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The View from Here by Leon Stevens – Review by Santana Hicks

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The View from HereThe View from Here by Leon Stevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was an interesting read, Thomas, the main character is an older man. He is still quite spry despite his age and enjoys going hiking, on this particular hike he is in for quite a surprise.

I honestly like the mechanics of travelling to another world, I thought it was quite unique. This other world had some very interesting set pieces, that I would love to be able to learn more about in a sequel or even prequel. My only real issue is that the story seemed to end almost abruptly, though it was teasing for a sequel at the same time, so maybe I’ll get my wish there.

The book was well written, and had some fun little pop culture references, you could really imagine the main characters, and I could easily see myself chatting away with them like an old friend.

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Exiled South by Harriet Cannon – Review by Santana Hicks

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Exiled SouthExiled South by Harriet Cannon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was very emotional. Not for the lighthearted. It starts off with Lizbeth who lost her husband in a car accident. She finds out that her husband was a gambler causing her to almost lose everything. She is angry. As a result of her anger, she sells her home and almost everything in it and moves back South where she originates.

As a way to cope she looks into her family’s past, trying to find information on the Gordon family from the 1800’s. She discovers that a couple of her family members disappear during the reconstruction after the war. Lizbeth gets a job in Rio de Janeiro. Upon landing Lizbeth meets someone with the same surname. Thinking that this woman may be a lost descendant, they look into it.

Lizbeth is given documents and a diary of Laurette, a woman from the 1800s. The second part of the book is set in the past and is the most interesting part. It is a tragic story. The book mentions a lot of racism and slavery. Like I said, not for the lighthearted. This portion of the book was so well written. My heart broke over all of the things the poor family went through, especially Laurette.

Compared to the second part of the book, parts one and three were lacking. I found the present day was rushed and stiff. I feel like the author could have spent more time expanding on certain things.

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Swipe Right to Bite (New Orleans Nocturnes Book 6) by Carrie Pulkinen – Review by Santana Hicks

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Swipe Right to Bite (New Orleans Nocturnes, #6)Swipe Right to Bite by Carrie Pulkinen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is the 6th book of the “New Orleans Nocturnes” series. I have not read the other books in this series but the book was completely okay to read as a stand alone. This is my first book I have read by this author. Let me tell you, she is HILARIOUS! After reading this book I am definitely going to read more from this author.

This book is about a succubus, named Katrina, she is trying to be celibate so the devil will forget about her. One day an incubus by the name of Gabe shows up in town and everything is starting to fall apart for Katrina.

Katrina has a hook up app by the name of swipe right to bite, its her way of not relapsing in the sex department. Gabe is an inspirational talker about love and how to find it without the psychical aspect. Since he started these talks, Katrina’s clientele has been falling.

She wants to run him out of town and he wants to co-exist in the same town.

This book was so fun to read. It was witty, punny, sarcastic, romantic, sexy, all in all just fun. I will be looking into more books by this author.

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Forbidden Moon (The Shadow Chronicles Book 3) by CR Robertson – Review by Santana Hicks

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Forbidden MoonForbidden Moon by C.R. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the third book in The Shadow Chronicles. It follows the life of Tasha, a vampire, and Levi, a lycan. They ended up fated mates years prior even though there was an ongoing war between the races for years.

A third supernatural species called the Hellspawn, have been obliterating the other species. This caused the war between the vampires and lycans to come to an end to team up and eliminate the Hellspawn.

Ever since the couple got together, everyone has been trying to separate them. Their love has prevailed over and over again but more and more enemies are appearing. Tasha has powers that have reached their full potential with the help of witches.

Mystery still surrounds Tasha’s power. They seem to be the only thing that can kill the stronger Hellspawn. In this book, you follow the life of Tasha, Levi and their families unveiling the mysteries of the past lives of both species.

I loved all three books. They are action filled, romantic, passionate, sexy, mysterious. Who doesn’t love a forbidden love story? I highly recommend reading this series!

