of talented Pan-Asian superstars. I’ve toured across Asia several times and witnessed the evolution of the music scene, so I’m really excited to make history and bring the region’s rich culture to the forefront of the global stage.”
NE-YO, Sonu Nigam, and MC Jin will each contribute their extensive expertise in A&R, drawing on decades of experience as globally recognized performers and hitmakers. Jonathan Serbin, known for driving Warner Music’s expansion throughout Asia and launching its first dedicated K-Pop label, brings deep regional knowledge and a proven track record in artist development, strategic investment, and market growth.
Pacific Music Group’s debut artist lineup will be revealed in the coming months, with the first releases expected in Fall 2025. The company plans to maintain offices and talent hubs across Asia, creating a vibrant, cross-cultural ecosystem that supports creativity, collaboration, and long-term artist growth.
Redefining the Global Music Axis
The launch of Pacific Music Group reflects a significant shift within the global music industry. Eighty years ago, Atlantic Records symbolized a U.S.–U.K. music axis that defined the era. Today, that axis has shifted dramatically eastward. Asia is now home to three of the world’s largest music markets, Japan, China, and Korea, and several of the fastest-growing, including India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Pacific Music Group’s name signals this new reality. Asia has become the epicenter of musical innovation, creativity, and fan engagement. Just as Atlantic Records captured the cultural momentum of its time, Pacific Music Group aims to define a future where influence, artistry, and opportunity flow across the Pacific Ocean, from Pan-Asia to the world.
Leadership Profiles
Jonathan Serbin — Co-Founder, Executive Leadership
Jonathan Serbin brings over 25 years of leadership experience in the music and media industries across Asia and the U.S. He previously served as Co-President of Warner Music Asia, overseeing 11 markets and spearheading the company’s regional growth, including the launch of Warner’s first K-Pop imprint. Serbin also led Billboard’s expansion into China and Southeast Asia and has been instrumental in major strategic investments throughout the region. A former music attorney and media investment banker, he brings a rare combination of business acumen, artistic insight, and international partnership experience.
NE-YO — Global Superstar, Mentor & A&R Visionary
A three-time GRAMMY® Award–winning hitmaker, songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur, NE-YO has shaped global music culture for nearly two decades. His debut single “So Sick” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned quadruple-platinum certification. Renowned for his songwriting as much as his performance, NE-YO continues to influence music across genres and generations.
MC Jin — Cultural Pioneer & Cross-Cultural Ambassador
MC Jin is a groundbreaking Chinese American rapper, actor, and cultural icon known for expanding Asian representation in global Hip-Hop and entertainment. Rising to fame as a champion on BET’s 106 & Park Freestyle Fridays, he became the first Asian American solo Hip-Hop artist to sign with a major U.S. label. Jin has released music in both English and Chinese, toured internationally, and appeared in numerous film and television projects across the U.S. and Asia.
Sonu Nigam — Iconic Voice of India
Sonu Nigam stands as one of India’s most celebrated and influential vocalists. For nearly two decades, he has written and performed hundreds of songs for many of India’s most beloved films. As a live performer, he has entranced audiences in more than 50 countries with his powerful voice, versatility, and magnetic stage presence. With millions of global streams, he remains one of India’s most enduring and beloved artists.
‘Becoming a Peacock’ is the new motivational book by Michal Bardavid. Photo: Amazon
Becoming a Peacock: Strut Your Way Into Self-Love
By Michal Bardavid
Loving yourself isn’t selfish, it’s your superpower.
We’re taught math, science, and grammar, but rarely how to love ourselves. In Becoming a Peacock, Michal Bardavid cracks open that silence with wit, warmth, and the kind of honesty that feels like a conversation with your bravest friend. (Amazon, 2025)
Release Date: December 2 — available now for pre-order.
Through intimate stories of heartbreak, healing, and rediscovery, Bardavid invites you to embrace your inner peacock: the bold, unapologetic, self-loving version of you that refuses to shrink to fit someone else’s cage.
