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Chatroom With A View by Glenn Maynard – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Chatroom with a ViewChatroom with a View by Glenn Maynard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I picked up the book because the blurb intrigued me. Unfortunately, the story wasn’t what I hoped it would be. It starts out right in the middle of the action and then it sort of fizzles out in the middle, causing the story to drag. I felt like there were too many pieces of storyline going and none of them wrapped up with a bang the way you would expect in a thriller.

You want to feel bad for Troy because of what he’s gone through, but the more you read about how he handles things, the less you like him. Really, none of the characters in this book are likable at all… maybe that’s the point, but usually in a dark story, I can find one character that I at least feel something for. I guess there was really no contrast between the main characters. They’re all dark and have issues, so they all feel the same. It’s very heavy with nothing to break it up.

However, if you like a myriad of heavily detailed story lines and a cast of only dark characters, this might be the read for you.

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The Man in Black by L.R. Liverpool – Review by Naomi McDonald

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The Man In BlackThe Man In Black by L.R. Liverpool
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maybe it’s been too long since I’ve read a Western, but this story seemed to go on and on. It felt extremely dense. If you like a lot of world-building in your story, this is definitely the book for that. Personally, I feel like a lot of the first few chapters could have been condensed down. The part of the story that picks up more interest starts around chapter 9 or 10. The writing style took a little bit to get used to as well as it had a memoir feel, which I usually don’t prefer.
I read to take a break from real life, and the middle part of this book accomplished that type of entertainment. There were tense moments, danger, and emotional moments. But the end felt lackluster to me, probably because it was the more real-to-life outcome and not what I’d usually want in a novel with a romance type subplot.
While this review may come across as negative, I would like to point out that a lot of effort went into this story, and you can tell. There is a lot of detail and character development. And the author has even included footnotes to explain certain things in the book, which is helpful for people who may not be familiar with the time period or references.
Overall, I did enjoy the core story of Fenimore’s adventures.

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Savage Start (Hidden Valley Elite Prequel) by Isla Vaughn – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Savage Start: A High School Bully Romance: Hidden Valley Elite PrequelSavage Start: A High School Bully Romance: Hidden Valley Elite Prequel by Isla Vaughn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quick read as a lead in to the book Savage Lies. This story ends on a cliffhanger. When I started reading it, I was a bit iffy about it. I didn’t really feel any kind of real connection to Riley’s character. But things got more interesting when Cole’s character was introduced. The things going on in his life kept the pace of the book going to keep me interested enough to finish it. And while the events toward the end of the story are predictable, if I read through the series, it’ll be because I need to know how things play out between him and his father. Overall, a good read.

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Talisman (The Talisman Series Book 1) by Tam DeRudder Jackson – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Talisman: The Talisman SeriesTalisman: The Talisman Series by Tam DeRudder Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I liked the idea of this story more than the story itself.

The story started out alright, but once the two main characters meet up the second time, it felt like they barely even had a connection on Alyssa’s end of things and they were already jumping in bed. It also felt like Rowan was pressuring Alyssa. An example without being spoilery – Rowan goes to get some extra clothes. Alyssa comments on him looking like he’s moving into her house and he blows it off. Then, he moves his clothes into her dresser and closet without telling her. But he’s expecting her to trust him, even though he’s pulling shady stuff. I didn’t like that vibe at all.

I did enjoy the mythological aspects of the story and the attention to detail.

All-in-all, it wasn’t the read I was hoping for, but it was entertaining.

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Night Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation Prequel) by Gwyn McNamee – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Night Hawke (The Hawke Family Second Generation #0.5)Night Hawke by Gwyn McNamee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve heard good things about the first series, but I haven’t picked up any books from it. I decided to check out this prequel to get a feel for what the second generation series might be like.

What I liked: The writing is well done, the story is easy to follow, and the author writes good steamy scenes.

What could have been better: The story gave me nothing to connect to the characters. You get very little backstory outside of some vague statements. I knew it was going to have some steam from the blurb, but I really expected more story line than there was. Even though the story ends on a cliffhanger, it didn’t make me want to grab the first book in the series to find out anything more.

Conclusion: If you want to read a ton of steam, this is the book for it. I feel like I would have appreciated this story more if I had already read the book this is leading up to and had made a deeper connection to the characters.

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The Daredevil (WaterFyre Rising Book 2) by Nadia Han – Review by Naomi McDonald

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The Daredevil (WaterFyre Rising, #2)The Daredevil by Nadia Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed the story line around Royce. I found Michelle’s story line to be chaotic. It feels like the author tried to pad out her part of the story with too many variables. I also found the flashbacks to the past slowed the story down and I had a hard time sticking with it.
Despite struggling through parts of the story, the author does have good attention to detail and manages to connect all the pieces together.
If you like intricate story lines, this might be the read for you.