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Forbidden Mate (The Shadow Chronicles Book 2) by CR Robertson – Review by Santana Hicks

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Forbidden MateForbidden Mate by C.R. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is the second instalment of The Shadow Chronicles. It takes place a few months after the first book. Tasha, a vampire, and Levi, a lycan, are mates. To be able to be together, Levi wrote a treaty to bring the two races together to fight a 3rd supernatural species that was annihilating both races.

Even though the war between the two races is slowly coming to an end, it still isn’t time for the couple to settle down. Tasha possesses powers and everything seems to want to get to her.
Tasha’s powers are growing stronger and even more enemies are appearing. It’s one thing after another.

I recommend reading this series, it is full of action and romance all wrapped up in supernatural mystery. I loved the first two books and will definitely be reading the next!

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Forbidden Wolf (The Shadow Chronicles Book 1) by CR Robertson – Review by Santana Hicks

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Forbidden WolfForbidden Wolf by C.R. Robertson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The last summer before Tasha would have to join the war between Vampires and Lycans, she fell for a lycan. Quite literally I might add. Thinking she found a black panther that was said to be in the forest, she pounced on it. Turns out it was a black wolf, a lycan named Levi. They bit each other and that was the start of something forbidden. The bite of a vampire was supposed to kill a lycan and vice versa.

The duo decide to find a cave and live out their last night together since neither of them thought they could make it home. It turns out they lived but something happened that night. They liked each other and wanted to explore that. They had a summer of romance before the 2 of them were shipped off to fight each other on the field.

The book then shows what either of their lives look like throughout the years.

Ten years later, they find each other again. Not under good circumstances. For years they have been fighting each other’s races but it turns out there has been a 3rd one for god knows how long exterminating either side. The couple realise that in order to fight this 3rd enemy, the vampires and lycans will have to put their differences aside and work together.

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Apocalypse Thoughts (The Pox Series Book 5) by Kendra Griffin – Review by Santana Hicks

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Apocalypse ThoughtsApocalypse Thoughts by Kendra Griffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was very unique. I find a lot of “zombie” books are all the same but this one was so different. You follow 3 family members travelling through the apocalypse towards North in hope to bring a cure to the CDC. Kella, the main character, is writing her own little survival journal which gives the book a refreshing escape from reality.

Kella’s younger brother sees things differently than other people which causes a lot of others to be annoyed by him. It seems he is autistic, although the author never comes out and says it. Its nice to see someone “different” incorporated into a story. He sees the world as one big video game.

I fell in love with Kella first thing, she’s intelligent, witty, sarcastic. A typical 17 year old.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a different take on a zombie story.

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Limbo by Laura Koerber – Review by Santana Hicks

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LimboLimbo by Laura Koerber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was different. Not really my cup of tea. The Genre was ‘slice of life’ which this was my first read in that category. Apparently I do not like this type of book. I like books with more plot than character growth.

Regardless, it was well written for what it was. You follow the every day life of a group of ghosts living in limbo. The main character is a 17 year old ghost who is sad that she never really got to live since she died so young. You follow her figured out death and how to live with it.

The author really tuned into the emotions I would expect from experiencing death and waking up in Limbo. The author’s descriptions were very well thought out. I have never read anything like this. The topic was interesting.

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Black Canvas by Laura Rossi – Review by Santana Hicks

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Black CanvasBlack Canvas by Laura Rossi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I honestly have no idea what to say about this book. I am in awe. From start to finish you are taken on a dark ride full of suspense, mystery, darkness.

The main character, Aria, is a psychiatrist who had lost a patient named Ivy a few weeks back. She decided to take time off of work to grieve. A girl named Claudia was found and instantly Aria was attracted to her story. Aria dove into her case causing a lot of previous stuff to come up.

Aria is still trying to figure out what went wrong with her previous patient while also trying to figure out her new patient. Both Ivy and Claudia’s story are very similar to each other so Aria is trying to figure out why and how they are connected.

The author did an amazing job getting into people minds and staying there. With huge plot twists around every corner, it kept me guessing from the first to last page.

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Thief of Magic (Shadowed Minds Book 1) by Bree Moore – Review by Santana Hicks

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Thief of Magic (Shadowed Minds, #1)Thief of Magic by Bree Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lee, the main character, is a thief. Not only is she good at her job but she in indispensable because of the magic she has. Lee can enter another realm called the ‘ Liminal Realm’. When she enters this realm, she can travel without being seen or heard.