What You’ll Learn
Each chapter blends real-life stories with empowering reflections and exercises designed to help you:
Reclaim your worth (no external validation required)
Set boundaries without guilt
Rewrite your inner voice from critical to kind
Let go of relationships and habits that dim your colors
Celebrate your authenticity, flaws, feathers, and all
Part memoir, part manifesto, and all heart, Becoming a Peacock is a guide for anyone ready to stop playing small and start strutting through life in full color.
What’s Inside the Book
Why the Majestic “Peacock”
A Peacock Knows It’s Worthy
A Peacock Can Take Rejection
A Peacock Dares To Fail
A Peacock Doesn’t Judge
A Peacock Is Authentic
A Peacock Is Grateful
Review
Becoming a Peacock is a heartfelt and spirited invitation to reclaim the parts of ourselves we’ve subdued for far too long. Bardavid writes with a disarming blend of humor, vulnerability, and gentle provocation, cracking open the silence so many people carry around their deepest hurts.
From the first chapter, her voice feels like that of a brave, loyal friend, the kind who tells you the truth with tenderness and refuses to let you abandon yourself again. The language is laid back and conversational while the tone is warm and nonjudgmental. With short chapters and clean structure, it’s a quick, easy read and easy to revisit favorite sections.
Through stories of heartbreak, healing, rejection, and the slow rebuilding of self-worth, Bardavid shows what it means to return home to yourself. She doesn’t preach or claim to have all the answers. Instead, she offers lived wisdom through intimate snapshots of losing her way and the surprising places she found it again.
Highlights
A Peacock Builds Resilience
A reminder that words matter. Kindness is crucial, but resilience is just as important. Bullying should never be tolerated, yet learning to rise above harsh moments is equally vital.
A Peacock Can Be in the Moment
Mindfulness means living with awareness and intention, even in painful moments. Distraction denies our feelings; presence helps us work through them.
“Let’s dare to put the phone down, be present for ourselves and our loved ones, and rediscover the beauty of being in the moment.”
Her “inner peacock” metaphor is playful and powerful, a reminder that boldness, beauty, and self-love are not traits we acquire but truths we unveil. Bardavid doesn’t shy away from messy emotions or difficult lessons, and that authenticity helps readers feel seen rather than lectured.
Becoming a Peacock is an encouraging guide to standing tall, spreading your feathers, and choosing yourself without apology. Ideal for readers who enjoy motivational, reflective books on the journey to self-improvement.
“I built this metaphor of a peacock to make self-love clearer, to remind my students—and now, any reader who wants to share the ride—that they are beautiful, worthy, and capable of living life fully.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
About the Author
Michal Bardavid is a psychological counselor, dance movement therapist, and international journalist. Over the past 15 years, she has reported from more than a dozen countries, taught movement therapy at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, and led creative workshops for Syrian refugee children. In Becoming a Peacock, she combines two decades of storytelling and healing into a candid, story-driven path toward self-worth.
*Thank you to the author for the gifted Advance Reader Copy for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Hotel Contessa is lighting up the season with a front-row parade watch party and its first-ever tree lighting on the River Terrace. Photo: Hotel Contessa, used with permission.
🎄 San Antonio Weekend Holiday Events Roundup
The holiday season is officially underway in San Antonio, and this weekend is packed with festive celebrations across the city. From tree lightings to river parades, here’s where to find the magic.
✨ Gunter Hotel Tree Lighting Ceremony
📅 Saturday, November 29 | ⏰ 2–3 p.m. 📍 205 East Houston Street, San Antonio, TX 78205
Kick off the holidays at the historic Gunter Hotel, where a dazzling 16-foot Christmas tree will take center stage in the lobby. Enjoy a special performance by the talented Kingwood High School carolers from Houston, and warm up with complimentary sweet treats and hot cocoa. It’s the perfect blend of cheer, music, and community spirit in the heart of downtown. (Gunter Hotel, 2025)
🎉 Ácenar HotMex & CoolBar: River Parade Viewing
📅 Friday, November 28 📍 146 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Riverside Seating – $28/person Up-close views with a dedicated server for cocktail orders.
