Dawnbreaker: The House of Blood and Sun by Hadley Thorne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Good twisting and turning of all factors that include multiple tropes, a soulmate storyline, and a good world building that sets a tone. Living a tale between two worlds that leaves the reader envolver within the world. Overall a good read.
A River of Crows by Shanessa Gluhm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A suspenseful mystery that encompasses so much in the winding twists and turns with every new page. Phenomenal writing and world building, it’s as if you live among the pages yourself. A near hook from the very first page, you’re enthralled as a reader and it was diabolical how fast the pages moved for me. Great book.
Streets of Shadow by Rebecca Bischoff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Dark storylines, romance, murder, and mystery. A good intertwining of multiple genres it gives Scotland from the 1600’s and shows just how dark of a time it was. Good read.
Frozen by Lies by Martha Sweeney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A very different read from anything before that ties in a forbidden romance, a winding mystery as to why, and paranormal to tie it altogether. It does jump around quite a bit to begin but once you realize it, it’s an easy read. Good character development with both main and supporting characters as this book comes alive.
A Stranger in Disguise: An Italian Murder Mystery by P. J. Mann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A winding and twisting murder mystery set in Rome that is refreshing and plenty murderous. This book has plenty of winding paths and a plot that leads the disgruntled detective through a place they’re not a true lover of – the theatre. A play that is already known for a curse is plagued by one more, and Detective Maurizio Scala must learn to play the part to crack this case. Good read.
Grace Under Fire by Jennifer Raines
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A slow start but good read that surrounds two heart warming characters whom being at odds with one another. Being on completely different sides of the narrative while sharing a joint loss brings them together and closer than they thought possible. It deals with grief, love, and drama, and overall a good read. This book focused on development of both characters and story more than excitement and drive, so it was a hard start but good finish.
Shore Lodge: A high-stakes psychological thriller by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Good story with multiple POV and time perspectives that is full of suspense and thrill. It takes a hot second to get adjusted to how this story is delivered, but constitutes swiftly once you get your footing. Shocking secrets and the turns of this story take both the characters and the reader through enough to warrant a much needed breath after. Overall, good read with a fast and sharp read.
My Inner Critic by Christine Bernard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Relatable fictional story that plays off a real pet of the author, and it done very well. Using a story as a guide through this “made-up world” the reader is quick to empathize and relate more than usual. Using such a heavy topic and spinning it to come across as lighthearted while still hitting home is something of wonder. Bernard’s writing was fictional but felt so personal, it was like having a look at her (and sometimes my own) inner monologue. A good read!
Straight for the Kill by Winter Austin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A complex and winding mystery that follows a third person POV. I read this as a stand alone but will be going back to read the first two in the series. It was an enjoyable read as we are taken back by the dead to a murder scene where three girls, each with different fate, had a story to tell.
A quick-witted read with plenty of suspense to keep you on your toes. Overall, a good read.
And Then She Fell by Dreena Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A dark and twisting mystery that truly skyrockets toward as a psychological thriller. One can only imagine what it’s like to be the mother to a child lost, and we give sympathy to those who live that reality. This book keeps you guessing and with so many possibilities that are equally plausible, it allows the reader to assume things themselves while feeling like they’re perfectly in step with Catherine. Overall, a good read.
A Dowry of Snails and Mud by Brittany Tucker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A fun YA romance that braces on the edge of historical fiction and entertainment. The characters are witty and have the quirks that make this an easy read. A tad slow to begin but slowly churns itself into a book worth reading. The character development itself is worth it, but the “opposites- attract” theme ties you in. The sense of duty and longing hit hard in this story, and overall a good read. It’s worth the initial push in the beginning!
Delicious Death by Byrd Nash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Mystery, crime fighting, and a medium with enough spunk to do it all – this book encompasses just about everything. Acting as the second installment, the reader follows along as a satisfying new change of pace and location are reached as well as a slow-embered burn of a romance takes flame.
Ghosts and mourning, grief and acceptance, overall this book was a good pace and a fun read.
