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Fallen Soul (War of Destiny Book 4) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Fallen Soul (War of Destiny #4)Fallen Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book four of the War of Destiny series is a bit different than the previous three. This time, we are seeing things from the POV of Lane and Fallen Soul is a re-do of book three from his perspective. I actually enjoyed this, as it shed some light on his past and showed us why he is the feared loner. Lane has been wanted for a very long time. When Julia approaches him in a friendly and respectful manner, and not in fear or hatred, he is intrigued and amused. As he becomes closer to her and her group, he struggles with upcoming decisions. Should he stay the solo vampire he has been for so long? Or should he join the group that is willing to accepting him as one of their own, and the power struggle with Valentino that comes with it? Can he ever be truly trusted and accepted, or is he better off alone? This installment really put things into a different perspective and helped us understand just who Lane is, and why he is the way he is. If you are into vampire stories, this is surely a series you will enjoy.
Reviewed by @zoltrixes

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Between Darkness & Light (War of Destiny Book 3) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Between Darkness & Light (War of Destiny #3)Between Darkness & Light by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Between Darkness and Light is the third book in the War of Destiny series. Some old and new faces merge five years after Julia’s betrayal to Ka-tet as she tries to regain trust and repair old friendships. In desperation, Julia left Ka-tet and everyone she loved and trusted, to join Valentino, the Vampire King. Everything is in disarray and tensions are high with everyone believing Julia has lost her mind. Julia is also worried and stressed, not only about the failing friendships, but also fearful that the visions and whisperings will once again return. Maybe she IS losing her mind, after all of the traumas and experiences she has endured… Everyone is on edge, and Julia once again tries to approach their leader, finding that he has left. As an only resort, she seeks out Matthew, who is less than thrilled that she has come knocking. The pair soon realize that the leader is not where he normally would be and become concerned. It doesn’t take long to figure out Julia can track him down and Matthew hesitantly agrees to help. Before long, the visions return and Matthew is skeptical. Eventually they realize this is more than they anticipated, something dark is at play, and the course of destiny may very well be changing. Being forced to work together with the person he now despises the most, will Matthew come around? Will he let Julia explain her reasons, and will Julia make it to Samuel in time? I definitely recommend this series, it continues to grow and get more intense as time progresses! I rated the previous two books 4/5 but will give this a 5/5 since the characters continue to develop and the story grows on you. Definitely not sorry that I picked this series up!
Reviewed by @zoltrixes

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Pursuit into Darkness (War of Destiny Book 2) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Pursuit into Darkness (War of Destiny #2)Pursuit into Darkness by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pursuit into Darkness is book two in the War of Destiny series. Set 70 years after Lost Soul, Julia has joined the vampires and the resistance is still ongoing. It’s hard to believe that much time has passed, and things feel like they pick up right where book one left off. Poor Julia has been SO long without her little daughter, and this round of the war brings many more losses and trials. As Valentino gets closer to the group, Julia starts making some very questionable decisions. Will she end up joining Valentino, or continue fighting alongside Samuel and Ka-Tet? I enjoyed the continuation from book one, with some familiar names and personalities. I will be glad to dive into book 3!

