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The Uncrowned King (The Blood Prince Series) by Ayla Marie – Review by Darla Yocom

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The Uncrowned King (The Blood Prince, #2)The Uncrowned King by Ayla Marie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anytime a mercenary reveals he is a prince, the story is going to get interesting. I’m a new reader to this author but I was hooked immediately with this book. The cover art is great and the synopsis is intriguing. So I dove into the story of Leo who we learn never knew his parents. He travels to the lands of his royal bloodline to find a safe place for him and his siblings to live without the constant fear of being killed or exploited due to his true identity.

Leo is an interesting character and admittedly it took me a bit to warm up to him. By the end of the book, I think he may be one of the best characters yet.

When he’s initially faced with the idea of taking his rightful place on the throne, he immediately rejects the idea. Then he and his family try to learn everything they can about royal family, their ways. Most importantly, they need to learn who they can trust, who they should watch and how they can keep themselves safe.

I enjoyed the pace of the storyline and the complexity of the characters. I think YS fantasy fiction fans will be entertained.

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Secrets at the Café: A Novel of Suspense about Family and Friendship by Susan Specht Oram – Review by Darla Yocom

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Secrets at the CafeSecrets at the Cafe by Susan Specht Oram
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Karina is struggling with her life at the moment. She’s attempting to run her grandmother’s cafe to honor her memory. Keeping up with the day to day responsibilities at the cafe s a lot and she is trying to make her grandmother proud after her unexpected deathbed request. When her unreliable and flaky cousin is more focused on her love life than covering her entire shift, life gets a bit exhausting.

When a mysterious diary is uncovered by a nosey guest and then mysteriously disappears, the mysterious plot thickens.

I really enjoyed how well the author wrote and created the characters in this book. While the characters differ on most fronts, all come across the page as authentic and quite unique.

The dynamic plot has a bit of everything to keep the reader engaged throughout the entire story.

You do not need to be a fan of this genre or author to pick up this book, fall in love with the story and become an instant fan of both.

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Grave Digger Academy III (Grave Digger Academy Series) by C.A. King – Review by Darla Yocom

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Grave Digger Academy IIIGrave Digger Academy III by C.A. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the 3rd book in the Grave Digger Academy series. It is a must read for fans of paranormal fantasy fiction. I think out of the three books, this is the most creative and fans will appreciate it. There’s lots of adventure, fun and a touch of romance.

This series follows Makayla on her adventure within the academy after learning of her rare ability to see and communicate with the dead. The mysterious and secret school for people with her abilities turns out to be a great fit allowing her to learn more about her power plus uncover the mysterious realm called the afterlife.

This book presents Makayla and her friends with their biggest challenge to date. They are forced to fight a sinister plot to disrupt the balance between the living and the dead. There is a lot of growth throughout the series and especially in this challenging chapter.

I hope you enjoy stories that include humor, emotions, action, and suspense because this one is overflowing with it all!

I think everyone will be satisfied with the outcome of this story. It is so well written and has a good balance of characters, plot & incredible dialogue. I highly recommend.

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Dark Moon Secrets (The Witch Moon Series Book 1) by Lilliana Rose – Review by Darla Yocom

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Dark Moon Secrets (Witch Moon #1)Dark Moon Secrets by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tanjie is a witch. Alaric is a wolf shifter. They are not supposed to like one another. Instead they are to be mortal enemies yet a connection between the two will cause a bit of an uproar.

Tanjie has lost her parents, a beloved elderly friend and has stayed away from some of the suggestions her family provided which she considered to be hippyish. She doesn’t fully understand her destiny as a witch. She inherits a bookstore, learns about her coven and finally starts to learn about witchcraft. It’s a slow process and she doesn’t know if it will be enough or in enough time.

Alaric is up for the next alpha and enjoys the wolf life. He’s drawn to Tanjie but knows disclosing this to his pack would be devastating.

This story is a great beginning to this series and created such a neat world with wonderful characters. The ending will get you and make you wonder what’s next.
I highly recommend reading this incredible paranormal story.

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Rise of the Y (The Y Chronicles Book 1) by Angela D. Shelton – Review by Darla Yocom

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Rise of the YRise of the Y by Angela D. Shelton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m a new reader to this author but after reading this story I feel as if I have a new favorite to add to my list!!