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

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

I didn’t know what to expect from this book, but I thought it sounded interesting, so I gave it a shot. The author is a historian, so the historical aspects are done well. Unfortunately, I had difficulty sticking with the book, as the story felt like it was dragging in some places. I found myself wanting to skim through to get to the more intriguing parts.
This book was not a great fit for me, but if you are a fan of historical mysteries, this will likely be a must-read to put on your TBR.

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Dia’s Lure (Solstice Quartet Book 3) by Catherine Peace – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Dia's LureDia’s Lure by Catherine Peace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book in the series. I have not read the previous books and I was able to pick up on everything that’s going on in the story. That being said, it would probably make even more of an impact if I had read the previous stories.
There are a lot of things to love about this story. The world building is excellent and detailed. The characters have a lot of depth. And the story line is intriguing.
The first part of the story is a little slow, but it picks up later on and keeps you glued to the pages.
Overall, a great read!

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Misfortune of Song (Druid’s Brooch Series Book 5) by Christy Nicholas – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Misfortune of Song: An Irish Historical Fantasy Family Saga (The Druid's Brooch)Misfortune of Song: An Irish Historical Fantasy Family Saga by Christy Nicholas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Misfortune of Song is the fifth book in the Druid’s Brooch series. It can be read as a standalone.
The author has done a superb job of weaving an enchanting story. The characters come alive on the pages and the plot sucks you in. I loved the strength and sassiness of the main character, Orlagh, even though she does show her youth by making some rash decisions. There are many twists and turns to the story and everything may not be as it seems.
Misfortune of Song is a great tale of young love, heartbreak, betrayal, magic, and adventure.

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Ghost Talker (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries Book 1) by Byrd Nash – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Ghost Talker (Madame Chalamet Ghost Mysteries #1)Ghost Talker by Byrd Nash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in this series. It was a quick, easy read. The story had a good flow and great characters. The one thing I feel could have been expanded on a little more is the Morpheus Society. It’s mentioned, but you don’t really get a feel for it. Although, it may be expanded upon in future books.
Overall, great read!

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Friends with Benies (Paris in Springtime Book 7) by T.B. Bond – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Friends with Benies: An AMBW Paranormal Romance (Paris in Springtime Book 7)Friends with Benies: An AMBW Paranormal Romance by T.B. Bond
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While this is the seventh book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.
I’m going to be honest, I nearly passed up this book because of the word Benies in the title. For some reason that word just grates on me. But, then I read the description of the book and decided to give it a chance. I quickly learned that I am not the ideal reader for this story.
That being said, if you are a fan of rom com hijinks, this might be a good read to pick up. It’s got sweet moments, steamy moments, and a lot of pining with a satisfying HEA.

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From Brick & Darkness by J.L. Sullivan – Review by Naomi McDonald

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From Brick & DarknessFrom Brick & Darkness by J.L. Sullivan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I didn’t know what to expect from this book, but the description intrigued me. It turned out to be a great read. The characters were easy to connect to and the story moved at a good pace. I loved the distinctions between the djinn. The way everything played out kept me turning the pages. Definitely recommend!

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Necrosis by C.L. Schneider – Review by Naomi McDonald

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NecrosisNecrosis by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a quick read, but it doesn’t disappoint. It starts off with action and keeps up a steady pace throughout the story. Intense, but then again, it wouldn’t be a good zombie-type story if it wasn’t. The main character, Amy, was easy to connect with right away. I can’t say too much more without spoiling it. If you like quick, intense reads, this is a great late-night story – unless you spook easily, then maybe read it during the day, lol.

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Grave Digger Academy II (Grave Digger Academy Book 2) by C.A. King – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Grave Digger Academy IIGrave Digger Academy II by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This installment has a ton of HP vibes, especially with the flying car and the competition among the schools. I enjoyed the story and the character development. You get to know more about the main cast of characters in this book, which was interesting. I particularly liked the scenes with the helper/familiars and the addition to that group.
As with the first book, I liked that the author doesn’t put in a bunch of fluff. The story is right to the point with no unnecessary detours.
Quick read. Excellent follow up to the first book.

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Grave Digger Academy (Grave Digger Academy Book 1) by C.A. King – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Grave Digger AcademyGrave Digger Academy by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. The premise was interesting. The characters were easy to connect to. Loved the helper/familiar character additions. A big bonus for me is that you get enough information about what’s going on, without a bunch of extraneous details. It keeps things right to the point of the story without a ton of fluff. This story doesn’t end on a cliffhanger per se, but it does leave you with questions that will make you want to keep reading the series.
If you want a quick, entertaining read, check out this story!