Reviewed by @zoltrixes
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Lost Soul (War of Destiny Book 1) by Theresa Van Spankeren – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Lost Soul (War of Destiny # 1)Lost Soul by Theresa Van Spankeren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lost Soul is the first book in the War of Destiny series and should come with some trigger warnings. The book is fast paced and the triggers start early. **Spoiler/Trigger warnings would include domestic abuse, violence, and death of a child** Julia is a wealthy girl in 16th century London and has grown up with a very privileged life. When she falls in love with her childhood friend, Adam (who happens to be a servant’s son) her father and brother shatter her dreams and force her into an arranged marriage. Her chosen husband, Greg, is an absolute monster without any form of sympathy or compassion and treats Julia very cruelly. Cruel is actually an understatement as he is emotionally and physically VERY abusive. After three long years of trying to keep peace and subdue the wrath of her husband, she is unable to produce a male heir. Then one night in one of his rages, the ultimate tragedy strikes and Julia needs out NOW. With no way out and options limited, Julia takes the offer of a stranger. With the promise of freedom, she has a price to pay. The cost? The stranger (Samuel) is a vampire. While he offers her safety, power, and freedom, she soon finds out it is not an “easy way out”. Julia has escaped the worst marriage and been thrown into a vampire resistance against Valentino, who will do absolutely everything to end Samuel and his group. Will Julia find herself in this new group? Will she learn to love again and come to terms with her past? Will they overcome Valentino? Give this one a chance! There was ALOT going on with this book, and it happened quickly. I enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would, and looking forward to book 2 (Pursuit into Darkness).
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Healing Kiss by Amanda Uhl – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Healing KissHealing Kiss by Amanda Uhl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Healing Kiss is a paranormal romance and not my normal genre of choice. That being said, I actually enjoyed this book more than I thought that I would. Lillian Milano has a special gift; she can heal the sick by drawing energy from the healthy. When authorities in an organization called Kinetica catch wind of her paranormal gift, she goes into hiding with the alias “Zoey Mills”. Kinetica wants to do research in order to use Lillian’s power for awful reasons. Unfortunately Hannah, her sister, has become gravely ill and is in desperate need of a miracle. Even Lillian’s power can not help her sister, and while in the hospital, she meets Tristan King. Tristan is in need of help himself, and they strike a deal. As time goes on, they become closer. This book is filled with drama, trust and distrust, suspense and action with sides of psychic ability and elements of loss and fear. I gave a 4 star only because of how predictable I found this to be, and the cliche of “girl in distress wins over the handsome billionaire”, but overall still a good read.

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Small Fry by Stephenie Wilson Peterson – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Small FrySmall Fry by Stephenie Wilson Peterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Silas is the new kid at school, and if that isnt terrifying enough, he is much smaller than the other kids in his grade. Even after all the horror stories about 6th grade that his grandfather has told him, Silas is still pretty open minded about it all. Even Silas’ teachers do not believe he is 11 years old, and he is removed from his English class on the first day! Not long after starting school, Silas becomes the target of the class bully…but he also starts making friends. When Chad (the bully) runs for class president, Silas knows he can not let him win. This gave me very David and Goliath vibes, in a way. The characters in this book are full of behaviors and attitudes that are realistic. As a mother of a sixth grader, I enjoyed this story as it gave me some insight into the real life struggles of acceptance that we seen in our real lives this year. This story about acceptance and middle school behaviors hit home, and I will have my son read it as he prepares for 7th grade!
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Cabin Eight (The Millersville Series Book 3) by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Cabin Eight (The Millersville series)Cabin Eight by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cabin Eight is the third and final book in the Millersville Series but also a stand alone. Like the two books that came before this one, Cabin Eight has plenty of questions, twists, and page turning suspense. While writing and burning notes, Miranda Diggs accidentally sets fire to a motel and things spiral (further) out of her control. To help Miranda get herself back where she wants to be (and avoid the media), her mother sends her to a resort. As you have probably guessed, the resort is not your typical run of the mill, sipping margeritas at the spa, type seclusion. The resort is actually testing Miranda’s fears and limits, as an experiment. This book really challenges the reader to look into their own life, and the choices we make daily, especially when it comes to social media. Of the three books in the series, this was my least favorite, as it felt very bizaar to me at times, but it is still a very good book on it’s own accord and highly recommended.
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Insomnia: (A Short Stories Collection) by Kelly Covic – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Insomnia (A Short Stories Collection)Insomnia by Kelly Covic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As the title implies, Insomnia is a collection of creepy campfire type stories to keep you wondering what lies just beyond the light.
The stories included are:
–Silent Sighs
–The Attic
–The Park Bench
–The Music Box
–A Closed Door
–A Message
–Thank You for Coming
–Letter to Grandma
–Idle Thursday
For a short stories sequence, I really enjoyed this one. The stories are well written and each is very different from the last, no repeat scares here! With 9 unnerving tales, there is a level of scare for everyone. I think this would be a great starter book for anyone delving into the horror genre, but also quite a treat for those of us that read it as a preference! Insomnia, the perfect title for a book that will keep you up (either reading through the night, or unable to sleep as the stories creep into your dreams)!