I enjoy dystopian novels and this one did not disappoint. This is book one of the series which means there’s more adventures to come. It starts off with Lexi having a big birthday and in true Divergent vibes, she’s about to test out to see where she will fit in her future life. She isn’t thrilled with the concept of marrying someone that she hasn’t chosen herself. Essentially not having control over her life choices and her sense of independence did not feel right.

As Lexi finds herself at a crossroads and delving into a dangerous predicament, you find yourself emerged in a dark and tricky world. The expectations of others regarding her future is at an all time high, but just because someone expects something doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy dystopian fiction and well written plots.

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The Catford Catastrophe Zone by Petra Jacob – Review by Darla Yocom

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The Catford Catastrophe ZoneThe Catford Catastrophe Zone by Petra Jacob
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a fantastic dystopian story with a thrilling mysterious sci-fi adventure. In fact, it gave me a bit of a Blade Runner, High Castle, Mortal Engines vibes which I enjoyed.

The futuristic story follows Frankie who is desperate to get the big promotion at work. Up to that point she only received subtle hints of the possibility of a promotion. Yet when she finds her employer is desperate for someone to go undercover for a risky secret mission, she reluctantly agrees to visit the zone filled with the sick and poverty stricken citizens that never seem to make it back to the somewhat safer zones.

The moment she enters the Catford Zone, she immediately finds herself surrounded by a decomposing world in shambles, just like the withering population who have been long forgotten for those outside of the zone. Initially Frankie is paralyzed by the shock of her new surroundings. Then she decides to investigate and learn more about her housemates and how things work in her new surroundings. While she tries to do this and find something sufficiently interesting for her boss to allow her to return home she embarks on an incredible journey that she in no way could have dreamt of until now.

This was a good mind trip with an extremely well illustrated description of Frankie’s world. I enjoyed the eccentric and entertaining characters, flaws and all. I highly recommend this book.

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Mission Target (Jake Wolfe Thrillers Book 7) by Mark Nolan – Review by Darla Yocom

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Mission Target (Jake Wolfe, # 7)Mission Target by Mark Nolan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really like the book cover art!! It’s an incredibly riveting thriller which is book 7 of this series. I was captivated from page one

The author does a great job making the continued storyline suspenseful and exhilarating. The characters are well written and they’re easily recognizable as someone you know in your life.

For those who are animal lovers, Cody the dog is my favorite character.

The twists and turns in this book will hook you and I highly recommend this read. I cannot wait to read what’s next!!

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My Murder Year by Kate Larkindale – Review by Darla Yocom

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My Murder YearMy Murder Year by Kate Larkindale
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stas is the main character of this YA mystery. She’s in her late teens and dealing with normal teenage angst with parents who are no longer together and her mom is about to remarry. After her mom is murdered, her father is the prime suspect, suddenly her life is turned upside down. Family members come out of the woodwork. Some have plans that would uproot her life.

The book is a good read with plenty of suspense and emotions that will pull at your heart strings. It pulls you in and keeps you guessing. It is very well written and captivated my attention from the beginning.

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No Amends by Angela Lam – Review by Darla Yocom

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No AmendsNo Amends by Angela Lam
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoy suspenseful books and this one was something special. This was definitely a page turner and that made this read that much more enjoyable. The main character is a writer so I was intrigued to see how they developed their character arc.

I think the plot and development were well planned and written. Secrets, drama, thrilling suspense and mystery makes this a fun read.

I loved this book and hope to read more books by this author.

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The Man in Black by L.R. Liverpool – Review by Darla Yocom

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The Man In BlackThe Man In Black by L.R. Liverpool

I absolutely loved the innocent and quite naive young man, Fenimore James from the get go. He’s lived his young life in one place in the comfort of his parent’s home yet he wants more. He wants the life described in books or the papers. He’s dreamed of leaving his home, living life in the road, embarking on one journey after another, meeting new people yet feels something is holding him back. His name. At his core he feels his name is not a true fit and does not represent who he really is.

This incredible story finds Fen bravely choosing to leave home, Along the way he joins in with a group or gang of folks and changing his name. As most often do, he finds himself questioning his decision of leaving his hometown and every decision made since he left.

When he finds members of his gang being murdered he finds himself perplexed. Then dealing with his internal personal feelings about someone close he struggles.

