The View from Here by Leon Stevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this quick read! It was very fun and imaginative. The plot devices and the way the author addressed the other worldly aspect was very impressive and felt natural. You also can’t help but love the main character. Despite being older he is still full of life and I loved sharing in his adventure.
Sinful Vow by Emily Bowie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In the past I’ve avoided books like this because I was worried they focused more on the spice and less on the plot. This book definitely proved me wrong! It was a page turner from the start and driven by a very interesting storyline. The spice added to the story and didn’t feel distracting or forced. I will be adding more of this author’s work to be To Be Read list!
Imperfectly Yours by Anise Storm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read the first book in this series and loved it. I’m glad to say the second book lived up to the hype created by the first one! The characters and their situation are very authentic and relatable. It’s easy to care about what happens to them and get sucked into the story. I liked how the author started the story with an established relationship. It made it easier to get to the deeper part of the story faster.
Swipe Right to Bite by Carrie Pulkinen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is not my typical sort of read, but I was looking for something fun and entertaining and this was definitely it! I haven’t read anything else in this series or by this author, but I didn’t feel like I was missing any information. I loved this book so much that I will be going back and reading the rest of the series for sure! This is the kind of book you stay up late to devour in one sitting when you intended to just read for a little bit before bed. That’s exactly what I ended up doing!
The Traveler by Deborah Dugan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’m so happy I found this author. Her way of writing is an entire storytelling experience. This book grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I was hooked all the way through. She has this way of making you feel completely immersed in the world she has built. I can’t wait to read the next installment!
No Names to Be Given by Julia Brewer Daily
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Obviously given the subject matter this book may not be for everyone, but the topic was handled very well and truthfully. I’m a sucker for a story with multiple narrators, so that was a plus for me right away. I love reading the different perspectives and how their stories intertwine and build on each other. I would have given it 5 stars, but I thought some parts of the story felt a bit forced. Overall a very gripping and intriguing read!
States of Grace by Mandy Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I can’t believe this is the author’s first novel. It definitely doesn’t read like a debut novel. The story is beautifully executed, building well while still being fast paced. I loved how the main character wasn’t the typical perfect character. She was down on her luck, flawed, and relatable. I look forward to reading anything else this author writes!
Murder off Route 82 by Jane Suen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the third book in the series, but it’s actually the first one I’ve read. I was able to follow the story fine and still enjoy it without knowledge from the previous books. However, I enjoyed this book so much I’ll be going back to read the others! It’s a fun, Nancy Drew-esque mystery, but it’s complex enough to keep you hooked and on your toes. I was wrong about some of the things I thought I had figured out, which makes it the definition of a good mystery!
Black Canvas by Laura Rossi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Aren’t we all a little crazy?”. If you’ve never thought this before, you will after reading this book. I was instantly intrigued from reading the synopsis, but didn’t quite know what to expect. Whatever preconceived notions I had of this book fell way short of how amazing it actually was. I am extremely stingey with my 5 star ratings, but this deserved it!
Fall to Pieces by Becky Flade
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is my first time reading a book by this author, but it definitely won’t be my last. She’s now on my watch list and I’ll be looking for all of the other novels! This book had a great plot and it was a fun read. I finished it in about a day. The biggest selling feature was the character development. The characters were written in a way that was so realistic; their strength and weaknesses felt relatable
Conveniently Yours by Anise Storm
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’ll start by saying I never read romance novels. I actively avoid them actually. This one caught my attention because of the challenge/ competition factor. I definitely recommend this book! It’s a fun read that will keep you up reading past when you said you were going to bed.
Practically Pagan – An Alternative Guide to Magical Living by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have been trying to branch out lately and read books that are very different than my typical go to genre of psychological thrillers. I am not a religious or particularly spiritual person, so I went into this book with very minimal background knowledge. Reading this book for me was purely out of interest, not necessarily to follow the practices. That all said it was very enjoyable! It’s fun to look into a different way of life and I assume those more knowledgeable than myself would find it to be a great read as well.
A Spell of Rowans by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The cover art for this book instantly grabbed my attention; it was too beautiful to scroll past! After a quick look at the synopsis I instantly wanted to read it. It certainly did not disappoint! Nash managed to blend my two favorite genres, mystery and fantasy. It was my first novel by this author, but I will be keeping an eye out for more.
The Elements of the Crown by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’ll be honest I don’t read a ton of fantasy, but I’m super happy I picked this one up! There’s so many twists and turns in the plot you never know what’s coming next. It makes me very happy to know that this is part of a series. I can’t wait to read the next installment! Such a strong start to what I’m sure will be an incredible series!
Stranded: Cetacea Chronicles Volume 1 by Feather Chelle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a great read for middle school age children or to read to younger children. Kids will get lost in the story and learn about biology and ecology along the way. I love that the author included diagrams, a glossary and an appendix so that kids can expand on what they read in the book. I can see this book creating future marine biologists. I think the majority of children will enjoy this story.