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Streets of Shadow by Rebecca Bischoff – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Streets of ShadowStreets of Shadow by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is year 1665,in Scotland, and fifteen year old Kenna is struggling with her sister’s death. More than that, she discovers her sister did not die accidentally. Kenna suspects the culprit and murderer is none other than her sister’s husband, and she is now in danger herself. While on the run, a guard captures her in the poorest section of the city, Stewart’s Close. Accused of running from a home struck by plague, Kenna is locked inside the gates, where no one is allowed in or out. As word spreads that the young girl came from a home stricken with the plague, she is further isolated and shunned. Kenna has no food, money, or friends within these walls, and all she wants is to survive and avenge her sister. I am not accustomed to reading books set in this time period, but I love a good murder mystery. The author is new to me but I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure this story took me on. The plot was well written and easy to follow, and the character development was believable. I enjoyed that Kenna started out naive and scared but as the story matures, so does she. I really enjoyed learning that this book was also based on a real place and the amount of research done for the book is noticed in the subtle details. I definitely recommend this book and author.

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The Thieves (The Millersville series) by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Amanda Swindle

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The ThievesThe Thieves by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Thieves is book two in the Millersville series and while I enjoyed the book, I did not like it as much as Shore Lodge. The premise of the story focuses on Jasmine, who needs quite a large sum of money for her father’s failing health. With limited options, she turns to questionable (and criminal) methods. Along the way, other criminals get involved as well. When Jas and Paul pull off the perfect heist, they think everything is in the clear…until another pair of criminals robs them and leaves them with nothing. Bets and Zerk are wanting to retire from their life of crime, and underestimate the determination of Jas to save her father….The book is written from the two POVs of Jas and Bets, so the chapters will rotate between the two. I liked that the characters were both liked and disliked, and that made them feel a bit more realistic to read. I feel like this book ended too soon, and that may be part of my four star rating, but again, it was not a bad read and I enjoyed the unique story.

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A Stranger in Disguise (A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome) by P.J. Mann – Review by Amanda Swindle

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A Stranger in Disguise: An Italian Murder Mystery (A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome)A Stranger in Disguise: An Italian Murder Mystery by P. J. Mann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Stranger in Disguise is book #4 in this series, but I was easily able to read it as a stand-alone. A brilliantly written murder mystery, set in Rome, Italy, and centered around an acting group and the cursed performance of Macbeth….this caught my attention straight away! An actor from a foreign acting performance winds up dead, and Detective Maurizio Scala is given the case. The case, at first, seems very open and closed. The initial suspect, who was last seen on surveillance with the deceased actor, seems the obvious candidate. That is, until they also turn up dead. What started as a simple case turns into a very complex and different case entirely. Now the well versed detective must step into one of his least favorite places…the theatre…and get the answers before more bodies turn up. This murder mystery is full of plot twists and turns, realistic banter between the detective team, and a lead character that simply does not give up.

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Deadly Intentions by Anise Storm – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Deadly IntentionsDeadly Intentions by Anise Storm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS** This is my first time reading this author, and I will surely be looking into some of her other works as well. I am not usually drawn to mafia romance, but the trigger warnings made me curious. (And if you DO have triggers, definitely don’t skip past the warnings on this one) Vivianne’s life changes when her best friend is murdered on a trip to New York. Seeking revenge, she infiltrates the mafia scene to seduce (and get close to) the head of the infamous Vaccaro family. Her plans to get close to her enemy seems to be going well….until she meets Nazario, the son of the killer (Stefano). Lucky for her, Nazario knows exactly what type of man Stefano is, and also wants his father dethroned. The two fight their passion for each other, but inevitably things get rather complicated as they give in to their love. I loved the characters and the plot, and how quickly this book was able to draw me in. Deadly Intentions is very dark and has plenty of twisted pages to keep you on edge, and if you can get past the hard parts, is definitely recommended.