Unfortunately, Lee hates her abilities. Being a Liminal has shortened her life significantly and she is tired of it. She will do anything to be healed. In order to do so, she needs to meet the ‘Ceteri’, who are the beings that have introduced magic to the inhabitants of Earth.

In this novel, we follow Lee in her adventure to find the Ceteri while getting weaker with every use of her power. Not only that but the FBI are also tracking her. It was a very interesting read. I will be looking into the other books of this series for sure!

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The Crown of Stones: Magic-Price by C. L. Schneider – Review by Santana Hicks

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Magic-Price (The Crown of Stones, #1)Magic-Price by C.L. Schneider
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ian Troy is a ‘Shinree’ (witch), whose whole existence is frowned upon. The Shinree’s magic, considered dangerous was shut down by feeding them drugs. Ian was not one of them. The desire to cast was strong within him but he refused until he found an ancient artifact, the Crown of Stones. With a war raging on for a very long time, Ian felt as if magic will solve it. With power emanating from the Crown, Ian gives in and cast a spell to end the war. Unfortunately, all magic comes with a price and the price was steep.

Ten years later, Ian still struggles day to day with what he had done years prior, refusing to acknowledge magic and drowning his sorrows. One day he is visited by what seems to be another Shinree and that day he so long to forgets, seems to be coming back. Addiction once again resurfacing.

This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The author was very detail oriented. It was as if I was in the world myself. Pack filled with action, you will not regret this adventure.

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Diabolical Sword (The Charm Collector Book 1) by Melissa Erin Jackson – Review by Santana Hicks

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Diabolical SwordDiabolical Sword by Melissa Erin Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was like a Dungeons & Dragons campaign gone horribly wrong and I loved every second of it!

Harlow, a charm collector, was only doing what she does best, find magical items and ‘re-home’ them. After a fellow collector gets caught for contraband magical items, Harlow decides to loot his trove before the Collective will take it for themselves. (Collective is basically the government of this magical hub) In the other collectors treasure room, she finds many magical items to loot including a pretty shiny sword that catches her eye.

Harlow some how activates the sword and it awakens. Having a mind of its own, the dragon scale sword imprints on Harlow and wants her help to find out where it came from. Unfortunately, the sword goes on a murdering spree. Once the collective gets wind of this sword, they are pulling out all the stops to make Harlow be an enemy of the public. With Harlow now on the run, she has no idea who she can trust, where to go, where the sword came from, why it chose her?

Throughout this book, we follow Harlow on her crazy adventure filled with magic, murder, mystery and so much more. I would definitely want this author to DM one of my future D&D adventures!

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Fate, Frankincense & Funerals by Naomi Valkyrie – Review by Santana Hicks

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Fate, Frankincense & FuneralsFate, Frankincense & Funerals by Naomi Valkyrie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I decided to read this book because I have read some of the authors other works. The authors concepts are very unique and very interesting.

This book is about a vulture shifter, named Acheron, who goes into the city to tend to a dying patient. Vulture shifters are forbidden to enter the city or have a mate because they are considered ‘unclean’ since they deal with death. When Acheron gets to the patients home he meets a hare shifter, named Errapel, who is the nurse tending to the dying patient. Instantly there is what seems to be a mate bond. Acheron fights it since it is forbidden. As time goes on, the bond gets stronger. Does Acheron fight the bond or does he accept it and get ready to fight the world? Read to find out!

The reason why I am only giving this book 3 stars is because this book feels rushed. The concept is great but there is no depth. It moved way too fast and then it was just over. The author seemed to be setting up a big fight but then it never happened.

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A Sweet Christmas: A Sweet Confections Novella by Nicole Richards – Review by Santana Hicks

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A Sweet ChristmasA Sweet Christmas by Nicole Richard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If every year you watch a lot of Christmas Hallmark movies, then this is the book for you! I am one of those people who love a good romantic Christmas theme and was not disappointed when reading this novella!