Riverfront Patio Dining – $70 minimum per person A more elevated experience complete with Ácenar’s contemporary Mexican cuisine and crafted cocktails.
Reservations are required and seating is limited. To book, call (210) 222-2362.
🌟 Hotel Contessa: Parade Watch Party & First Annual Tree Lighting
📅 Friday, November 28 | ⏰ 5–7 p.m. 📍 306 W Market St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Hotel Contessa is lighting up the season with a front-row parade watch party and its first-ever tree lighting on the River Terrace. (Hotel Contessa, 2025)
Marriage Island VIP – $85 (includes upgraded seating, complimentary beverage & valet)
Tree lighting begins at 6:30 p.m., with the parade passing by shortly after 7 p.m.
🍸 Hotel Contessa: Ford Holiday VIP Terrace Party
📅Friday, November 28 | ⏰5:30–9 p.m. Guests 21+ can upgrade their night with exclusive terrace access overlooking the River Walk. $75 per ticket includes:
Two handcrafted cocktails
Chef-inspired appetizers
Live holiday DJ
Luxury crafting station
Express massages from the Spa at Hotel Contessa
Raffle entry for a 2026 one-night stay
Note: Limited parade views from the terrace; 15% off parade seating with code VIP.
🍽️ Ambler: VIP Parade Dining Experience
📅Friday, November 28 | ⏰5–9:30 p.m. Ambler’s private dining experience includes prime parade views, a three-course dinner, valet parking, and premium drinks.
Pricing:
Table of Four – $600
Individual Tickets – $175
Kids menu available.
Whether you’re looking for a cozy tree lighting or an unforgettable River Walk parade experience, San Antonio is sparkling with ways to celebrate. Bundle up, grab some cocoa, and enjoy the start of the season! 🎅✨
‘No Words Needed’ is Michael Freeman’s new book about the power of nonverbal communication. Photo: Barnes & Noble
Book Spotlight: No Words Needed: Learning to Listen With Your Eyes by Michael Freeman
What if a single glance could change everything?
We live in a world overflowing with noise: constant talking, constant explaining, constant performing. No Words Needed is the quiet rebellion we didn’t know we needed.
Michael Freeman offers a powerful, compassionate guide for men who don’t always speak first but feel deeply. The ones who walk into a room already reading the atmosphere. The ones who’ve been called “too quiet,” when in reality they were listening the whole time.
What You’ll Learn
In this short and impactful read, Freeman teaches you how to:
Recognize attraction through eye contact and subtle nonverbal cues
Build genuine connection without overthinking every word
Develop confidence without pretending to be someone you’re not
Understand emotional energy both yours and the woman in front of you
No Words Needed is written for quiet men, introverts, deep feelers, and overthinkers. It’s the book that finally acknowledges the men who move through the world with awareness, sensitivity, and intention.
If you’ve ever been misunderstood, overlooked, or unsure whether she was speaking to you with her eyes, this book becomes your playbook. Whether you’re starting over or simply want a deeper understanding of women, this isn’t just advice, it’s a mindset shift. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)
About the Author
Michael Freeman is a storyteller, observer, and quiet disruptor of the norm. His writing centers on emotional presence, personal growth, and the invisible language of attraction.
No Words Needed: Learning to Listen With Your Eyes is his debut work and an intimate guide for anyone who has ever felt more than they could say, especially men who are learning to lead with presence rather than volume.
Born and raised in Vallejo, California, Freeman blends cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and lived experience into short, resonant reads that linger long after the last page. He writes for the ones who notice the small things, who feel deeply, who understand that silence often speaks first.
‘Maiden Voyage’ is the exciting new historical novel by Bradley Harper. Photo: Paste Creative Book Tours, used with permission.