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Hard Lover (Houston After Dark Book 2) by Deborah Garland – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Hard Lover (Houston After Dark #2)Hard Lover by Deborah Garland
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in this series, but I was able to pick it up and read it without having read the first book. This is a complete story, but the epilogue ends with a lead into the next book.

As much as I LOVE a steamy book, I feel like the steamy scenes in this one went on too long. I would have preferred a better balance of steam and story line. That being said, those steamy scenes will heat you up. -fans self-

Another thing I felt that could have been handled better was the idea that Noah felt that the activities he participated in at the club were somehow wrong or deviant. At one point he refers to what he does there as “sick s–t.” There’s a lot of stigma around kink communities and I feel like this was a missed opportunity to portray it in a positive light.

Aside from those two things, it was a good read. I enjoyed the suspense.

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Ritual Obsession (Blood Obsession Book 1) by R.L. Dunn – Review by Naomi McDonald

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

This is the first book in the series, and it ends in a cliffhanger.

If you are sensitive to violence against women, please heed the content warnings as there are on-page scenes.

I wanted to love this book because the description seemed intriguing. Unfortunately, it has a slow start. I felt like the first nine chapters could have been condensed down into two, maybe three to get all the pertinent pieces of backstory.

Also, Rose… did not like her at all. She’s a colossal B. Even when she mellows, she’s still abrasive. I mean, I guess in a male dominated industry that might be a necessity, but I just could not find a way to like her.

All of that being said, the story picks up the pace in chapter ten and gets much more interesting.

I wavered between three and four stars on this book but settled on four because things eventually started holding my attention.

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Watcher (Star-Crossed Celestials Book 1) by A.L. Morrow – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Watcher (Star-Crossed Celestials Duet #1)Watcher by A.L. Morrow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the series and ends in a cliffhanger.
I enjoyed this story much more than the original Romeo and Juliet. Loved the characters. Great twists and turns. Plenty of action, danger, and steam. There are a couple of moments that get you right in the feels. Overall, a great read! Looking forward to the next book!

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Sword of Darkness (The Vigilant Book 3.5) by LM Preston – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Sword of DarknessSword of Darkness by L.M. Preston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story is labeled as book 3.5 in the series. The overall story can be read as a standalone, but you’d probably relate to the characters better if you’ve read the previous books. This story ends in a cliffhanger as a lead into the next book.

Overall, I liked the idea of the story, but it felt like the main character was a bit slow to pick up on the clues around him. He knew something was up, but it seemed like it took him too long to start putting things together. The most interesting things happened toward the end of the book.

Interesting characters. Decent plot.

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The Second Alpha Heir by C.L. Ledford – Review by Naomi McDonald

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The Second Alpha HeirThe Second Alpha Heir by C.L. Ledford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I did not enjoy this book as much as I expected to, however that is mostly my own doing. I didn’t pay enough attention to the categories this book is listed under and missed the fact that it’s a coming-of-age story (and probably could have surmised that from the blurb, but didn’t for some reason). Those are not my usual reads. In addition to that, it’s under a romance category, but it’s definitely more of a love story due to how things play out (which isn’t really clear by reading the book description). I don’t usually read those either. The writing style took a little getting used to as well.

That being said, if coming-of-age and love stories are your thing, you’ll likely enjoy this book very much. I like the overall concept of the book and the author did a great job of creating the characters. The world building was also great. You will experience many different emotions while reading this, and the tension keeps things interesting.

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Castor’s Kiss (Soul Bonded in the Stars Book 2) by Tai James – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Castor's Kiss (Soul Bonded in the Stars # 2)Castor’s Kiss by Tai James
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I haven’t read much sci-fi romance lately, so I thought I’d give this book a try. I enjoyed the toughness of Mia’s character. Totally related to her disdain when she saw the dress she had to wear near the beginning of the story. Also, hard relate to the trust issues.

One thing I liked was that even though Mia is tough, she still cares about other people enough to try to save them – as is shown in the beginning with De’ara.

I had little bit of a harder time connecting with Castor’s character, but he grew on me.

Favorite character interaction (because, you know, love isn’t perfect):
“So, you admit this isn’t going to be all flowers and roses.”
“I have no doubt that we’ll have many fights. I hope that at the end of each one, you yell, ‘I love you,’ into my face and not run away.”

Overall, a good read with some intense moments to keep you turning the page.