Mystery, struggle, murder, romance and life’s many perplexities makes this complex story a winner in my eyes. I cannot wait to see what else the author had in store in the future.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ A Party to Remember (Notebook Mysteries Series) by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Darla Yocom

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Notebook Mysteries ~ A Party to RememberNotebook Mysteries ~ A Party to Remember by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the Christmas holiday. I also love novellas. I’m a huge fan of the Notebook Series so I immediately jumped
to read this new addition to the series, A party to remember.

This book finds Emma being her normal suspicious self. while her and her family were decorating their home, helping
friends, Savannah and Ethan plan their wedding, they also receive a mysterious invitation for a party out of the blue.
This fancy party was to occur in Chicago vs new York, which had everyone question why. who doesn’t love a
good party? although they questioned the intent behind the impromptu invite, Emma and her friends
were excited for the opportunity to travel to Chicago, see their friends, dress up and have a great time.

Emma does what she does best and that is to do the work and solve the mystery. i enjoyed this short novella and the
Christmas atmosphere brought to life within this book. while you can easily read this book without following the
previous titles in this series, to fully appreciate the character arcs I recommend reading the entire series.

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Rocketship Made of Stars (I am an Alien) by Lois Wickstrom – Review by Darla Yocom

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Rocketship Made of Stars: Naming Constellations (I am an Alien)Rocketship Made of Stars: Naming Constellations by Lois Wickstrom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This adorable book follows a human school child, Shirl and their alien friend, Eee-Ahh. Shirl explains why she goes to school and how she enjoys hearing stories every day. Intrigued, Eee-Ahh chooses to go with Shirl the next day, as she too enjoys stories. While the other children immediately notice how different Eee-Ahh is from the others, they quickly become enamored with constellations and where she comes from.

I think children and adults will enjoy this book and the dynamics between the very open minded teacher and the children’s incredibly curious minds. Astrology is always a great subject to share with children and they may often come up with their very own ideas of what shapes they can find in the stars.

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Rogue Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 3) by Lilliana Rose – Review by Darla Yocom

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Rogue Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 3)Rogue Wolf by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is book three of the Protector Wolf Shifter Series and I think it may have become my new favorite. I’ve truly enjoyed reading the first three titles of this series and have remained hooked from the very first page.

Book three finds Tamasca and Kodiak dealing with an insane scenario. Tamasca is determined to complete the change to a wolf shifter so she can have a new level of protection against the never ending hunt by the vampires. She is aware of the possibility of a dangerous and lethal result. Whereas, Kodiak is not a fan of anything that may end her life or put her in danger. His love and need to protect her at all cost is strong and puts them at odds due their inability to come to a compromise. As their terrible luck continues, Kodiak finds himself captured by the vile vampires, leaving Tamasca to look for new options to help her complete the change and get back her mate. Danger seems to be attracted to both of these characters, so you know going into book three you’re going to experience a lot of drama, action, politics, and suspense.

I feel as if Tamasca is a bit of a bad ass in the making. Her character also showed a lot of growth as she found herself without her mate and still extremely vulnerable. Kodiak on the hand is your typical alpha with a bit of a teddy bear underneath. Hopefully the author will expand a bit more on that in the future storyline.

If you enjoy fantasy supernatural romance reads, you will find that here and more. Please read books one and two before jumping into this one so you’ll understand the backstory and details surrounding the main characters. They truly have endured a lot and come a long way in their character growth.

I’m looking forward to book number four and so on. Enjoy reading this incredible series.

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Marked Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 2) by Lilliana Rose – Review by Darla Yocom

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Marked Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 2)Marked Wolf by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book Two of the Protector Wolf Shifter Series started right up where book one left off. Tamasca is ticked at Kodiak. Both of them want to track down the Blood Opal from the vampires. Both are attracted to each other. Better yet, they seem to be drawn to each other but Tamasca is struggling to understand what Kodiak has unveiled about his true self.

One is human. One is a wolf shifter.

Tamasca’s struggle often felt like a tug of war between her mind versus her heart throughout book two. I love how the struggle and internal conflict was written in book two.

If you haven’t read book one, you might want to do that before finishing up this one so you fully understand the context behind the powerful attraction between the main characters, the hurt Tamasca experienced upon learning of her bff’s fate in book one and then the bombshell reveal from Kodiak after a strange but unexpectedly hot experience between the two. This book delves deeper into the chaos, passion, mystery and excitement that makes this book even better than the first.