Kingdom of Embers by Tricia Copeland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
It’s not my usual genre, but I really enjoyed this book! I always love when an author is able to bring something new to a subject that has been written about many times. This book goes beyond the classic things you’ve read about vampires before. This was a quick and easy read, but very attention grabbing at the same time. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Fool Me Twice by Glede Browne Kabongo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have previously read “Our Wicked Lies” by Kabongo. I loved it so much I’ll now blindly pick any of her books without even reading the synopsis. Fool me twice did not disappoint! True to the author’s style, the suspense begins immediately and doesn’t let up until the very end. I love how she gets right into the story so you are invested from the start. I recommend all her books!
Entwined: A Cinderella Retelling by A.L. Morrow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow! I’m a sucker for re-imagined classics, especially when they’re on the darker side. This has to be my favorite retelling of a Disney type story. This book is kind of genre bending, so it should appeal to many different readers. It is gripping and well written. Pair that with being on the shorter side, and I can bet you’ll finish this book in one night. I definitely did!
The Book of Carraig by Andrea Matthews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As with most things, the second book didn’t quite live up to the first book. Overall still a very enjoyable read though! I love all of the Irish history content. I did find this book to be a bit slow compared to the first. It will be interesting to see how the story progresses in the third book.
Scarlet Princess by Robin D. Mahle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow! Where do I even start? I read this on a whim to step outside of my usual thriller genre, and I’m so glad I did! The story is well written, flows beautifully, and captures your attention right from the beginning. Rowan is such a realistic character that you can look up to; it’s impossible not to like her. I genuinely look forward to reading the next book!
Murder Among Friends by Linda Burson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was the first novel I’ve read by Linda Burson, but it certainly won’t be the last! I love the way she writes. The characters are all so well fleshed out and I enjoyed getting to know all of them. Typically I’m not a fan of much romance, but she made it work very well. I will definitely be reading more of her work!
Deadly Words by Meghan O’Flynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It seems like most books out there are described as “dark and twisted” or “unputdownable thrillers”. Well here is one that actually delivers! It grips you from the beginning and had twists I legitimately did not see coming. I enjoyed this novel alot more than some of the hyped up ones I’ve read recently.
A Divided Mind by M. Billiter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book wasn’t really what I was expecting. I typically read mostly psychological thrillers, and thought this would fall into that genre. I would classify it more as a contemporary novel about mental illness. I can still appreciate it for what it was, and overall enjoyed the novel. I love when books are told from different perspectives, however I found the mother hard to relate to and therefore didn’t enjoy her chapters as much. Overall I would recommend this book if you have an interest in psychological disorders.
Dire’s Club by Kimberly Packard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is my book by this author, and I was blown away! Given the subject matter it should be a sad book, but it’s sort of uplifting and thoughtful. Definitely makes you reflect on your own outlook on life. It was extremely well written. All of the characters were very multi dimensional and authentic. I would absolutely recommend this book, even if it’s not your typical genre!
Journeys Through TimeSpace by James Talisman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I read James Talisman’s first Journey Through Book and thoroughly enjoyed it. You can read this one even if you haven’t read the first, but there are some repeat characters and I believe you’ll enjoy it better than if you didn’t read it in order. I love how this book grabs you from the beginning and sucks you into another world. The writing style is very descriptive, making it easy to vividly picture everything. Overall another very entertaining read!
Boy Released by J.D. Spero
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I just read Boy on Hold recently and had to read the second book immediately after. I always have the fear the the sequel won’t follow up to the first book, mostly because there is so much expectation behind this. You don’t have to worry about that with this book! Just as good as the first one! If anything I may have liked Boy Released a bit better.
Boy on Hold by J.D. Spero
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Multi-POV books have become a favorite of mine. That being said, they need to be done very well in order for everything to come together. Boy on Hold goes above and beyond. It’s uncomplicated but elegant writing style and fascinating plot made it a very quick read. I always ended up staying up later than I intended when I picked up this book. I’m going straight on to the second one!
The Murders of Lillian Ross by Sirena Van Schaik
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’m a big fan of true crime/ murder mystery novels, so I was very excited to read this book. I love how the author chips away at Lillian’s side of the story. There is a lot of character development as the reader begins to question their initial impressions of Lillian. This is a hard hitting and sometimes difficult read. Be warned, it deals with some graphic subjects in a very detailed way. It is a book that will stay with you for a very long time.
Chatroom With A View by Glenn Maynard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Chatroom with a View dives right into the story from the beginning. There isn’t a ton of time spent on setting the scene or providing backstory like in a lot of other novels I’ve read, but I personally prefer this. Troy is a complicated character and I didn’t know how to feel about him. I felt bad for him and at the same time hated him. But he was a well written character that makes you feel many different things. Overall it’s a darker psychological thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Journeys Through SpaceTime by James Talisman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As someone who predominantly reads psychological thrillers, this was pretty out of my wheelhouse. I’m very glad I gave it a chance! The author described and constructed the worlds beautifully. The stories were action packed and gripping, and the characters were well thought out. Even if Sci-Fi isn’t your go to genre, I’d recommend reading this!
