Hawke by Anise Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Anise Storm outdid herself with the first book of the Men of Syn books! Hawke was hands down amazing! I was feeling all the emotions and it was just so good! My family was feeling my absence because I really couldn’t pull myself away once I started! Absolutely cannot wait for the next book! 😍
Sign Steal Deliver by Carrie Pulkinen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Sign Steal Deliver was a great read! I knew it was going to be good, because honestly anything of Carrie Pulkinen’s is going to be great. I’m used to vampires and shifters from Pulkinen, and while one of the main characters in this book was a shifter, it was so interesting to read a book about the Greek gods in a modern day world. I was very impressed with this book. The humor was also spot on. I can’t wait to read the next installment to this series and can only hope it’s as good as this one was!
The God by Hazel Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The God is the second installment of Her Three Immortals by Hazel Storm and I loved it just as much as I loved the first installment. Once again we are thrown straight into a wonderful story, with a great plot line, and fantastic characters. This particular tale is told from multiple points of view, making the story all the more intriguing. While this paranormal romance has me biting at the bit to read the final installment in the series this one was definitely worth waiting for. So if your looking for a great new series to read then I highly recommend this one.
Boy on Hold by J.D. Spero
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was so good! The characters made me wish I knew them and could be there for them while they were struggling. The conflict was so relatable and really made me think. The author has this way of writing that just really draws you in and makes you want to keep going. I was reluctant to put it down and stayed up later than I should have more than once because I just didn’t want to stop!
The God by Hazel Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Vanessa is back, along with Grey, Raef, Aroz and a colorful cast of characters. Vanessa gave her soul to Grey in order to save Piper from Cancer. Now Vanessa is causing a little change and problems in Elysium/the Underworld. Hazel Storm has done it again. She has continued again the wonderfully funny story that leaves you chuckling as you follow the misadventures of Vanessa trying to adjust to her new “life.” A little steamy romance thrown in is awesome too. The repartee among all the players just flows smooth. The POV chapters run like a river back and forth. I highly recommend this book.
Descallia: Dark Vampire Romance by Sylvia Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Salvatore Descallia is the Overload of the Vampire Consulate. There are twelve consulate positions which are held by purebred vampires. As a leader he is tough and a believer of rules.
Lucianna Denaro, or Luce, is a Las Vegas police officer. She has worked with the department for three years. She has some psychic capabilities that the department is willing to use to help them solve a case of missing women. The women have been taken while completing normal activities like grocery shopping without a trace. Her captain wants her to work at Descallia Casino and Resort to see if she can gain any information pertaining to the case.
After meeting Master Descallia, she is being shown around by Embry, a waitress, when all of the sudden men try to grab her and Embry. She takes out two but is caught off guard by two more. Her life and Embry’s hand in the balance. Descallia and his right hand, Lucas, give both of the women immortality by turning them before they die.
With the missing women still hanging over their heads, Descallia and Luce must put aside their attraction to solve this mystery and save the women.
Drifting, Falling — Diary of a Call Girl Suicide by A.J. Ullman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Drifting, Falling: Diary of a Call Girl Suicide by A.J. Ullman is so detailed and full of haunting thoughts that I had to wait to review it. While this is not a book that I would normally read the cover and the blurb of this particular story in intrigued me. While this story was way darker then what I normally read, it was a very intriguing and interesting take. Ripley’s story is dark, haunting, tragic, and sad. But reading her story through the perspective of her journal was just the cherry on the cake. So if you have thought about reading this to get a new perspective on how all of the Ripley’s feel then you should pick up a copy today.
Boy on Hold by J.D. Spero
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The synopsis for this novel is short, but it holds more than enough to draw a reader in. Before starting to read I was already caught up in what may come.
This novel is a definite page turner! Spero had me sitting on the edge of my seat; I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. Her writing style flows smoothly and does not falter between characters views or jumps into the past and present.
This was my first read by this author and it won’t be my last. I already have the next one, “Boy Released”, lined up!
Fury of Conviction by Coreene Callahan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh My God, Y’all. This book is to die for, an epic love story is starting to unfold with Hamersveld and Natalie. He starts off as one of her captors and ends up the love of her life. I can’t wait to get to the next book to see how everything plays out.
Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Awakening the Gods (Rise of the Celtic Gods #1) by Kristin Gleeson
4-stars
This was a fantastic first read by this author for me. This fantasy read is beautifully detailed, from the characters, their surroundings, to the sounds around them and to their daily activities. I really enjoyed all of the detail, it made it very easy to picture everything playing out in my mind.
