Posts

Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Nicole Elizabeth

/0 Comments/in /by

Exiled SouthExiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was able to read this book in 2 days! I really enjoyed the unique perspective and twists that it provides. The characters and plot are both well written. It even invoked emotion, making them feel relatable and genuine. It provides a unique perspective on racial conflicts between the North and South in a way that doesn’t feel forced or preachy. I found the atypical perspectives refreshing and eye opening in a lot of ways. She even found ways to weave specific historical details/people into the story, making it not just a generic setting. I’d give this book 5/5 stars. I really enjoyed it.

One line made me think a bit. “Why was the United States so shamed by the atrocities of post- war civilian suffering that they sanitized events out of history book?” Makes me wonder what they’ll say in the history books when we’re all long gone. How much is truth and who chooses what’s omitted? This book inspired me to start looking a little deeper into my own family history after following these characters on their journey. I also developed a bit more appreciation for the standard of living we all have in this century with everything at our fingertips. So many different takeaways, and this isn’t even all of them! This really was a great little story.

View all my reviews

ConQuest: The Art of Selling at Cons by Megan Mackie – Review by Nicole Elizabeth

/0 Comments/in /by

ConQuest: The Art of Selling At ConsConQuest: The Art of Selling At Cons by Megan Mackie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was super informative and helpful. As a hopeful and blossoming writer, I hope to some day be able to promote my works and have been looking for ways to do so. This book was well written, informative and funny. You can tell she has real-life experience and every bit of this title was helpful. I’ve never actually read any of her books, but now I certainly want to! I’d give this book a solid 5/5.

View all my reviews

Born in Darkness (Mafia Elite Book 3) by Amy McKinley – Review by Nicole Elizabeth

/0 Comments/in /by

Born in Darkness (Mafia Elite, #3)Born in Darkness by Amy McKinley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Yet another hit from this author! I’ve really enjoyed this series and this book didn’t disappoint! I think Stefano and Emiliana may be my favorite couple yet. I also didn’t expect the story to unfold as it did. Wait until you find out who the rat is!! The story was well written and the characters relatable and likeable. I didn’t find a single part that didn’t hold my attention and keep me engaged. I rate this 4/5 stars. I really enjoyed the series thus far. Looking forward to hearing more from this author!

View all my reviews

The Colors of Darkness by Feather Chelle – Review by Nicole Elizabeth

/0 Comments/in /by

Colors of Darkness: Ability Awareness Activity BookColors of Darkness: Ability Awareness Activity Book by Feather Chelle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book isn’t a title I’d normally gravitate to, but the description intrigued me a bit. I grew up with a few girls that were deaf and it always interested me how they could adapt and how we (their classmates) adapted and learned with them. Although I don’t remember all the sign language I once knew, I still remember most of the alphabet and have found it helpful in my life.

That said, this book wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be. It was short, which I was expecting by the page count, but I felt like it was missing… something. I wanted more.

It would be a good resource for those unfamiliar with blindness at a young age. The activities could teach lasting lessons if done right. I liked the overall ‘our differences make us special’ message, and how the author touches on the fact that we’re all more different than we are alike. I’ve never really thought about it that way.

I’d give this book a 3/5 just because I think there needs to be more. More in the beginning, middle and even the end. Great idea overall though. Happy I took a look, hope the author will expand on the idea in the future.

View all my reviews

Fate, Frankincense & Funerals by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Nicole Elizabeth

/0 Comments/in /by

Fate, Frankincense & FuneralsFate, Frankincense & Funerals by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read a lot of books. I write a fair number of reviews. This title gets a solid 5/5 for me. The scene in which they send Carissa off had me welling up. To provoke a physical response is a statement. One of the highest I know that I’m willing to admit to as a reader. Very few books insight physical emotion from me, so bravo.

The overall world was well incepted, and the characters were well written. I found the story relatable, which is impressive seeing the setting of this story and our own human experience here on Earth are vastly different.