This book is about a woman named Thea who owns a bakery. One day a man by the name of Ben walks in and sparks fly. You’ve heard of love at first sight? Well this was lust at first sight. Thea who just got out of a relationship was not ready for anything new. Ben is persistent so Thea decides to give it a try. Boy, is she thankful she did give him a chance. As time goes on, the more steamy it gets.

This novella was sexy, romantic, cute and holiday themed. It was a very quick read so if you are looking for all of the above, look no further!

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Twilight’s Curse (Twilight Realm Series Book 1) by K. M. Wray – Review by Santana Hicks

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Twilight's CurseTwilight’s Curse by K.M. Wray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Twilight’s Curse is about a young elf, named Nix, who was in line for the throne of the Twilight Realm. When Nix was young, his parents the King and Queen were murdered before his eyes by the Dions. The Royal Advisor, Nate, took Nix into hiding until it was his time to come back and take up the throne.

The other main character is another young elf by the name of Zoe. She is unique with life giving magic. Her parents, the Dions, experimented on her by giving Zoe magical tattoos. Zoe is able to bring her tattoos to life and use them to her advantage. One night she couldn’t handle it anymore and ran away from home. Zoe ran until she comes to a tree inhabited by Nate who then takes her in.

The Book is mostly set years after the initial falling of the Royals, Nix is older now and has no intention of going back to his childhood home. When Nix has a dream that forsaw him meeting Zoe, everything changes. The next day he sees Zoe. They have a common enemy but can they put their differences aside to come together to take down the Dions? Elves, magic, dragons… what’s not to love! I recommend this book highly!

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A Spell of Rowans by Byrd Nash – Review by Santana Hicks

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A Spell of RowansA Spell of Rowans by Byrd Nash
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Spell of Rowans was a very interesting read. It is about a woman named Victoria, Vic for short, whose mother died resulting in Vic going to her hometown to deal with it. As it turns out, it appears as if her mother, Rachel, has been murdered. At the time, Liam, the youngest sibling, gets arrested as a suspect in another murder of a woman named Patty who worked closely with the Rowan’s mother.

The book follows the family trying to get closure and move on from their abusive past while also trying to figure out who the murderer is. Things aren’t adding up. The Rowan’s all have special abilities that their mother hoarded over them when they were children. As a result, the siblings want to get all of this done and over with as fast as possible but that’s hard to do when you may be the next victim in mind.

A Spell of Rowans did not disappoint. You could tell that the author was writing from experience. The way Byrd Nash taps into the emotions of a broken adult due to childhood trauma is spot on. Not only that but the book was also filled with action, magic, mystery with a splash or romance. I would highly recommend this book!

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The Elements of the Crown (The Elements of Kamdaria Book 1) by Kay L. Moody – Review by Santana Hicks

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The Elements of the Crown (The Elements of Kamdaria, #1)The Elements of the Crown by Kay L. Moody
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Elements of the Crown was a fantastic journey. Talise was a wonderful character. Growing up in “The Storm” put her at a disadvantage throughout most of her life but she worked hard and it shows. At a young age she was already shaping elements much better than other children her age. Fast forward 10 years and she has a chance to work alongside the emperor as a “Master Shaper”. Her only nemesis being Aaden, who is just as good if not better at shaping then her.

Aaden comes from the richer part of the world and has had everything handed to him. When the time comes to put their skills to the test for the emperor, he can’t decide who to take so he takes both of them. The emperor then puts the two through a series of trials to see who really is the better Master Shaper.

This book has so many twists and turns. It was hard to put down. The biggest twist of them all was a major “wait, what?” moment which I enjoyed immensely. Kay L. Moody is an amazing writer. I was hooked from the first chapter. I would highly recommend this series. After reading this first book, I will definitely be looking into Kay L. Moody’s other writings!

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Ashes of Aldyr (The Obscured Throne Trilogy Book 1) by Russell Archey – Review by Santana Hicks

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Ashes of Aldyr (The Obscured Thorne Trilogy Book 1)Ashes of Aldyr by Russell Archey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ashes of Aldyr is the first book in the Obscured Throne Trilogy. There is everything you could ask for in this book! Elves, dwarves, humans, etc. When I read the synopsis, I was expecting a Lord of the Rings vibe to it. It was not what I expected but it did not disappoint! Even after reading the into chapter I was hooked!