I normally prefer more action-packed reads but this was a nice change. I felt as if I really followed the characters throughout their story, which was highly enjoyable. I look forward to reading more of these characters in the future!
Boy Released by J.D. Spero
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Great follow-up to the awesome Boy on Hold. Tyler is released and trying to reintegrate into the world and his family. We really get a close-up look on his paranoid schizophrenia and what that looks like for him. It was interesting to get into his head a little bit and understand how this illness can work. The family are stressed and drained again, and the bonds between characters in the story are tested. Where do Bernie’s allegiances lie? Where do Hen’s? Hen is mostly grown now, and the events of his childhood have dramatically shaped his personality and what’s important to him. Bernie and Marcella have been through a lot, but the events of this book really strain the bonds of their marriage, and what they can live with. Very interesting, highly recommend both books, very engrossing!
Reviewed by @ericalorraine
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Boy Released by J.D. Spero
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book was just as intense as the first one. Ten years later, Ty has been released and everyone is living and working at a motel that Marcella and Bernie bought. They are dealing with the aftermath of the trial and other items. Hen is a couple of months of coming into his inheritance. He just wants to do what’s right. Ty just wants to feel normal. One night a fat punk comes in and attacks Marcella. The family is put into turmoil again dealing with this as the police are trying to investigate. The family, except Marcella, feels Ty did it. Marcella said it wasn’t him. Oh, you will feel as shocked as I did with that surprise. Again, the author fills the book with twists and turns that will make you feel like you are on a mountain road (but they all tie nicely together). She does a wonderful job again of relating facts of schizophrenia and the law and mental system. It truly is a great book. Wonderful characters and a really intense plot that keep you wanting to never put it down. I read it in a day because I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend this book.
Drifting, Falling — Diary of a Call Girl Suicide by A.J. Ullman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Ripley Astilla Luna is a young woman with an interesting life and an interesting death too, she is young, beautiful and smart, she was named after the main protagonist in the Alien movies and relates to her in more ways than one, she also enjoys learning and has always had a thirst for knowledge, but she has also had dreams of becoming an astronaut and flying through space, but the closest she has come to is to bungee jump from bridges and buildings, however, she has also got other issues which she sees a therapist for, but she has recently had to change and is now seeing Dr Dan Truscott.
Ripley has decided to start a diary to try and explain her actions and the reasons behind them, she has thought about suicide many times, but she has never attempted it before, she has also read about suicide, as well as a lot of other things, the things she enjoys most are Greek Mythology and anything to do with space. As a child, she went to Space Camp and read everything she could find about being an astronaut, but that all changed when her childhood was filled with one trauma after the other, this has had an undeniable affect on her and the life she has been leading, she has never forgotten her dream, but she has detoured into other things along the way, she is not happy, but is not unhappy either, merely content with the people in and especially her friend Mort who she knows she can turn to and who always turns up or gets in contact right when she needs it.
As she works with her new psychiatrist, she gets the feeling that there is more to him that meets the eye and that he may be someone who she can engage with in other ways as well, however, Dr Truscott is trying his best not to get involved with this mysterious woman and the questionable feelings she raises in him, he has everything he could possibly want, but why does he want her as well? In this interesting and original story of one woman and her dreams, this diary is a glimpse into a mind which is as unpredictable as can be, but will she be able to get to space the way she wants to, or will those around her try to keep her tied to earth?
Reviewed by @roxsannel
Finding It All by Stacey Komosinski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Chloe lives with her two best friends in Texas. Having never dated much, she is intrigued when she finds a principal she is interviewing interesting. When he asks her out, she quickly accepts. Chloe learns to navigate a relationship and helps her friends out with day to day struggles.
Opinion
This book is a sweet romance. I would have no issues putting it in the hands of my teenaged daughter (if only I could get her to read romance.) There is a definite slow burn to the whole book that keeps the reader anticipating the next move. While the book was a bit slow for me, I definitely see the allure for readers who like a slower, sweeter romance.
Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A very enjoyable fantasy/paranormal tale with a very Irish theme. I really liked the characters, I thought they were drawn very well with interesting backstories and details to make them all memorable. The story is good and I look forward to the next one in the series. I would have liked to see a few more details come out about Saoirse after her revelation, linking back to previous events (no spoiler). The pace seemed a bit tilted to me, heavy on the before and not as much detail on the after. Even more reason to read In Search of the Hero God, hopefully coming out this year. Definitely recommend, I enjoyed it.
Reviewed by @ericalorraine
View all my reviews
Sign Steal Deliver by Carrie Pulkinen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I give Sign Steal Deliver: A Paranormal Chick Lit Novel (Gods of Thunder MC) by Carrie Pulkinen, 5 stars.