Or are they? I found a kinship in the idea of going against the grain and doing things differently. In disrupting what is expected and taking a personal hit to break the rules that need to be broken, for the greater good. And not the typical greater (mostly) good. The real, nitty gritty, underbelly of it all. Actual, pure, and honest- good. The first drop in the bucket. The first seed(s) to be planted. I’m not sure if that’s where this story is going but I’ll say this, I’m hooked. Can’t wait to see what direction this goes and where we eventually end up.

That being said, this isn’t a story for children. I was caught off guard by the erotic scenes depicted toward the end. It was a pleasant surprise for me but may not be so welcomed in other circles. Your loss.

So, to wrap it up neatly, this was a great story. My only complaint is that it wasn’t long enough to satiate the appetite it invoked. I’ll keep an eye out for more titles from this author both past and future. Highly recommend.

View all my reviews

Blood Oath (Mafia Elite, book 2) by Amy McKinley – Review by Nicole Elizabeth

/0 Comments/in /by

Blood Oath (Mafia Elite, #2)Blood Oath by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is book 2 in this series and I was not disappointed. I feel like I connected more with the characters in this book than I did w/ Max and Lil in the first. I liked the overall plot and character and story development. I’m still flabbergasted that not a single police interaction has been touched upon in all the gun play and dead bodies in the past 2 books but, hey, I’m no gangster. Maybe that’s how it works.

One thing I will say is that I almost wish the author had told Elena’s story first. Her story entwines into this one and I felt like I was missing a large piece of the story. I’m sure it’s a way to bridge into that whole situation (possibly next?) but I almost wish it had been ordered the opposite way.

All- in- all I think I’d still give this book 5/5 stars. It was well written and a nice simple and fairly quick read. It didn’t lull or get boring at any point and the characters were relatable and well written. Looking forward to reading book 3.

View all my reviews

Journeys Through TimeSpace (Journeys Through Book 2) by James Talisman – Review by Nicole Elizabeth

/0 Comments/in /by

Journeys Through TimeSpaceJourneys Through TimeSpace by James Talisman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book took me roughly 2 weeks to read. I enjoyed the whole thing from start to finish. Had I the time to sit and binge it I certainly would have. If you are looking for a quick but thought-provoking and deep sci-fi book I’d recommend this book series. Great vacation/beach read!

View all my reviews

Journeys Through SpaceTime (Journeys Through Book 1) by James Talisman – Review by Nicole Elizabeth

/0 Comments/in /by

Journeys Through SpaceTimeJourneys Through SpaceTime by James Talisman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book took me roughly 2 weeks to read and I really did enjoy the overall story and diverse worlds and characters portrayed. The MultiVerse in this book encompassed stories from some interesting and very diverse worlds including but not limited to reptilian humanoids set on destruction, unlikely human heroes and celestial beings with concepts based on real physics and ideology w/ the fantastic twist we all love from a good sci-fi novel.

I found the characters to be sincerely likeable and relatable which is a feat seeing as most of the worlds are very diverse from our own reality. Strangely enough, the characters I had the hardest time getting behind and liking were the Earth characters. They seemed too formal and rigid for modern day college kids. The relationship between Matt and Julia (how many times can two people say the word ‘babe’ – too many!) just seemed overly formal and forced.

I enjoyed how the many worlds and scenarios all connect on some level and the ending was a good one, which is really important to me. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and expect I’ll enjoy that one just as much. Really interested to see how it all shakes out and what the culmination of the myriad of stories will look like.

I’d rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. The stories were great, it’s just the rigid Earthlings that threw it off a little for me. I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a good quick sci-fi read that’s multifaceted and complex but still allows for easy and enjoyable reading. I would recommend getting to know the characters a bit ahead of time. The author does a great job of providing lists of the worlds and characters at the beginning of the book which is super helpful because it can get confusing if you just jump right in without a good overview of what it is you’re diving into.

View all my reviews