I love reading fantasy but not so much horror. This book has both elements but was written in such a way that I loved everything even the horror aspect.

Russell Archey has a way with words. The book was very descriptive and well written. I could not put the book down! The way the author described the evil, you’d think they were evil as well. I found my heart was beating harder and I could not stop reading. I cannot wait to read the other two books in the trilogy! Highly recommend!

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Sea Mage (The Nightshade Guild, Book 10) by Louisa Bacio – Review by Santana Hicks

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Sea Mage (The Nightshade Guild, Book 10)Sea Mage by Louisa Bacio
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sea Mage by Louisa Bacio was very interesting to read. An orphaned elven princess who is a toddler is being protected by a guild of mages. Every month, a new mage takes responsibility for the tiny princess named Ameria. This a month is a mermaid shifter named Serenas turn.

Very little time has passed when Serena realizes that she may need help with this task. Peder, the king of sea dragon shifters offers, providing the book with a will they, won’t they atmosphere.

The reason why I gave this book a 3 out of 5 is because I expected more action from this book. There was very much and they action scenes that did make it into the book were very small and over with way too fast and easily at that. I would be interested in seeing more of Ameria’s power at work. I also felt as if the book was rushed. In a lot of places the author felt things very vague. Even the romance portion seemed rushed. It was not very believable.

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Kingdom of Embers (Kingdom Journals Book 1) by Tricia Copeland – Review by Santana Hicks

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Kingdom of Embers (Kingdom Journals #1)Kingdom of Embers by Tricia Copeland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kingdom of Embers by Tricia Copeland is about a forbidden half breed named Alena. Alena is half Vampire, half witch. The vampires and witches hate each other which makes her existence dangerous. On top of all that she is also facing the dangers of high school. Being the weird new girl in her last year of school is hard enough without all of the added drama.

Alena is trying to find out more about herself and her abilities. Her biological father being a mystery has her intrigued about her witch side. Her mother being a controlling, strict vampire has Alena curious about how her vampire side works. Along the way she befriends multiple creatures, on both sides, learning more than she ever has.

I loved this book from start to finish. It was action packed with a touch of romance. The flow was very smooth. After I was done reading this book, I immediately looked for the second book in the series called “Kingdom of Darkness”. I can’t wait to start reading it!

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Scarlet Princess (Lochlann Feuds Book 1) by Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison – Review by Santana Hicks

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Scarlet Princess (The Lochlann Feuds, #1)Scarlet Princess by Robin D. Mahle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Scarlet Princess threw me back into my childhood and it was glorious. This book is something I would have read when I was a teenager. Actually to this day as well. It was action filled. A fairy tale with a twist.

I absolutely love the way Princess Rowan was written. She reminded me of Merida from Disney’s Brave. She was witty, sarcastic, strong, an outcast but still nothing got her down. Even after thrust into enemy lands, Socaira, with her life on the line, it never slowed her down.

Theodore, who is Rowans keeper while in Socaira, is very uptight as is all of the people from there but Rowan brings a new light to his life. The couple seem to start falling for each other even though they are supposed to hate each other.

One thing I really loved about this book is it was not love at first sight like a lot of fairy tales, the relationship built up as time went on.

Honestly this book is one of my favorites I have read in 2021! Can’t wait for more!

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Why We Don’t Die in Dreams: Book 1 by Debbie Zello – Review by Santana Hicks

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Why we don't die in DreamsWhy we don’t die in Dreams by Debbie Zello
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Why We Don’t Die in Dreams was a wild journey from start to finish. I honestly could not put it down. So many twists and turns that it got me hooked first thing.

The main character, Gavin, is having these strange dreams about a woman who always says something along the lines of “he killed her, don’t let him kill me.” Gavin thinks they are strange but thinks nothing of them at first. As time goes on, a woman is found dead in a dumpster. Gavin realizes that maybe his dreams are more than that. You then follow Gavin all over the place to find out what is real and what is not.