Paste Creative Book Tours Participant
Book Review: Maiden Voyage by Bradley Harper
Three female thieves, a priceless painting, and a Pinkerton agent aboard the Titanic. What could go wrong?
Synopsis
Maiden Voyage by Bradley Harper follows an unlikely trio of thieves, Colette DuVall, Mary Carr, and Samantha “Sam” McMurphy, as they embark on a daring mission to steal a valuable painting by the French master Blondell. Their plan takes them aboard the RMS Titanic on its ill-fated maiden journey.
Colette, a young jewel thief from Canada, finds her resolve wavering when she meets Harry Worth, a young Pinkerton agent hired to safeguard the wealthy passengers. What she doesn’t know is that Harry is the son of infamous criminal Adam Worth. Torn between his sense of duty and his complicated family legacy, Harry begins questioning where he truly belongs, especially after falling for Colette.
As loyalties collide as fiercely as the ship meets the iceberg, all aboard must fight for survival. Amid disaster, they discover that love might be the greatest thief of all.
Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Review
Maiden Voyage is a brisk, character-driven historical adventure that blends romance, crime, and maritime tragedy into an undeniably compelling read.
A Vivid Criminal Underworld
The novel opens with Mary Carr and the notorious Forty Elephants gang, a real historical group of female thieves. This grounding in true criminal lore adds texture and authenticity, making the early chapters particularly immersive. When Harry discovers what the gang is planning aboard the Titanic, the tension begins to mount, soon followed by the ship’s own looming catastrophe.
A Strong Emotional Core
The narrative delves deeply into Harry’s personal conflict. As the son of a master criminal, he grapples with the weight of his heritage and the moral ambiguity of justice. His connection with Colette is one of the book’s strongest elements: tender without slowing the pace, layered without becoming overly sentimental.
Memorable Characters & Vivid Writing
Harper’s character development shines. One particularly striking description captures the lived-in dignity of a working woman:
“Her red, chapped hands declaring how she made her way in the world, the well-worn but clean clothes presented a defiant dignity the years and work had yet to take from her.”
These small touches make the characters feel real, and when tragedy strikes, you genuinely root for their survival.
History, Heart, and High Stakes
Harper integrates historical detail without overwhelming the story. The author’s notes at the end provide fascinating context on real figures like Mary Carr and the Forty Elephants, enriching the reading experience.
The Titanic disaster is woven into the plot with restraint and emotional weight. Rather than leaning into melodrama, the novel balances suspense with tenderness, exploring themes of identity, family, and survival.
A Fresh Take on Titanic Fiction
Fast-paced, atmospheric, and surprisingly heartfelt, Maiden Voyage offers a fresh twist on stories set aboard the Titanic. Readers who enjoy historical fiction with a blend of crime, adventure, and romance will find much to love.
Harper leaves readers with a haunting reminder of the ship’s legacy:
“Beneath the water, the ship plunged 12,000 feet to the ocean floor, full of the wealth of millionaires and the humble possessions of hopeful emigrants; it carried them all away into the frigid darkness. Into legend.”
Bradley Harper is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and pathologist who has conducted more than 200 autopsies and around 20 forensic investigations.
His debut novel, A Knife in the Fog (2018), was a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and winner of the 2019 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion for Best Mystery. His second novel, Queen’s Gambit, won the 2020 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense and Book of the Year. Maiden Voyage is his fourth book.
Author Bradley Harper. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Courtesy photo, used with permission.
*Thank you to Paste Creative Book Tours and the author for my gifted copy for review as part of the tour. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
This Ordinary Thing is Emmy-winning filmmaker Nick Davis’ new documentary. Photo: Series of Dreams, used with permission.