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Shore Lodge by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller (The Millersville series)Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jacklyn Stone lost her husband eight months ago and she is having a hard time getting back to a normal life. Added to that, anything that can go wrong, does. With all that has happened, Jacklyn depends heavily on her two adult children (Dusty and Rose) to help her get back on track and past everything. No red flags were raised when Dusty asks to take over her power of attorney over her finances and health, nor when both of her children talks her into signing into Shore Lodge in order to rest and grieve. Seems innocent enough, right? Not so much, it soon comes to light that her children have alterior motives. Greed and money come into play, and Jacklyn finds out that Shore Lodge is not a retreat to cope and heal, but a psychiatric facility. What starts out as seemingly caring and innocent, turns out to be betrayal and deceit….from her own children. This is a very dark and twisted psychological thriller, and absolutely had me wanting to shake some sense into her children, and give her a much needed hug. 5 out of 5 stars, and highly recommended.

Reviewed By @zoltrixes

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Straight for the Kill (Benoit and Dayne Mystery Book 3) by Winter Austin – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Straight for the Kill (Benoit and Dayne Mystery, #3)Straight for the Kill by Winter Austin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is book 3 in the Benoit and Dayne Mystery series. Lila Dayne must, once again, face her past demons and nightmares, as more bodies are showing up. This time things are a little different, with Elizabeth Benoit incapacitated from a recent surgery. Now the two women have to race time to figure out who is behind the murders and finally solve the case. As they get closer to the answer, they start to realize the murderer may be closer than they think. This is a fast paced, edge of your seat read and I flew through the pages easily. There are so many twists and turns and I can not imagine this being the end to Benoit and Dayne, so I look forward to the next one!
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Hush, My Darling (Benoit and Dayne Mystery Book 2) by Winter Austin – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Hush, My Darling (Benoit and Dayne Mystery, #2)Hush, My Darling by Winter Austin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is book 2 in the Benoit and Dayne Mystery series. Hush My Darling is easily read as a stand-alone and you do not need to read book 1 to follow the story. Since I have not read book 1, I can not say if it directly follows the last book, but in this one, Lila Dayne comes face to face with her nightmare. She is in a new town and starting over from her past, where a serial killer was after her. With a new body now on her hands, she believes her past has come back to haunt her. The story, and especially the characters, was engaging and likeable. The author makes setting up the scenes seem so easy, and you can picture yourself in the story. I will definitely be picking up the 3rd book in the set (and going back to read the 1st one as well!)

reviewed by @zoltrixes

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The Exchange by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Amanda Swindle

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The Exchange: A NovelThe Exchange: A Novel by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Exchange is definitely what the title states: A Gripping Psychological Thriller and an Incredible Twist. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I was very wrong. Same moved to LA to become an actress, like many before her. Once she got there, she finds out that the actress life is much harder than it seems and finds it impossible to even get an audition in the big city. I did find the main character, Sam, to be very naïve and seems to constantly put herself into questionable situations. Insert Corey, a charming man who quickly wins Sam over, and then abandons her completely. There are so many questions asked throughout this book, but they do get answered. This was my first read from this author and while I did find a couple spots to be predictable, it was an easy and twisting read that I enjoyed.

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Ghost Talker (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Book 1) by Byrd Nash – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Delicious Death (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #2)Delicious Death by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The second book in the Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries set, fully composed of six books. Elinor Chalamet, crime fighting medium, returns for another round of ghost banter and mischief. I would recommend reading book 1 (Ghost Talker) before this one, as it builds on previous character development and helps to establish the momentum into Delicious Death. I really enjoyed that the story continues, but is not dragged out extensively. We find ourselves in a new location with a whole different array of ghosts and characters, and of course dilemmas to deal with! I did find this book to be a change of pace from book one, and a LITTLE slower, but still a fast and easy read that I highly enjoyed. Byrd Nash knows how to engage the reader and keep the pages turning, and I am looking forward to the next one.