I’m definitely a fan of the way the author has created this mysterious plot and the personable characters. I look forward to reading book three to see if it is full of supernatural intrigue, mystery, action, and lots of drama.

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

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Leaving No Traces (A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome) by P.J. Mann – Review by Darla Yocom

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Leaving No Traces (Commissario Scala #5)Leaving No Traces by P. J. Mann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This installment of the author’s A Commissario Scala Mystery in Rome Series is a brilliant read. I’ll admit that I have not read the previous books in this series but will check them out now that I’ve seen how incredibly written this one was.

I’m an avid fan of mysteries and this title does not disappoint. You are almost immediately thrown into a thrilling case following the disappearance of a woman who was having not only one affair, but two. Somehow she managed both but received a message to end the affair. A classic whodunit ensues and after an extensive investigation, a lot more was uncovered than expected.

This was a page turner from the very beginning. I really enjoyed it although it did not need as much of the twists and turns as was provided.

I enjoyed the cover art as well. While I’ve never been to Italy, some of the imagery describes what I would expect of its gorgeous atmosphere.

I give this title 4 out of 5 stars. I cannot wait to read more from this series and the author.

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Conversations with the Tarot by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Darla Yocom

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Conversations with the Tarot: Bewitching Meditations on Reading the CardsConversations with the Tarot: Bewitching Meditations on Reading the Cards by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was extremely excited to read this book from the moment I read the title. If you were ever curious about Tarot or simply wanting to see how someone’s path may differ from other tarot readers, this is the book for you.

In this unique book, I thoroughly enjoyed how the author chose to describe each card and their placement, along with her personal insights based upon her experiences and knowledge gained over the years.

To top off an even more epic examination of the art of tarot, the author provides a comprehensive conclusion for the readers to learn a bit more about the craft and her love of the process before wrapping it up.

I enjoyed reading this and appreciated the author’s honesty regarding her need to continue the ongoing learning process.

I’m thankful to have come across this book and the opportunity to learn about something that has piqued my interest for many years.

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill Book 1) by David Kummer – Review by Darla Yocom

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The Misery House (The House on the Hill #1)The Misery House by David Duane Kummer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book number one of this thrilling series and it does not disappoint.

The small town atmosphere created within this story is quaint, close knit and felt safe enough to leave their doors unlocked at night. Very unassuming and typical of an old fashioned lifestyle that is the appeal of living in such conditions.

The small town was shaken at the core after a suspicious fire took the lives of two individuals, one of which is a child. To make matters worse, a newlywed couple has gone missing. For a community so used to being supportive and open with each other, they find themselves questioning the latest events, and the possibility of not feeling safe again.

The community struggles to make sense of things, the lack of clues and the thought of hidden secrets belonging to an individual or group of folks who are less than upstanding and downright dangerous.

This thriller has all of the makings of a great introduction into The House On The Hill series. In true great horror story fashion, it brings to mind that the plot could be easily adapted into a stirring movie or series.

I cannot wait to see what happens next after the electrifying cliff hanger.

I give this story 4 out of 5 stars.

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The Sisterhood of Secrets (The Gods’ Scion Book 4) by Winnifred Tataw – Review by Darla Yocom

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The Sisterhood of SecretsThe Sisterhood of Secrets by Winnifred Tataw

This incredible book is the fourth installment in the God’s Scion series. The gorgeous cover art pulled my eye to the title and I’m so glad I chose to read it. I love Fantasy Fiction and although I had never heard of this author or this series, I was able to fully engage with the overall plot, character building and emersion into this unbelievably compelling world.

I especially enjoyed the characters created and effectively grown throughout this story. You can find that they were so well written that their uniqueness and complexity works in their favor versus being distracting to the reader.

I found this story interesting and intriguing. I think I’ve not only found myself a new fave author but a new series to read in full. I give this book five out of five stars. Excellent read.

