Tag: Romance

Author Spotlight: JILL FAIN LEHMAN

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

New book available called Private I

  •  About the book: 
    • “Private I” is a gripping new adult thriller that weaves together elements of intrigue, romance, murder, and artificial intelligence. The story follows Paloma, a young woman on the brink of starting her college journey in Machine Intelligence (MI) at MITI, hoping to build upon her grandfather’s secret technological innovations. Her plans are violently derailed when she returns home to find her grandfather tortured and killed, with evidence suggesting his murderers were after Marlowe, Paloma’s MI companion of 15 years.
  • Forced to go on the run, Paloma must navigate a complex web of potential threats – from tech corporations to government agents to anti-tech terrorists – while protecting both herself and Marlowe. The novel explores contemporary questions about machine consciousness, human-AI relationships, and the societal implications of advanced artificial intelligence through a noir-inspired lens. What sets “Private I” apart is its unique dual narrative, featuring the internal monologue of both Paloma and her AI companion, offering a fresh perspective on classic noir themes while addressing today’s headlines about AI development and its impact on society. In a world where AI is no longer just a buzzword but a reality that has reshaped every aspect of society, “Private I” explores the very real implications of machine intelligence on human trust, relationships, and accountability. The novel is an unflinching look at how we navigate a future where the lines between human and machine are increasingly blurred. For fans of speculative fiction and sci-fi thrillers, “Private I” offers a gripping narrative that combines edge-of-your-seat mystery with profound philosophical questions about AI and humanity. It will appeal to readers who enjoy complex, thought-provoking stories like those of Philip K. Dick, William Gibson, and other tech-noir pioneers. Tech enthusiasts will be excited by a new take on AI’s evolution and its implications for personal relationships, while lovers of psychological thrillers will appreciate the tensions among human characters in a world fractured by its willingness to be dominated by intelligent machines. “Private I” will resonate with readers who are fascinated by AI, technology’s role in society, and the ethical quandaries that will soon be upon us all. It’s a compelling blend of mystery, noir, and thriller, all wrapped in a deeply human story about love, betrayal, and survival. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when machines think like humans and humans have to trust machines with their lives…this book is for you.
  • “Private I” is available on Amazon. The authors are grateful for any reviews you can share on Goodreads and other social media platforms!
  • LINKS
  • Author Bios:
    • Ashlei E. Watson is an American novelist, known for her work that blends speculative fiction with deep philosophical themes.Jill Fain Lehman, PhD, is a Senior Project Scientist at Carnegie Mellon University’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute with over 40 years of experience in artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and machine learning. She has collaborated with leading organizations like Disney Research, The Rand Corporation, and Carnegie Learning. Jill is the co-author of Private I, a speculative fiction novel exploring the complexities of AI, consciousness, and trust.Paul Pangaro, PhD, is an entrepreneur, researcher, and educator with over 30 years of experience applying cybernetics to human-machine systems. He has founded multiple startups and now teaches at Carnegie Mellon University, where he is establishing a Laboratory for Cybernetics.

#BookishThoughts: The Rose Contract by Scottie Kaye Book Review

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

Magic meets romantic suspense in this first installment of the Sleeping Lotus series. Raena Barren has magic power, and she’s the only person in the kingdom who can hide it.

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She survives on the streets of Soma using the magic until she comes face to face with Jorr Potent, and she must save his life.

After he gives her a job in the castle, Raena spends ten years falling in love with him.

Overall, I found McKaye’s writing to be poignant and page turning but at the same time I felt the story lacked something.

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#BookishThoughts: Good Brave People by Nicholas Trandahl book review

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

As a writer of both fiction and poetry, I love reading novels with poetic soul within their core. As a reader, I love novels that instantly feel like they will be classics or remind you of some of the literary greats.

Trandahl gives mention to legendary writers in their own right Hemingway and Chekhov. Jasper Augustine stares you down with the intensity of a writer who’s all about the experience from the first page.

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Primarily set in Basque County, a mountainous and agricultural area of Spain, this novel follows Augustine who sets out to write a novel, and who happens upon life’s greatest muse: an ordinary person in their home country being extraordinary at what they do, and it in turn makes you want to learn everything about them.

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Upon arriving in San Sebastian, Augustine meets Oihana and begins writing his novel with fervish inspiration.

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What’s crazy to me is how effortless this novel reads which makes it a bit of a shock that this is his debut novel.

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Filled with intrigue, Spanish mystique, and a romantic story for the ages, Good Brave People is a classic for this age, and for ages to come.

Click this graphic (below) to enter to win a paperback or ebook copy of Good Brave People!

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#BookReview: Light On Glass by @MKeenerWrites

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

I know this going to sound pretentious and a bit ungrateful but the last book I read that had me absolutely enthralled was Virtue of Sin by Shannon Schuren. I read that at the end of August. As you can see, it’s been a while since a book transported me fully into the story.

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As I was reading the first chapter, Light On Glass immediately had me hooked.

“the first chapter has left me breathless. Keener chiseled a cave from stone with her words and whoever this Lucia character is I must know her story.”

Overall, it has two main characters the author Sarah who is struggling with writing her book after publishing a first novel that turned her into a has-been writer who suffered a few very poignant critiques when the novel was reviewed.

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As a former teenage author myself, I instantly related to that.

Right now, I am struggling writing the first draft of a new WIP because of a comment my dad made and kept harping at me with when I wrote the first scene and shared it with him even in its premature state.

I will do as Sarah does and forget the critics, head to a library, and just tell the story.

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The second character is within Sarah’s novel Lucia. She is standing on cliffs overlooking the rough seas below. She is likable, romantic, and fights for her chance at true love no matter what people say or think of her, and that to me takes guts.

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Overall, Light On Glass is enthralling, enchanting, and even educational as you learn some fun beekeeping facts throughout. Once you read it, your heart may never recover but you will be forever changed, in the best possible way.

#NationalPoetryMonth Book Review: Love In Between by Mercy Jane Ballesteros

Posted on by The Smart Cookie

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Written in vignette-style sections and sonnet-like eloquence, “Love In Between” showcases strong writing from a young author who also makes a statement about young love being very real, and practically unavoidable.

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With themes of young love, unrequited love, and torturous heartbreak, even loving someone who pines for someone else, Mercy’s poetry gives me still the same “you aren’t alone,” calm sensation that I have while reading the work of International best-sellers like Lang Leav.

Mercy’s poetry overall will leave you falling in love with the writer behind the few but powerful words.

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CALLING ALL POETS and MICROPOETS! April is National Poetry Month and as always, I celebrate all month long by showcasing a new poem every day on my social media pages and by reviewing primarily poetry books all month long. So if you are a poet who knows it, and you have a book already out or about to come out, please email me by March 26, 2018 to be featured for the month of April. And yes, you get to skip the wait list line for free due to the high demand!

Send me your poetry graphics, Instagram poet recommendations, and poetry book review requests to wittywriterpoet26@gmail.com

So much love,

The Smart Cookie