The fact that Kat is a calico cat shifter would have sold this book for me, even if I didn’t already enjoy this author. In fact, my 18 year old calico heartily approves of this book too. But I digress. This author is known for her quirky, fun romances that also provide some suspense. She does that yet again, but offering us something refreshingly new instead of recycling things we have seen before. Both Kat and Hermes are so original– I can’t say I have seen a calico shifter main character before. But it’s not just the uniqueness. They are great characters, flawed but with good hearts, and snarky to boot. They are what really makes this book. But the secondary characters are also great, making me want to see more of them. Then there is the story itself. So different but interesting. The detail puts us right there in this world and the suspense makes me wonder what will happen next. Of course, there is also the attraction between Kat and Hermes to make it even better.
If you are a fan of quirky, fun paranormal romance, I highly recommend this book.
Boy Released by J.D. Spero
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Boy Released by J.D. Spero
4-stars
Boy Released was a phenomenal story! Given that this follows the previous book closely I would highly recommend reading Boy On Hold first in order to get the full backstory.
I loved being able to continue reading about the original characters and following along with their journeys. It was a pleasure getting to know Hen on a deeper level, he was a character that I was easily able to connect with.
The author writes with just the right amount of detail to leave you guessing but also filling in the much-needed blanks. I found the author did a great job portraying mental illness in a real and honest way and I enjoyed that.
I look forward to reading more from this author in the future and would recommend these books to others.
Azrael by Matthew Huntley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Levi is a washed-out cop, broken by his experiences with an old serial killer, and with a few secrets he’d like left in the dark. Allowing new cop Parker to drag him back to town to consult on a potential copycat killer brings up a lot of dark memories. Being immersed in the world of the killer again makes him increasingly distrustful of everyone around him, and increasingly paranoid. As a reader, it makes it even more confusing to figure out the mysteries. Can we trust Levi’s opinions, or is he unnecessarily paranoid?
This is a well-structured book, with a detailed plot, and the mistrustful detective adds to the layers of mystery. I felt myself going in circles trying to figure it out. This is a lot psychologically darker than the books I usually read. I wish the characters had been more compelling, sometimes they fell a bit flat for me. Lots of twists and turns though, plenty of time to send you crazy guessing what’s to come.
Read by @ericalorraine
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Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This novel is going to be hard to review w/o spoilers, b/c a major plot twist happens very early in the story…
Saoirse has a university degree, but has been fired from her job as a barista. The only thing that truly makes her happy is playing her flute in musical sessions at a local pub. She has no family to turn to for help w/ rent or a new job, as she has no relationship w/ her father; he only paid for her succession of boarding schools.
Then a few things happen for Saoirse: she flirts w/ Luke, one of the musicians at the sessions, for the first time; she meets Smithy, a fiddler, at this same session, and their music weaves together, lifting them both up. Saoirse’s father also dies unexpectedly — and she finds out she has a grandmother! Her grandmother invites her to visit, and since Saoirse is jobless and soon to be homeless, she takes the woman, Anna, up on her offer.
Saoirse moves in w/ Anna, who lives on a tidy farm in a village filled w/ quirky characters. And – lo and behold! – Smithy lives in the same village! As his name suggests, he is a blacksmith, making blades of nearly magical capability. Or… are they actually magical? What’s up w/ Maura the neighbor? And what does Anna know about Saoirse’s past and her real parents? It seems that Maura and Anna have been around forever… have they? There are a number of plot-twist revelations, and Saoirse has to accept who she really is, and that she might be Smithy’s only hope. Then the ending sets us up for Book #2 in the series, which I will have to read when it comes out!
This book came along at a propitious time, as much of my non-fiction reading of late has been the stories about ancient Irish deities. I would suggest that one read the pronunciation guide for the Irish language and author’s notes BEFORE reading the novel; they are at the end of the novel, at least in the Kindle edition, so look for those first. I might even suggesting looking up some of the deity stories on-line before reading the novel, so that one can really appreciate what Saoirse is up against. 4 stars.
Boy on Hold by J.D. Spero
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Boy on Hold by JD Spero is the first installment in a psychological thriller series surrounding a young boy who sees something he was never supposed to see. Because he was a witness, is the only one to know the truth about this traumatic event. Now, his brother Tyler’s livelihood relies on him to speak out. This story will capture your attention and pull at your heartstrings; it is full of universal familial struggles, victories, and relatable, endearing characters. The story shifts through various time and perspectives but is easy to follow. If you are a fan of suspense and stories that drag you (willingly) on a rollercoaster of emotions, definitely pick this one up. Can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel!