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Underneath The Whiskey by Chelsea Lauren – Review by Darla Yocom

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Underneath The WhiskeyUnderneath The Whiskey by Chelsea Lauren
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a great romance story. Ben is an entrepreneur, loving husband and doting father. He remembers the trauma he previously experienced when his family learned of his indiscretion with another man, leading to him being treated in the controversial means of conversion therapy. His wife honestly believes that Ben being gay can be handled if he stays the course and focuses on what was learned in therapy and his love for his wife and children.

We find Ben struggling with his personal thoughts when confronted with an interesting moment while interviewing an intriguing young man named Caden who often frequents Ben’s coffee shop. Ben immediately finds himself wanting to know more about him and even hires him to help run his second business location. To keep things on the up and up, he mentions Caden and how interesting he is to his wife. Even in doing so, he finds himself thinking of ways to spend more time with Caden.

The reader is brought along with Ben’s journey through conflicts and awakening throughout the book. While the journey is difficult, I think it could truly be an eye opening story for anyone looking to explore their own personal journey and experiences, or simply learn how someone in this situation tries to deal with life altering situations.

The author did a great job expanding on the depth of the two main characters and the complexity of the subject matter.

I thoroughly recommend reading this book.

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The Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic – Review by Darla Yocom

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The Master of DemiseThe Master of Demise by Nadija Mujagic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m still reeling from the conclusion of this book! I am still shaking from the unexpected plot twists. This is a fantastic riveting thriller.

At the beginning of the book you are instantly brought into the events after a mysterious murder. Then you are introduced to the cocky main character who has an extremely inflated ego. The author’s placement of the post murder intro plus the introduction to Mr Ego makes you wonder if the two events are connected. Hold on to your hats because then the story reveals additional characters, more ego, lots of drama, mysterious circumstances and more to help create a mystery unlike any mystery.

I found myself hating the main character only to feel sorry for him a bit later and changing over and over again as intriguing pieces of information are shared about his background, and his current state of mind.

If you enjoy mystery, thrillers and impeccable storytelling, this book is for you!

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Seen by Lori Nelson – Review by Darla Yocom

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SeenSeen by Lori Nelson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This thrilling sci-fi masterpiece finds siblings Mouse and Meph living their lives in a dystopian world. Mouse hopes to land a full time position as a journalist yet her father has different aspirations in mind.

Mouse uses her pda to fly her personal drone, which interestingly enough is shaped like a gorgeous raven named Gossip. She uses it to snoop around the city and find a nice juicy headline for her big break.

In addition to her concerns about landing a big story to help obtain a full time journalist position, she’s also hoping that her brother will stick around a bit longer vs obtaining a job further away from home.

The siblings begin to encounter things that only bring more drama in this story. The author did a fantastic job writing a believable sibling duo that love each other but may not always see eye to eye. Also the interesting love interest that happens to be her brother’s best friend just fuels the family dramatics.

I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. It creates a drastically challenging dystopian world that compliments the sci-fi twists.

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Fireflies (The Physical Collection) by A.R. Hadley – Review by Darla Yocom

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Fireflies (The Physical Collection)Fireflies by A.R. Hadley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the third book in the author’s series, The Physical Collection. While this is my first read by this author I have to say I do not think you will have any problems following along if you read the titles out of order.

Mike and Dane are in an open relationship together. They have been with each other for years and love one another. This book begins with Dane suggesting they search for the addition of a woman to join their relationship that will eventually grow into a full time polyamorist relationship and family.

Like any relationship, there are complications, mixed emotions, and drama. Overall, the magnitude of the characters dynamics together are fiercely HOT!

I think the author does a great job describing the complexity of different personalities and desires clashing and meshing together. I wish more details had been shared regarding the females within the story, as I was left wanting to know more about what made them tick.

I enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read the other titles in this collection.

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Other People’s Money (The Madeline Dawkins Series Book 7) by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Darla Yocom

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Other People's Money (The Madeline Dawkins Series Book 7)Other People’s Money by Cynthia Hamilton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the 7th in this incredible crime/mystery. The loveable characters, Maddie and Mike are back and ready to dive into another round of crazy cases. As PI’s they find their workload a bit overwhelming with the incoming volume of new cases, but the main focus is for a missing bookkeeper. This book follows the cute married couple through their adventure into mysteries, claims of embezzlement, strange disappearances and more.

As usual this author provides a lot of twists and turns. You will thoroughly enjoy reading due to the easy flow of the plot. Also you may find that the ending was not as you thought it would be.