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Delicious Death (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Book 2) by Byrd Nash – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Delicious Death (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #2)Delicious Death by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The second book in the Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries set, fully composed of six books. Elinor Chalamet, crime fighting medium, returns for another round of ghost banter and mischief. I would recommend reading book 1 (Ghost Talker) before this one, as it builds on previous character development and helps to establish the momentum into Delicious Death. I really enjoyed that the story continues, but is not dragged out extensively. We find ourselves in a new location with a whole different array of ghosts and characters, and of course dilemmas to deal with! I did find this book to be a change of pace from book one, and a LITTLE slower, but still a fast and easy read that I highly enjoyed. Byrd Nash knows how to engage the reader and keep the pages turning, and I am looking forward to the next one.

Reviewed by @zoltrixes

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Hanging Softly in the Night: A Detective Nick Larson Novel by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Hanging Softly in the Night (Detective Nick Larson #1)Hanging Softly in the Night by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A multi-layer detective story with several side-plots and twists. Detective Nick Larson teams up with his partner, Detective Victor Sacco to help solve a string of “suicides” that are popping up around them. It starts out with the first victim was found hanging, with no signs of violence, but not suspected to be a suicide. After other similar “suicides” pop up, the duo thinks they are dealing with a serial killer. While this is all happening, Nick is still coping with the suicide of his ex-wife and his newly budding romance towards Laura. Laura is also coping with from losing her own husband, at the hands of her own twin sister that she never realized she had…There is so much going on with this story that it is always interesting and intriguing, but at times overwhelming. With a perfect balance of suspense and romance, I couldn’t put this book down, and really enjoyed the unique storyline with familiar whodunit vibes.

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Murder on Oak Street ( A South Shore Mystery Book 1) by I.M. Foster – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Murder on oak streetMurder on oak street by I. M. Foster
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A little slow to start, but once you get into the meat and potatoes of this classic “whodunit” you will find out nothing has an obvious answer at first. The historical setting may be what slowed me down, as I am not a huge fan of older style writings but I was able to stay interested, throughout. I liked the believable characters and although I am unsure of the historical accuracy, it was easy to follow. The story follows Daniel O’Halleran, a coroner in 1904 New York. Daniel is struggling in both career and the romance department, and decides he needs a change. Taking on a new position in Long Island, he is happy with the change of pace and slower lifestyle it brings. That is, until he is provided an old case to review. The dialogue and plot flows smoothly, if you are into historical fiction, and it was a nice change of pace from what I usually read. I will check out other books by this author, and would recommend it to others.

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And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins – Review by Amanda Swindle

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And Then She FellAnd Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

And Then She Fell is such a roller coaster of emotions and stories. This book had me captured from the very beginning, and I almost read it in one sitting. Catherine lost her daughter, Susie, to a falling accident in Crete. Something didn’t feel right about this “accident” so Catherine begins investigating, eventually questioning her daughter’s friends and boyfriend. As she begins to piece together all of the information, she slowly realizes she did not know her daughter at all. Was she living a secret life? Was she blinded by “motherly love” or lack of attention? It is an emotional and winding path, as she searches for the answers to the loss of her daughter. I have never read anything like this, and I hope I can find others that make me really think like this one did. It brought up a sort of “13 Reasons Why” feel, at times, with all of the stories that change and make you change your idea of “whodunit”. I categorize And Then She Fell as an intense and immersive psychological thriller that you will not want to put down.

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Dream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Dream-ShifterDream-Shifter by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I do not read many books aimed at teens, but this was such a fun book to read and easy to get into. Gwendolyn is a dream-shifter that changes into the form she is dreaming about, and comes out as an elk, right at elk hunting season. Now she has to learn what it means to be an elk, and try to return to herself, without being hunted. That aside, she is also challenged by time. If she doesn’t find a way to revert to her human form within 3 months, she will remain an elk forever. This is definitely geared towards the middle school chapter book genre, and my kids would easily love this one, but even as an adult it made me smile and appreciate it. I would recommend it to anyone that wants something a little unique.