THIS ORDINARY THING
A Film by Nick Davis(You Had To Be There / TIFF 2025) Executive Producer: Albert M. Tapper (Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy)
Cast (A–Z)
F. Murray Abraham, Jeannie Berlin, Eric Bogosian, Ellen Burstyn, Bill Camp, Carrie Coon, Hope Davis, Stephen Fry, Joanna Gleason, Marcia Gay Harden, Mamie Gummer, Harry Hadden-Paton, Jeremy Irons, Bill Irwin, Louisa Jacobson, Kasia Koleczek, Anna Krippa, Stephen Lang, John Leguizamo, Donal Logue, Kelly Macdonald, Helen Mirren, Bebe Neuwirth, Kelli O’Hara, David Hyde Pierce, Martha Plimpton, Lily Rabe, Rufus Sewell, J. Smith-Cameron, David Strathairn, Lily Tomlin.
Release Date
December 5 at Cinema Village (NYC), followed by a national theatrical rollout and VOD release.
A Haunting & Unforgettable Story
THIS ORDINARY THING recounts the extraordinary acts of non-Jewish individuals who helped save Jewish people across Europe during the Holocaust. Blending never-before-seen archival footage with testimonies from more than forty people, the film sheds light on the quiet bravery of individuals who, acting independently and at great personal risk, saved thousands of Jewish strangers from near-certain death. (EG-PR, 2025)
Narrated by an all-star cast, the documentary serves as a timely reminder of the “pockets of goodness” that can rise within a sea of evil: ordinary people choosing compassion over indifference, even when it meant risking everything.
Strikingly, none of the individuals in the film saw themselves as heroes. Their humility lends the project an urgent resonance, prompting viewers to confront a difficult question: What would I have done?
An Ensemble of the World’s Great Actors
The film features some of the most celebrated actors of our time, performing translated excerpts from original transcripts. The cast, including Helen Mirren, F. Murray Abraham, Carrie Coon, Jeremy Irons, Ellen Burstyn, and Stephen Fry, collectively boast:
5 Academy Awards (and 20+ nominations)
60+ Emmy nominations
25+ Tony nominations
Their performances lend gravitas and emotional depth to the powerful firsthand accounts.
Music by Adam Guettel
The score is composed by Tony Award–winner Adam Guettel, known for The Light in the Piazza, Floyd Collins, and numerous other stage and screen works. His music adds an evocative and haunting layer to the film’s emotional landscape.
About Filmmaker Nick Davis
Nick Davis is a filmmaker and writer whose work often explores the intersection of culture, history, and storytelling. His recent documentary, YOU HAD TO BE THERE, which chronicles the 1972 Toronto production of Godspell and its role in shaping the comedy revolution, premiered at TIFF 2025, where it won Second Runner-Up for the Audience Award. The film features Martin Short, Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, and other icons of comedy.
‘Love and Death’ is the latest book in the Meg Sheppard Mystery Series. Photo: Paste Creative Book Tours, used with permission.
Paste Creative Book ToursParticipant
“Love and Death” by Vicky Earle
Synopsis
A cheating racehorse trainer is dead, and someone close to Meg is under suspicion. As she digs for the truth, past gang members involved in a murder and a zealous animal rights group bring danger right to her doorstep.
When she is wounded by a gunshot, Meg becomes reluctant to continue the investigation. Does she have the resilience to face the escalating threats while also coping with the likelihood of a devastating personal loss?
Love and Death is Book 6 of 6 in the Meg Sheppard Mystery Series:
What Happened to Frank?
Over Frank’s Dead Body
Pointed Attacks
Playing with Fire
Dying for Money
Love and Death
Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Review
Love and Death opens with Meg receiving a troubling call from Neal, her racehorse trainer. Linda, a groom in Neal’s barn, is being questioned by police about her possible role in a hit-and-run that killed fellow trainer Barton Woking. Still reeling from an emotional fight with her partner, William, Meg begins her own search for the truth hoping it will clear Linda’s name and distract her from her personal turmoil.
When Meg learns that a valuable horse has been stolen, her curiosity pulls her deeper into a dangerous web of secrets, gang activity, and the fervor of a militant animal rights group. Each new lead puts her life further at risk.