Overall it was a wonderful read and a great addition to this series!

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A River of Crows by Shanessa Gluhm – Review by Darla Yocom

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A River of CrowsA River of Crows by Shanessa Gluhm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was brilliantly written with a complex but strong character development. The author keeps the reader intrigued and excited to continue reading the book with its many twists and turns.

Sloan, the female lead character is living a complicated life while trying to distance herself from her past. Her life hasn’t been easy and thing’s drastically changed after the mysterious disappearance of her younger brother many years ago. Her father was convicted, her mother committed and Sloan had to make her way through the thick of things mostly on her own. She had a few loved ones back home who helped her with her mother, which she constantly felt guilty about each day. When she found out that she needed to come home again due to family drama, she reluctantly returns and soon finds her life flipped upside down.

This book is a fantastic mystery and crime story with a few twists and turns that will have you questioning who did it!?

I highly recommend reading this book!

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Return to Hoodoo (Boudin, Bourbon, and Barbecue, Book 1) by Reggi Dupree – Review by Darla Yocom

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Return to Hoodoo: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel (Boudin, Barbecue, and Hoodoo Book 1)Return to Hoodoo: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel by Reggi Dupree
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The title of this book grabbed my attention right away. Also I’m a huge fan of all things paranormal, so I was pleasantly surprised and thrilled that I quickly became hooked with this story. This book has everything: snarky wit, vampires, witches, inheritance drama, a haunted mansion, werewolves, and a good old mystery.

Gwen Carter is the main character and I gotta say I love her sass. She returns to her hometown much to her chagrin, due to a mysterious inheritance matter. While trying to minimize her stay, she has another run of bad luck, as she witnesses a horrific murder. To make matters worse, she is a possible suspect. She deals with obstacles, sarcasm, ghosts, a handsome ex, and all things paranormal in this book.

This is my first time reading a book from this author and I enjoyed it. I think the main character is easily relatable to most readers and who doesn’t love a strong leading lady? You definitely get the feeling that if you knew her in real life, she would tell you how it is, straight forward, no BS but would never lie and act like she knows everything.

I enjoyed reading a fantastic story with a diverse set of characters and a beautiful atmosphere. I can’t wait to read something, anything else from the author.

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The Crown of Stones: Magic Borne by C. L. Schneider Review by Darla Yocom

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Magic-Borne (The Crown of Stones, #3)Magic-Borne by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is book 3 of this series and the final installment, wrapping up this portion of the incredible dark fantasy fiction story.

I thoroughly enjoyed the fast pace of this book and series. I was hooked from the beginning and blown away by the twisted conclusion of this story. The build up, suspense, good vs evil back and forth, etc. was incredible. What an adventure!

I found the author’s ability to describe the extensive world and developed characters within this story quite illuminating. The vividness expressed quite a scary and dark setting and ambiance, which is perfect for readers who enjoy this type of a read.

Ian Troy’s character appears to be quite strong and resourceful. When he gathered the resistance and attempted to save the Realm, I found myself rooting for him immediately. He has a lot riding on his ability to successfully save as many folks as possible, which would have been a heavy responsibility to have sitting on his shoulders. By the end of the story, you’ll find yourself thinking or rehashing the story in your mind. It sticks with you.

If, like me, you enjoyed this series, you may also enjoy the continued adventures in this author’s additional creation of the series, Soulbound Journeys. This series will pursue the adventures after The Crown of Stones trilogy. I cannot wait to continue my reading adventure with the author’s future dark fantasy fiction creations.

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The Traveler: Book 3 by Deborah Dugan – Review by Darla Yocom

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The Traveler: Book 3The Traveler: Book 3 by Deborah Dugan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book three of this series is by far the best in my opinion. I previously read book two and was unable to put it down, but while reading this one, I found that I did not want to step away from the pages, not even to sleep.

My love for sci-fi was definitely a driving factor in me picking up book number three of this series and continuing the adventures of Harry. Harry is a unique character with a lot of personality. He has lived many lives in many different forms or what he calls configurations. He’s lived in many different time frames as well. The things he has witnessed and experienced makes for an interesting background for this character.

When we last left Harry, he was a fuzzy and loveable tarantula who awoke from stasis and dealt with the trials and tribulations of trying to survive within his new configuration. Book three finds Harry once again in a new configuration, this time as a giant Asian mantis. He tries to find his way back to Tristan who constantly worries about Harry and his well being. I swear Harry is a danger magnet!