Boy on Hold by J.D. Spero
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Boy On Hold- J.D. Spero
4-stars
Boy on Hold is the first book I’ve read by this author but it won’t be my last! I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. This author had me captivated right from the start, with the multi person POV, dynamic characters, family trauma and mental illness I was fully intrigued the whole way through.
I love how this author created characters that were so easy to connect with and I loved the way everything was beautifully detailed while also providing some mystery. I enjoyed following these characters and trying to piece everything together. It made for a truly entertaining read!
I can’t wait to read more from this author asap!
Boy on Hold by J.D. Spero
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Hen is a seven year old boy who loves hedgehogs and lives with his mother and his older brother Tyler who he looks up to and loves with all his heart, but he knows that there is something going on with Tyler when he starts to withdraw into himself. One night in October, Hen sneaks out of the house to find a hedgehog so that he can call it Louis and keep it as a pet, he is cold, but he is determined to sit in his tent and wait for his new friend to turn up, however, despite his best efforts not to, he falls asleep and is woken up by a terrible screeching sound. As he tries to work out where it came from, he looks to his neighbours house and sees shadows moving in the windows in front of the light from the television set, he continues to hear shouting and then sees one of the shadows attack the other and the sounds stop. Hen has no idea what he just witnessed but he is terrified and goes and curls back up in his tent until the next morning when his mother comes running out thinking he is missing, but he finds it really hard to find the words to tell her and in the end decides not to, it is only when the next door neighbours son calls and tells the family that his mother can’t look after Hen after school like she normally would, so Tyler is asked to step in, he agrees to, albeit grudgingly as he leaves the house t o go to school with his best friend.
As Tyler is heading to school, he is trying to make sense of what is going on in his head, he feels worse than normal, but can’t remember why, it worries him a little, however, not as much as it should, so he tries his best to ignore it and get on with his day and as usual it is music and cigarettes which are helping him to do this, at least until he heads home from school where he decides to spend some quality time with his brother, but this doesn’t go to plan either when he thinks he hears something and it sets off his other issues. Hen has an idea of what is happening, so he just leaves his big brother to himself until his best friend arrives, Hen doesn’t like him, but he doesn’t know how he can avoid him, until his neighbours son comes round to fix their window, he also tells them that their neighbour is in hospital after being attacked, this is when Hen realises what he has seen was real after all.
It is while they are fixing the window that a police officer knocks on the door and takes Tyler and his best friend in for questioning, this isn’t something anyone expected to happen, least of all Hen, but the longer that they stay at the station, the more worried Tyler’s family becomes and none of them want to believe that he is involved, especially Hen and his mother, but as the case progresses, Hen is determined to tell someone what he saw and to convince them that Tyler is innocent, but as Tyler’s mental issues manifest in more serious ways, will they be able to work out who was the culprit and who is innocent in this tragedy? This is murder mystery which deals with mental health and its effects on people in a thrilling murder mystery you will not want to put down.
Reviewed by @roxsannel
Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Awakening the Gods: A Celtic Urban Fantasy by Kristen Gleeson is the first book in the Rise of the Celtic Gods series. This is a well written and detailed story that ties together so many different elements. This is a new author to me and I enjoyed the way she mixed romance and fantasy with a focus on music. I had never quite seen it done this way before and I found it refreshing to read. The story itself is fast paced and I soon found myself flying through the pages. I wanted to read more to get deeper into the story.
I thought the characters had a great connection. It was and believable right from the word go. This is a great book and I am looking forward to book two.
Boy Released by J.D. Spero
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Boy Released by J.D. Spero is the fantastic follow up to the first book Boy On Hold. Set 10 years after book one we are taken back into the lives of these complex and real characters. I really enjoyed the first book but I think this one is so much better. The whole book just had a raw vulnerability about it that really made me connect to what the author was trying to do. I think the author did an amazing job of portraying mental illness in all is forms. The different perspectives we got to see this story through added an even deeper layer to an already detailed book. This book is a brilliant and an absolute must read for everyone.
Hold Me Forever by Lea Nolan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the third book in this series which I enjoyed from beginning to end. This is a newer author for me, I look forward to going back to read the previous books in this series. This is a well written romance story that will show you what happens when you have a past that has caused you to shield your heart from hurt. The characters are relatable and I really enjoyed them. They brought the story to life and are written with a lot of heart. I enjoyed being pulled into the story by them from the first word. Lark is determined to protect her heart from getting hurt so she doesn’t need anything but her art. Hunter is the chief of police but is missing something in his life, someone to love. These two meet at a wedding they are both in but something sparks with them. Will Hunter be able to convince Lark to give him a chance? I enjoyed their growth throughout the story and their chemistry is great. They made the story for me and I highly recommend this book.