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The Second View (The View from Here Trilogy Book 2) by Leon Stevens – Review by Amanda Swindle

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The Second View (Book 2 of The View trilogy)The Second View by Leon Stevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

April and Thomas continue in this second book in The View trilogy, and pick up right where book 1 left off. As with many sci-fi stories, not everything tends to go as planned, as they continue to explore the world they have discovered. Exploring this desolate world brings to question many things. Where is everyone…what happened here…where are they…or when? I especially am drawn to the way the author builds his worlds, so vivid and full of explanation and detail. Between the mysteries left to be solved, and the humor mixed within, this book did not disappoint at all, and leaves plenty of room to expand into the next installment. Definitely grab book 1 before delving into this one, you will not be disappointed. Well done and well written!

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Necrosis by C.L. Schneider – Review by Amanda Swindle

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NecrosisNecrosis by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Necrosis is a fast read that starts interesting and never slacks off. Amy, the main character, is easy to identify with and relate to. Going through a zombie apocalypse with her 9 year old daughter, Lila, brings out several life changing decisions. Sometimes she has to make choices that may cost her direly, or hurt someone else to save themselves. This seemed like a very realistic (given the circumstances) approach, and the choices were always real-life like scenarios. Friendships and her old life falls away, and basic survival instincts kick in. This is the 1st book I have read from this author, and I loved the writing style, world building, and character arcs. I absolutely recommend this to everyone, it was not too much horror or gore, and was very easy to follow!

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The Girl Who Escaped by Mark Nolan – Review by Amanda Swindle

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The Girl Who EscapedThe Girl Who Escaped by Mark Nolan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Girl Who Escaped was a fast and easy read for me. The story captured me from the very start, and kept me engaged throughout the entirety of the book. I did find some parts to be unbelievable or awkwardly written, but overall, it was very easy to overlook that. The plot itself centers around women being kidnapped and then sold, so there are potentials for triggers. Brenda, an FBI agent, specializes in sole survivors of crimes and working to help solve the case. Angie, the sole survivor of an event that left her three friends dead, is the focus of the story. Jake is a former marine and is accompanied with his support canine, Cody (who is so smart and charming). Everyone works together to try to help Angie regain her voice and point out the killer, or determine if Angie is not just a victim and a witness…. The story takes on many angles and twists that keeps you entertained. Jake and Cody were probably my favorite characters in the entire story. I also just found out that these characters are actually part of other stories as well, so I will definitely be reading more into this author!

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Ritual Obsession (Blood Obsession Book 1) by R.L. Dunn – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Ritual Obsession (Blood Obsession Book 1)Ritual Obsession by R.L. Dunn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**This book comes with a trigger warning for violence against women, sexual encounters, and murder** Ritual Obsession is the first book in the Obsession series and centers around a rookie detective (Roberta, or Bobbi) who is placed into a prominent case. There is a serial killer on the loose, targeting beautiful hazel eyed, brunette women. He is leaving behind no clues at all, and is stumping the detectives at every turn of the coin. Bobbi, who looks exactly like his targets, decides to go undercover to try to lure out the killer, against others’ advice. I really liked that this book has a female detective as the main character, as opposed to the broody males in most other books. Romance thrillers are not typically what I pick up but this one seems very well balanced and not TOO much smut, or focusing only on that. There was also quite a bit of “filler” material, I think, or things that felt like it wasn’t necessary and just kind of rattled on. This wasn’t frequent enough to have me give up on it, and I am glad I pushed through. I also love stories that have multiple POV so you can get the “whole story” and not one character’s take on a situation. I wasn’t thrilled that the book ends on a cliffhanger (no spoilers!) but it has enticed me enough that I will be picking up the second book to get the rest of the answers!