New characters are introduced, and the previous characters continue their roles, such as Tristan and his love interest, Elena. The suspense build up in this book surpasses the levels in books one and two.

I think if you have read books one and two prior to this one, you will find yourself uncovering answers to questions you may have had lingering from the previous books. Once you connect the dots and learn about the additional character building that the author created in this book, you’ll be even more amazed at the remarkable production established within this series.

Admirable world building, character development and the extraordinary plot.

Personally, I thought the interactions between Tristan, Elena and Harry were heartwarming and adorable. I laughed and teared up multiple times throughout this story. I hope everyone enjoys this book and overall series. This is a unique work of art!

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Destiny of Light (Quirk of Destiny Book 3) by Catherine Greenall – Review by Darla Yocom

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Destiny of Light (Quirk of Destiny, #3)Destiny of Light by Catherine Greenall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is the final piece of this trilogy, bringing the Quirk of Destiny storyline to an incredible conclusion.

If you haven’t read books 1 or 2, please do so because they are incredibly written. If this is the start of your journey with this series, you will not be disappointed.

As you may have gathered from the synopsis or the cover art, this is an apocalyptic tale for the ages. Genetically modified food is the source of destruction of human kind and triggers the mutated group called Genies to be born with powers beyond your imagination. Some immediately think the end of times is upon them as they are consumed by fear and the unknown reason for all of this.

The main characters fight to save their friends, family and fellow humans against the destruction and mayhem, which the author set up beautifully within this series. The Elite group within this series was very intriguing. Overall the content makes you think about how similar situations in real life could ultimately trigger catastrophic events here on earth, now or in the future. Perhaps things would not be quite like that which occurs in this series, but then again, you never know.

I believe the author’s background helped create a landscape and qualities that someone else would have missed out on. She has a true gift when providing descriptive and passionate dialogue making the reader feel as if they are truly a part of the story.

Phenomenal conclusion to this series! Kudos to the author. I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us readers in the future.

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Suspicions (Notebook Mysteries Book 5) by Kimberly Mullins – Review by Darla Yocom

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Notebook Mysteries ~ Suspicions (Notebook Mysteries book #5)Notebook Mysteries ~ Suspicions by Kimberly Mullins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 5 of this series was yet another impeccable piece by this talented author. If you are a fan of this series like me, you will thoroughly enjoy this addition. If you’ve never read any of these, you can easily follow along and appreciate the multiple levels of mystery and suspense.

We find Emma as strong and independent as ever at the beginning of this story. She’s ready to take action to help those who do not have a strong voice of their own, all while finding a case from her past is directly linked to the existing case.

Emma’s love, Jeremy is right by her side and raring to go to find the bad people hurting the innocent. While he’s always looking out for Emma, he is not attempting to be her knight in shining armor, as she can handle herself.

This book finds Emma facing multiple cases, heartbreaking journeys, heartless men and women who are trying to take advantage of others, tender moments with her love and a challenging interaction with an Alpha male thinking he can get the best of her.

This book did not disappoint!

I cannot wait for the next book to be released later this summer so we can see what Emma is up to yet again.

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Shadow Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 1) by Lillian Rose Review by Darla Yocom

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Shadow Wolf (Protector Wolf Shifter Series Book 1)Shadow Wolf by Lilliana Rose
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 1 of this series introduces the main heroine of this series, Tamaska. Work is her life and she has a big event coming up that requires a last minute change in security. This is when she meets the abrasive and prickly head of security, Kodiak with Shadow Protection. He’s a tall drink of water that immediately gets on her bad side. Yet, there’s something about him that she cannot ignore. The attraction is instant but she tries to ignore it since she has to focus on this big event. Things quickly go wrong and the Blood Opal is mysteriously wrong. Now her job is on the line. She’s still on the fence if Kodiak had anything to do with it even if he vehemently denies it. She needs to find the Opal, save her job, and shake off this pull she feels every time she looks at the handsome security guy. Who can she trust? How can she find the Opal? Can her friend Tahla help without getting into danger?

This book is a romantic mystery that will have you feeling all while falling for the characters.

I cannot wait to read book #2!

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