Minotaur’s Lair by Luciana Cavallaro
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Greek mythology retelling that leads into epic twists and turns. A good continuation of the first two books and a journey for a third relic to regain the Olympian favor in a twist to rewrite history. Taking place in Ancient Greece, the story leads through familiar characters with a brand new twist designed to captivate at every turn.
Writing as sharp and calculated as steel, Cavallaro wins again with this final installment. A satisfying end with a bittersweet feel hits hard. Very good read.
Curse of the Elf Lord by Heidi Vanlandingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Supernatural dive that has a very concrete story building that lateada the reader into so much more that meets the eye. Curses, lore, and a lost romance drives the main character to conquer amazing feats.
Overall a good read that intertwines so many twisting points and different characters. Very good read
Curse of the Elf Lord by Heidi Vanlandingham
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Supernatural dive that has a very concrete story building that lateada the reader into so much more that meets the eye. Curses, lore, and a lost romance drives the main character to conquer amazing feats.
Overall a good read that intertwines so many twisting points and different characters. Very good read
Knight In The Museum by Alice Bienia
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Slow start to a suspenseful build that is lead into a murder mystery with a thrill and turns so good they’re above so many others. As someone who came into this story mid-series there was no lack with picking this book up and quickly getting lost in the pages. It works as a stand alone but I’m thrilled to read the remainders that accompany this work.
Overall, a good read with a slower start but draws you in with time. This strong female lead with good character development was a nice read.
War Horses Book 1: Chevalier by Scott Warren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book is quite outside of my normal read, but still an experience nevertheless. It takes on a military sci-fi theme that goes deep into the technology and weapon information but stops short of character development and feels shallow in other areas as well.
Quick chapters and variable level of depth led me to struggle with this book. Good concepts stretched thin in some areas and loss of interest in others. Good concepts with shaking delivery.
Kamana Wanalaya for the Holidays by Susan Renee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Comical, fun, and lighthearted read that is lead by a cynical reviewer of love finding herself in a situation she is most critical of.
Quick read with romance and plentiful banter that hints toward being cliche but the plot drives it toward an original for sure. Romance was good.
Overall a good read.
Gunner by T.J. Beach My rating: 4 of 5 stars Reading this as a stand-alone rather than as a part of the series. This book has a very interesting plot line, and it hops for a second and takes a bit to get orientated. Dealing with PTSD, Covid, and overall feelings of grief and anger, […]
Raine Down by C.B. Samet
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A fantasy thriller that ties in Norse mythology and harsh realism of today’s concepts. We follow the adventures of Raine and Will, their worlds colliding as they chase the culprits that intertwine them. With both humor and romantic chemistry between them, the duo faces hardships and challenges, and blood is spilled within the first few pages. As they learn to become partners, the reader is easy to join in their conversations and small moments with glee.
Overall a good, fast-paced read for the first part of a trilogy. Good start, happy to anticipate the upcoming books.
Shadow and Crystal Thorns by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A good next installment that continues the path of Chloe and Quintus’ journey of protection and hardships as they keep the Faerie and human realms alive. With a fast paced race as our beloved characters fight to find what will be the saving graces of their worlds, they deal with the blooming relationship between them.
This contains many twists and turns and they try to find their way, and it’s clear that both Chloe and Quintus come into their own during this book. In the first installment we saw who they were and learned about them, but with this piece we truly see how they are and who they grow into.
A good read overall, enjoyed it very much.
Borrowed Time by Lane Cohen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Everything from gunslinging in the old west to the feeling of hopeful longing to fit in, this book intertwines many, many themes into its winding pages. Containing everything from historical touches to sci-fi approaches, all while keeping intricate detail within, this book is a melting pot of genres and style.
It was a quick read even with its volume, and the characters were easy to love. Always get the reader thinking on what going back themselves would be like! It was an adventure for sure.
Hate You Later by Ciara Blume
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Light hearted romance that doesn’t feel tacky or overdone. It plays on clichés, chance what-if’s, and the opportunity for readers to shake their heads in knowing as we watch these characters fall. It kept the humor without being cheesy, and had some hard-hitting concepts that were relatable and felt close to home. It dealt with struggles that typical romances don’t hit on without centering solely around them.