Review by @bjwagner
Boy Released by J.D. Spero
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the second book that I have read by this author which I enjoyed just as much as the first one. If you haven’t read the first book, I highly suggest doing so. It will help enhance your enjoyment of this story. This is a great story about Tyler and what happens after he is released from rehab. This author’s use of details gave the story a realistic feel as well as kept it engaging. Tyler is a great character even though he is a troubled soul. What will happen when tragedy comes calling again? What will fate have in store for Tyler? This is a fast paced story where the characters give the story life. They had me wanting to know what would happen next which made it hard to put down. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend this book as well as this author.
Review by @bjwagner
Lyon Tamer by Jen Luerssen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this story. It was a light hearted read. It had parts which make you laugh so loud. The characters are well written. Sheldon is a player who knows what he’s good at( between the sheets) and what he’s not( sustaining a relationship). Simone is a very driven and focused woman. Her passion and energy goes onto her rescue of the big cats. She doesn’t have time for relationships or distractions.
So just imagine the fun and the twists when the Player vet (Sheldon) gets sent to help the highly driven Simone.
Will the Player finally find a relationship worth fighting for? Will Sheldon be able to turn Simone’s focus onto something other than fundraising? Will this chance encounter between them become something special or a disaster waiting to happen.
Check Out by Debra Parmley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Short, sweet, and to the point! It was such a lovely tale! It’s a wonderfully fast and easy read. I can’t wait to reread it! I would definitely recommend this for a nice quick read!
Boy on Hold by J.D. Spero
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I absolutely adored this novel. The author did an amazing job of keeping the reader on the edge of their seat! It kept me thoroughly enthralled throughout. It was just the thing to get me out of my reader’s stump. I would definitely recommend reading this!
The God: A Greek Myth Fantasy Romance by Hazel Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
For me, it was nearly impossible not to fall in love with the book as well as the plot and the character it contained! Also the characters all bought a certain appeal, be it wit or sex appeal or basically a sense of humor I was truly hooked! I found this book easy to get into and go right along with the plot. It gave me points to main concepts to the first novel and it made it very easy to follow and comprehend what happened previously to where we are now and what is and was to develop.
The main two characters, Vanessa and Grey, seriously were the perfect combination of everything you would want! as if having a nice cold drink on a weekend day siting on a beach. You could take a sip, but be so intrigued you keep going back. I loved their personalities of both these characters. They both made the book so worth wile. Though, I will say the novel itself and things that happened around these characters and the others made me want to keep on reading seriously.
Vanessa, let me say in small words she was the most freaking fantastic character ever. I was filled on her previous back story, and she truly had a heart worth saving. Literally. She loved deeply, but yet she was and is not someone you want to get on the bad side of! Grey had been learning this the hard way again and again through their time together, but perhaps a man of darkness and who truly believed nothing could ever touch him…was actually doing that in the most least unexpected way?
Grey, he is in charge of the underworld. He had his wit as well we Vanessa but he was the whole attitude of this is my place, you don’t belong, I don’t need you here. Perhaps, though, things happen for a reason and there was more to the destiny for Vanessa and Grey than they both realized.. Besides they strongly disliked each other more than words could describe between the two of them.
Besides the characters and their steamy, well built, leaving you wanting more moments, I loved how the author described the details of the settings so freaking good. For example, The Underworld, the way she described it felt I was right there in the Underworld. With its pain and along and its darkness and corruption of a humans soul. It felt so real. I literally had to pick myself from reading at random times just to be clear I was just super involved in my reading.
What really fascinated me the most truly was the fact that Vanessa met so many shapes and forms of people and they truly were all different. And the relationships that grow between them all. It really was a book worth while to invest in. I was into this book I kept reading and was lost into it. When I reached the ending, I could not believe how good it was getting…let me say that cliff hanger left me hanging and wanting so much more. I truly need to know what will happen to my beloved characters that I truly have bonded with! I with strong anticipation am waiting for the next book to come released!
Again I loved this book with a fiery passion. The author truly has a great talent on how to entrain her readers and keep them wanting more. Even when us as the readers are given a lot, we keep wanting more and will not rest till we do. She wrote a wonderful series and I know she will continue to do so with an amazing plot and characters. She truly knows how to write! I am beyond words with this book. I truly loved it is an understatement. I look forward to the next in the series!