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Enemies of Doves by Shanessa Gluhm – Review by Amanda Swindle

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Enemies of DovesEnemies of Doves by Shanessa Gluhm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Enemies of Doves is set in changing timelines between WWII and 1992 and includes some very heavy topics and trigger warnings for PTSD, child abuse, and addiction. The story follows a few different people. Tom Fitchett is a dentist in a small town in 1941 with two sons. He is also an awful father, and expects perfection from them. He is often verbally and physically abusive, and this leaves for a tough life for the boys. His sons, Joel and Clancy, only two years apart, learn to look out for each other, while both try to figure out their paths. Garrison stark, in 1991, loses his parents and goes his own journey for answers, with the help of his grandmother and her dementia. Then you have Lorraine, who both of the aforementioned brothers, are in love with. She also loves both of them. How or where will the love triangle go? Will Garrison get his answers? How are the two timelines relevant to each other? All of this and so much more is answered. The ending was both unexpected and heartbreaking, and worth every minute it took to get there. Definitely deserving of 5 stars.

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The Lie That Binds by Amy Argent – Review by Amanda Swindle

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The Lie That BindsThe Lie That Binds by Amy Argent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Lie That Binds is a YA romance with a twist of lies and secrets. Holly just moved to a new town and wants to fit in, just like any other schoolgirl. She soon finds out the “popular” girls are not her crowd, and the hunky Nathan isn’t all that she thought he would be…but she is still drawn to him. Nathan is equally drawn to Holly….and then his secret comes out. The same secrets that draw them close together soon has Holly wondering if his feelings are real, or just a means to keep his secrets safe. The Lie That Binds is very much your typical high school drama, and all that comes with it, so I had a difficult time connecting with the moody, ever changing characters. I was often a little frustrated with the characters and wanted to shake sense into them (but again, they are high school kids, so maybe this was intended). I did enjoy the storyline and where it ended up going, so I will give this one 4 stars, and I can definitely see the appeal for higher ratings from a younger audience!

Reviewed by @zoltrixes

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The Colors of Friendship (The Colors Trilogy Book 1) by K.R. Raye – Review by Amanda Swindle

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The Colors of Friendship (Colors Trilogy, #1)The Colors of Friendship by K.R. Raye
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Colors of Friendship is a pretty straightforward read, not TOO in depth, and easy to follow. The story is about 3 best friends that love and protect each other. Melody is a childlike romantic, living with her head in the clouds, and wants nothing more than to find her Prince Charming. Instead, she bumps into Kevin (literally) and while he seems to have the ability to always know what to say, he is far from her Prince. Imani is level headed and focused on her studies and career goals. Unlike Melody, she has no interest in finding a love interest. Then, Trevor comes along, great friends that they are…..And then you have Lance, the football star and womanizer. The irony here is that he uses women for his own pleasures (frequently) but is severely protective if HIS girls (Melody and Imani). There are some triggers in here for romantic scenes and abuse, so that should be known as well….Overall, There are plenty of peaks in this book, and the plot and dialogue flows effortlessly, but it just was not my preference in style. I do think others will enjoy this read, however, so I will leave it as a 4 star.
Reviewed By: @zoltrixes

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No Pistol Tastes the Same (PTSD Disaster Book 1) by Jacob Paul Patchen – Review by Amanda Swindle

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No Pistol Tastes the SameNo Pistol Tastes the Same by Jacob Paul Patchen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is heavy, and may have intense trigger warnings for those that suffer from PTSD. That being said, this was a book that I could not put down. No Pistol Tastes the Same is about PTSD, a very real and very intense illness that many of our war vets come home with. The synopsis of the book reads “Sergeant JP Grimm didn’t pull the trigger. Now his Marine brothers are dead…” The intended target of that bullet? A child. A child in a suicide vest that eerily reminds him of his very own son. A moment of hesitation, and the bomb goes off, leaving his entire team deceased around him. After the split second that cost him everything, JP must go home, and pretend war never happened. He tries to bond with his son, who he keeps seeing in that young boy so very far away. JP struggles with his own thoughts, denial, and grief, and you (the reader) will be taken on an emotional rollercoaster.

Reviewed by @zoltrixes

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