Overall a good read and lighthearted feel good book.
Divided Lives by K.R. Mullins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Historic reads are always good, and this one is no exception. It starts off with multiple jumps, following how Lottie has met and known each character, quickly displacing what time and situation the reader has. Took a few rereads to get acquainted, but once general character introduction and world-building are established, it evens out. We are taken through one general plot, while plagued with another that quickly becomes the main drive for this story. Legal matters eventually lead us to a clerk-led POV, blackmail, all while trying to wade through flashback after flashback.
This story has many points and twists to it, and if you enjoy murder mysteries or anything based on true crime, you’ll enjoy this. It includes a main character who seems to have alternate personalities, both strict conservative during the day and open bisexual liberal when the sunsets. It hints at societal issues seen today, yet deals with the placing of the early 1900s.
Overall, a good read, it took me a little bit to get into it but ended up finishing with a different viewpoint. I would recommend this book as it ties in romance, historic fiction, fantasy, and the openness of the author and characters.
Euphoric Wonderland: An Eclectic Collection of Psychedelic Poetry to Stimulate the Senses and Open the Mind by Ryan M. Becker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’ve read a few poetry-based books before, and I took a chance with this one. The cover is alluring, and from the get-go, it was better than I had anticipated. This is not normally my preferred genre but had gone out on a whim. Although I was pleasantly surprised with me actually enjoyed this book, it isn’t my favorite. The reviews stan true that a dictionary is HIGHLY recommended as the author pulls a variety of the language into the page with this one. Overall, it was an okay read, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would for not being the largest lover of poetry.
Kara Shieldmaiden of Eire by Jay Veloso Batista
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Having the ultimate pleasure of starting this series recently has been a blast, and as always, I enjoyed the continuation of this family’s adventures. Meeting the twists and turns, and being hanked to a halt with the multiple cliffhangers leaves readers anxiously awaiting the author’s next move. All of these characters have been a joy to experience, and without adding any spoilers, we await your next move, Batista.
In Plain Sight: A Logan McKenna Mystery Book 8 by Valerie Davisson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
For me, this was read as a stand-alone, and the author is a new addition to my list. This book follows the twist and intertwined stories as Logan, freshly moved and married, finds a coworker dead, and ends up engrossed with the case. Her peaceful world is quickly crumbled, as secrets are revealed, and her volunteer job at the raptor rehabilitation becomes more than she could ever imagine.
Overall, a good murder mystery, and it was very easy for me to feel engrossed in this book. I felt more in the scenes rather than just being a reader and witness. I will happily start from the beginning and have added the other installments to this series on my TBR.
The Blood Prince by Ayla Marie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Good cover, good read. It was full of mystery and adventure, and this book was a good page-turner with an excellent plotline and flow. It has that “just one more chapter” feeling. This debut novel gives its reader a wait of anticipation for the next installment. The author has a fantastic world-building ability and easily loveable characters. Suspense and supernatural powers help drive this first installment that leaves readers falling in love with its pages and eagerly awaiting more.
Overall, a good read, and will be waiting for the next.
Enemies of Doves by Shanessa Gluhm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A fast-paced and wicked read that was near impossible to put down. This book was a dual mystery flip that followed two very different but interconnecting storylines. An unpredictable and impressive story design that captivates readers from nearly the first sentence, and the twists and wines of the story hold their attention to the very last page.
Joel, Clancy, and Garrison are all easy-to-like characters with secrets of their own that the reader slowly uncovers with each turn of the page. The twists are hard coming in nearly impossible to see, especially as we flip between times characters and their secrets. This novel works to keep every reader at the edge of their seat, and truly is a work of art whether the mystery is a preferred genre or not.
A Quirk of Destiny: Ignoramus et Ignorabimus by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Overall – a good read with a storyline that works well with the character and plot drive. A dystopian fueled by modified foods and a deadly coverup that goes horribly wrong. It introduces many interesting concepts and a severe warning that many can just take and run with it. With a background in agriculture, there is often a lot of misinformation and misleading among these topics.
It was a good read in terms of the possibilities that can come from improper regulation and the misuse of power.