Vicky Earle delivers a gripping mystery that blends the tension of the horse racing world with Meg’s emotional journey. It’s narrated in Meg’s first person point of view, so readers get deep insights into her thought processes as she tries to solve the case. Her vulnerability and determination make her a relatable, compelling sleuth. Earle’s steady pacing, vivid descriptions, and emotional depth enrich every twist:
“The water seeps through my fleece jacket and splashes over my running shoes as I dash to the truck.”
Earle’s storytelling captures the grit of crime and the grace of perseverance, proving that even in the darkest moments, love and courage endure. Even though it’s part of a series, it does well as a stand alone novel. For readers who crave mysteries with heart, danger, and emotional complexity, Love and Death offers a satisfying, suspense-filled ride. Animal lovers will certainly enjoy it.
“Everyone leaves at the same time, and it’s as if the air has been sucked out of the stark room… I close my eyes, but I won’t be able to sleep – there are too many thoughts and questions spinning in my head.”
Vicky Earle, a recipient of a Canada Book Award, served as CEO of the Ontario SPCA for seven years. Her experiences owning and breeding thoroughbred race horses as well as her love for country life, inspired the Meg Sheppard Mystery Series, known for its fast-paced, action-packed plots set amid racing and rural living.
Animals have always been central to Vicky’s life, and she couldn’t imagine writing a book without them.
She currently lives on a small horse farm near Uxbridge, Ontario, with her husband.
Author Vicky Earle. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Courtesy photo, used with permission.
*Thank you to Paste Creative Book Tours and the author for my gifted copy for review as part of the tour. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
La Cantera Resort & Spa kicks off the holidayswith annual tree lighting and roller skating rink. Photo: La Cantera Resort & Spa, used with permission.
Holiday Magic Arrives at La Cantera: Annual Tree Lighting & “Jingle Bell Roll” Grand Opening
On Friday, November 21, 2025, Signia by Hilton La Cantera Resort & Spa will kick off the holiday season in spectacular fashion with its beloved Annual Tree Lighting, followed immediately by the grand opening of “Jingle Bell Roll,” a retro-inspired, LED-lit roller-skating rink built right over the resort’s shimmering Topaz infinity pool. (La Cantera Resort & Spa, 2025)
A Holiday Tradition: Annual Tree Lighting
The Annual Tree Lighting celebration sets the tone for a festive season ahead. Guests can enjoy:
Meeting friendly reindeer
Cookie decorating
Warm, creamy hot chocolate
Live holiday music
Dancing beneath the glow of the sparkling holiday tree
It’s the perfect way for families and friends to welcome the season together.
Introducing: Jingle Bell Roll
The new Jingle Bell Roll invites guests to lace up their skates and glide into the holidays with a high-energy skating experience unlike anything else in San Antonio. The activation features:
Dazzling LED lights
Festive music
Seasonal treats
A vibrant, nostalgic roller-rink atmosphere
This limited-time experience is designed for guests of all ages, local families, resort visitors, and holiday-loving adventurers.
Throughout the season, skaters can also enjoy:
Themed skate nights
Family-friendly skate sessions
Photo ops with Santa Claus
Holiday treats and concessions
Custom group packages for corporate events, including private rink access, catering, and branded photo options
Holiday Cove: A Winter Retreat
For guests seeking a more elevated seasonal escape, the resort’s Holiday Covetransforms the Topaz cabanas into a warm winter oasis. Expect:
Cozy group seating
Festive holiday décor
Curated seasonal treats
Reservations are encouraged and available online.
December Themed Skate Nights
To make the season even more memorable, “Jingle Bell Roll” will offer unique themed evenings throughout December:
• Family Holiday Jams — Wednesdays (Nov. 26–Dec. 24)
Kid-friendly holiday music, festive character appearances, and fun PJ-themed sessions perfect for younger skaters and families.
• Date Night Roll — Thursdays (Nov. 27–Dec. 25)
A romantic evening under the stars, complete with ambient lighting, smooth tunes, and a cozy, elegant atmosphere.
SA Examiner 