The author, Debbie Zello, did an amazing job with this book. With so many twists and turns you would think she had trouble keeping track but it was flawless. The transitions were really smooth. I loved the way Debbie wrote Gavin. Handsome, fit, witty, sarcastic but still a flawed gentleman. I fell in love with him instantly.

The only thing I did not enjoy was the book ending. I must read more!!

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Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass! (Donovan Trait Book 2) by Seelie Kay – Review by Santana Hicks

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Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass!Ye Gods! The Law is an Ass! by Seelie Kay
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the first book in this series so I was really excited for the second one as well and it did not disappoint. This book starts off right before Donovan and Shirley are about to get married. Come wedding day, Shirley finds out she is pregnant. It’s a miracle! Unfortunately the Coalition disagrees and the couple has to go on the run to protect their unborn child.

This book is a lot more mellow than the previous one in the series. It focuses on Donovan and Shirley settling down into their new life on the run. Bringing laws into the Vampire Coalition to try to get them to change their outdated ways. Also, figuring out this miracle pregnancy between a vampire and a recently turned human. What will come of the baby? The mother? I recommend reading this book and the previous if you haven’t already done so!

Seelie Kay is an amazing author, who would have thought of a Vampire lawyer? The way she writes Donovan’s character really got me in the mindset of an old timey gentleman. The way he talks and his personality traits. Then there is Shirley who is a sweet fiery judge. Both Donovan and Shirley are so different from each other but they just work. The flow of the book was just right. I sincerely hope there is going to be a third in this series!

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My Soul to Give (A Demon’s Love Book 1) by M. A. Fréchette – Review by Santana Hicks

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My Soul to Give (A Demon's Love #1)My Soul to Give by Magali A. Fréchette
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let me start off by saying what a twist! M Night Shyamalan must have wrote this book. There were so many twists and turns that this author kept me on my edge of my seat to find out what would happen next! I thought I knew what was going to happen then BOOM! something entirely different happens instead.

My Soul to Give was about a woman named Celina whose husband was murdered in front of her. She is offered a deal to get revenge for her life and soul from a demon named Kai. I loved both these characters. Celina was very head strong and questioned just about everything Kai did and said which resulted in Kai being sassy and annoyed. It was very amusing to read these two interact with each other. Kai spoke and acted just as I would expect from a demon.

M.A. Frechette is an amazing writer. Everything just flowed and tied together nicely. My soul to give was everything. Romance, sex, drama, murder, mystery and even demons. I highly recommend this book to any adult who enjoys those things.

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DATING THE INTERN by Natalina Reis – Review by Santana Hicks

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Dating the InternDating the Intern by Natalina Reis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dating the Intern by Natalina Reis is a romance filled rom-com with just the right amount of drama. It is very unique compared to other books in this drama because the main character, Ivory, is very flawed which makes her all the more real and likeable.

Ivory is the CEO of a dating company but with no love of her own. When she gets offered publicity, it is brought to her attention that if she doesn’t have a SO, it looks bad. Li, Ivory’s intern, offers to be her fake boyfriend to the public.

Ivory struggles with very low self esteem, stemming from an emotionally abusive father. One element of this book that I really love is watching Ivory grow into her own and battle her flaws head on.

The author uses a lot of food metaphors. I would suggest not reading this book on an empty stomach or you will be drooling and starving by the end of it. I sure was.

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Bared. (A Green St. Girls Romance) by N.D. Jackson – Review by Santana Hicks

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Bared. (Green St. Girls #1)Bared. by N.D. Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book really captured my interest. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. Romance being the main element with drama, passion, darkness, tragedy and sex. It’s everything I look for in a romance novel.

Bared is about an emotionally broken woman named Athena who had a dark past making it very hard to open up to anyone who isn’t one of her few best friends. She then meets a pool player named Tru who also had trust issues. The passion between them was inevitable but was it strong enough to get past both their hardships?

The relationship between Athena and her two best friends was very authentic in my opinion. They bantered like I would with my own friends. I loved how the author wrote all of the characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. It was refreshing to read a romance that wasn’t super fairy tale like.