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Dark Sparrow Box Set: The Complete 6-Book Series (A Dark Sparrow Novel) by India Kells – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Dark Sparrow Box Set: The Complete 6-Book SeriesDark Sparrow Box Set: The Complete 6-Book Series by India Kells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a superb collection of stories. Great suspense and romance. Wonderful characters. I recommend the box set so you can binge read all of them. The only bad thing about it is when the reading adventure is over. Gotta love those book/series hangovers.

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Tickety Tock (Wicked Warriors MC Arizona Chapter) by Manda Mellett – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Tickety Tock: Wicked Warriors MC Arizona ChapterTickety Tock: Wicked Warriors MC Arizona Chapter by Manda Mellett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve read a lot of books by this author, Joker’s Fool is my all time favorite, but this one is now following a close second. Even though I had the outcome figured out within the first few chapters, the spook factor was excellent. I think the subject matter was what contributed to it.
Great read on a stormy night!
*Be advised, there are no on-page scenes, but the book does mention child abuse.

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The Wolf’s Shadow (The Lycanthropy Files Book 1) by Cecilia Dominic – Review by Naomi McDonald

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The Wolf's Shadow (The Lycanthropy Files #1)The Wolf’s Shadow by Cecilia Dominic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What I liked: The characters were well-written. Plenty of suspense and mystery. I liked the overall story line and world building.

What I didn’t like: After dealing with all of the discussion around vaccines for the last year and a half, I could have done without that mentioned in the story. However, the author does address this in an author’s note.

Note: If you are triggered by cheating spouses, know that this subject matter is included in the story. Danger to children is also part of the story line, although there are not any graphic descriptions on-page.

On the whole, it was a great read and I’m definitely interested in book two.

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A Veil of Gods and Kings (Apollo Ascending Book 1) by Nicole Bailey – Review by Naomi McDonald

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A Veil of Gods and Kings (Apollo Ascending, #1)A Veil of Gods and Kings by Nicole Bailey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good reimagining of the Apollo mythology. I enjoyed the interpretation of the characters. It’s NA so it has pretty much no steam, but you can still feel their connection. The blurb calls it enemies-to-lovers, but I wouldn’t say they are enemies so much as just a bit angsty. Still made for an entertaining read.

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Blood & Ravens (The Casket Girls Series Book 1) by A.D. Brazeau – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance (The Casket Girls Book 1)Blood & Ravens: A dark, paranormal romance by A.D. Brazeau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up this book because I was intrigued by the premise. The story did not disappoint. I loved the main characters. Very much looking forward to reading the second book!

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Nite Fire: Slash & Burn (Book 4) by C.L. Schneider – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Slash & Burn (Nite Fire, #4)Slash & Burn by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the fourth book in the series and you definitely need to read the others before this one.
The story opens with action and keeps you turning the pages. Excellent worldbuilding, as always. Wonderfully original characters that you continue getting to know on a deeper level. Complex story line. There’s so much in this story to love. The entire series is a must read!

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Weep, Woman, Weep: A Gothic Fairytale about Ancestral Hauntings by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Weep, Woman, WeepWeep, Woman, Weep by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The beginning of this book felt a little disjointed because the way it is written, the character gets ahead of herself several times while telling the story. Once I got used to the writing style, it was a good read. It wasn’t like an adventure or thriller where you’re on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens, but the story does subtly sink it’s hooks into you. You start reading and before you know it, BAM! You’re entranced.
Good read for a rainy night!

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Doctor D’s Orderly Affair (Doctors of Eastport General) by C.A. King – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Doctor D's Orderly AffairDoctor D’s Orderly Affair by C.A. King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Main points: Enjoyable characters. Good story line. A little bit of steam.

This book is a quick read. I enjoyed that there was a good amount of story line balanced with the romance. One thing I will say is that if you are a reader who doesn’t want the pandemic mentioned in a book you are using to escape, this one might not be the book for you. It doesn’t overpower the story, but it is mentioned.
For some reason, I had a difficult time with the feel of the first chapter and struggled to get into the story, but it smoothed out in chapter two. I can’t pinpoint what exactly the challenge was for me, but I pushed through it, and it was worth it.

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Savage Secrets (Mafia Elite, book 4) by Amy McKinley – Review by Naomi McDonald

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Savage Secrets (Mafia Elite, #4)Savage Secrets by Amy McKinley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the fourth book in the series. It could be read as a standalone, but I feel like I would have connected better to the characters if I’d read the previous books. That being said, you won’t be lost if you pick this up out of order like I did. There’s enough backstory to get you caught up.
The story starts out with action and just keeps going. Since the two main characters are previously acquainted, there’s already an attraction right at the start due to that history so it has an insta-love feel. If you like mafia romances, this one is pretty on par with the genre.

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