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Jake the Growling Dog Shares His Trail (Jake the Growling Dog Book 3) by Samantha Shannon – Review by Santana Hicks

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Jake the Growling Dog Shares His TrailJake the Growling Dog Shares His Trail by Samantha Shannon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a touching book. My son is older (10 years old) but when I read it to him, he also enjoyed it. I would recommend this book to kids of all ages.

Jack the Growling Dog finds weird paw prints on his normal daily trail. He does not recognize it as any animal he has ever seen before. He meets up with his other dog friends named Luna and Bodhi to find this strange creature. The dogs are scared and worried about what they might find but the trio encourage each other to push forward in this endeavor.

This book touches a subject most kids don’t really understand on their own which is don’t judge a person (or dog) by how they look.

Another bonus for me personally when I was reading this book was one of the dog friends Bodhi. My dog’s name is also Bodhi so when I was reading this book out loud, he joined us and his ears perked up every time he heard his name!

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Journeys Through TimeSpace (Journeys Through Book 2) by James Talisman – Review by Santana Hicks

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

Journeys Through TimeSpace is the second book in the Journeys Through series by James Talisman. The book is split across multiple worlds in a Multiverse, just like the first book in the series. I have to say I enjoyed this book much more than the first one. I found the first one a bit confusing to keep track of all the characters and places. In the second one, there are less characters to keep track of which made it easier for me to connect to the characters.

My favorite characters were the three friends from college. Their friendship was strong and could hold up to any challenge thrown their way. Matt and Julia’s relationship as a couple was very cute and romantic. When the third friend was around, he was not treated as a third wheel, they were all just close friends.

This book once again had everything you look for in a sci-fi genre, space, adventure, multiverse, time travel. The author’s writing is very descriptive and it makes you feel like you could be there. I would recommend this book to any sci-fi lover.

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Journeys Through SpaceTime (Journeys Through Book 1) by James Talisman – Review by Santana Hicks

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

Journeys Through SpaceTime by James Talisman is the first novel in the Journeys Through series. At first it was a little bit confusing when trying to keep track on who is who. The author introduced too many different people all at once. As time went on and more things were written, it got easier.

The book is about a multiverse with several different peoples point of view. They were all written so differently that it held on to my interest even in the initial confusion. As time went on, I fell in love with most of the characters.

I have heard about multiverse before, especially through The Flash from DC but this novel took it to a whole new level in a good way! It took the classic good vs evil and threw in different species, different types of environments all mixed together in this universe.

I am not a sci-fi fan when it comes to space or things of a similar genre so when a few characters were from Earth, it made it more enjoyable for me. If you are a huge fan of sci-fi then this is the book for you! Even if you are not a sci-fi fan, I still recommend this novel.

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The Murders of Lillian Ross by Sirena Van Schaik – Review by Santana Hicks

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The Murders of Lillian RossThe Murders of Lillian Ross by Sirena Van Schaik
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was written so powerfully. It is NOT for the faint of heart. It touches a lot of “taboo” subjects like abuse, rape, prostitution, as well as suicidal thoughts in graphic detail. You can tell that Sirena Van Schaik is writing from the heart and from experience, making this novel even more heartbreakingly wonderful. Once started, I couldn’t put it down. As a survivor myself, I really felt connected to the main character, Allison. Sirena Van Schaik described everything perfectly.

It takes a different direction than most books which makes it very unique on it’s own. It circles around the life, both past and present, of a true crime author named Allison. Allison is writing her next book about Lillian Ross, Lillian is in prison for the murder of two men.

Once Allison meets with Lillian at the prison, she realizes that they both have a lot in common. This makes Allison’s past come up to haunt her. When Lillian was first convicted for the murders, she didn’t even try to fight the sentences. Years later, she gets in contact with Allison finally ready to talk about why she took the life of two men. It is a heartbreaking tale of a bad childhood, which led into a bad, if not worse adult hood, until she just broke.

Sirena Van Schaik was very good of getting into the mind of the murderer and why she did what she did. The author also had a very good balance of switching from past and present of both main characters as well as throwing in some scenes of the court case, evidence, etc. I would recommend this book who is looking for something real.

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