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The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1) by A. M. Porto – Review by Robin Rankin

The Finding (Berrycreek Heights, #1)The Finding by A.M. Porto
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1)

What a roller coaster of emotions. I was all of the place while reading, but still couldn’t put it down even with the tears running down my face.

Logan and Victoria meet as very young children. Logan was her protector from day one and every day after until she vanished.

The emotions and stress take place over a twelve year period and Logan didn’t give up the hope that he would one day be reunited with his little squirrel.

This is one heck of a debut novel by A.M. Porto and look forward to following her progression as an author.

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The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1) by A. M. Porto – Review by Shannen Kern

The Finding (Berrycreek Heights, #1)The Finding by A.M. Porto
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

WOW. This was an incredibly captivating read! I was wrapped up in a matter of minutes listening to Victoria and Login describe their past and present back and forth. I always enjoy multiple points of view, so this was right up my alley. There are some less than loveable characters here and a few difficult scenes, but they do add depth to the story. I became so invested in both Vic and Lo quickly and felt their emotions as my own. The author did a great job writing a gripping storyline. The flow can feel a little unnatural during a couple scenes of the book, but overall, it was a gripping thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. I don’t want to give away any of the twists and turns, so just pick it up and give it a go!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1) by A. M. Porto – Review by Megan Conley

The Finding (Berrycreek Heights, #1)The Finding by A.M. Porto
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book has the potential to be phenomenal. I really enjoyed the premise of the plot line and the characters. I feel like Porto could have fleshed out the character development more as well as the plot line. The book is very dialogue heavy (which is not necessarily a bad thing); however, there were chances to expand without dialogue and those were missed. Also, this book contains some triggering situations and I feel that perhaps the trigger warnings should be a little more specific so that everyone who goes into the book can be prepared. I am interested to see what is next in the series as I enjoyed the premise of the book.

Reviewed by @meggs1717

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The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1) by A. M. Porto – Review by Beverly Finnie

The Finding (Berrycreek Heights, #1)The Finding by A.M. Porto
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well that was a wild ride. The Finding was a suspenseful story of love, survival, perseverance, anger and so many other emotions. The author keeps you turning the page.
The anguish Logan feels throughout this book can be felt. You want him to find his love. You want happily ever after. You feel how broken he is and you want him to heal.
Starting in the past and ending in the present, this book is Logan and Victoria’s story. A story of love & hope, quickly turning to fear & anguish. Victoria has disappeared and nobody believes it besides those closest to her.
Victoria is a fighter. She has to be for everything she has been through. What keeps her going is her love for Logan.
Will she be found?
Will the authorities finally start to believe Logan, about her not leaving of her own accord?
That and so many more questions come about, especially when reading the chapters about the past.
The author seems to have started a new series, and it’s a series that looks to have a promising future. Based purely on the start.

@placexba
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The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1) by A. M. Porto – Review by Lisa Helmi

The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1)The Finding by A.M. Porto
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This premise of this story sounds intriguing but the execution was a struggle for me. I was continually drawn out of the flow by the timeline and how the sides of the story don’t match up with what we previously read. The story is broke my heart a time or two and I really felt for Logan. I liked how focused he was on finding her and how his anguish filled the pages.

Overall it seemed appealing but honestly I lost interest as the time dragged on. Maybe a shorter story and adjustments to the timeline would have helped me enjoy this story.

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The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1) by A. M. Porto – Review by Ashley Sugar

The Berrycreek Heights Series: The Finding.The Berrycreek Heights Series: The Finding. by Adry M Porto
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A couple pages in and I’m already loving this book! The tragedy that Victoria is going through at such a young age, shatters my heart. But Logan’s mom is such a saint! Her caring for Victoria makes my heart full because Victorias home life, is terrible. That little girl needs love and it’s sad a stranger shows it to her instead of her own stepfather. And Logan? He loves Victoria so damn much. He’s there for her, always. As much as this book angered me it kept my attention the entire time. Turning the pages because I just had to know what happens next. I can see how this book can be triggering, so please read the warnings. Book isn’t recommended for anyone under 18. Has a lot of dark topics/scenes. But I thoroughly enjoyed it!

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Brandy Rymer

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading “The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller” by Gloria Oliver. The details of the settings are so realistic that it draws you in right from the beginning of the story. The characters are so well developed that you are drawn to them immediately upon being introduced to them, you can’t wait to piece together the mystery of each of them. What has Julia Xero gotten herself into, is her dream job all she thought she wanted, or has she gotten herself in over her head? There are so many twists to this story, be prepared to expect the unexpected! If you love to read fantasy books or thrillers then this book is the perfect fit for you, it gives you the best of both worlds, I was so excited to finally have an amazing story that gave me two of my favorite genres in one story! This book is the first in a masterpiece that I could not put down, it left me excited for more.
@Brandy Rymer
07/2023

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The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1) by A. M. Porto – Review by Candida Hopper

The Finding (Berrycreek Heights, #1)The Finding by A.M. Porto
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book took me on an emotional roller-coaster. I felt like there were times I wanted to pull out my hair because of the pain that Vic and Lo were suffering. This story has love, suspense, abuse, loss, family, twists and turns and deals with some pretty dark subjects that can be triggering for some. The author wrote this story well and pulled me into the story. Vic had to deal with so much in this book but through it all she held on to her love for Logan. As I turned pages I kept wishing for her nightmare to be over. I don’t want to give anything away so I will say that this was a gripping story that I recommend. I look forward to reading more from this author.

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The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1) by A. M. Porto – Review by Santana Hicks

The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1)The Finding by A.M. Porto
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Victoria’s mother died when she was quite young, leaving her behind with an alcoholic step dad. Logan and his mother moved in next door and the pair became fast best friends. When Logan’s mother found out that Vic was basically left alone, she quickly extended an open door invitation into their home. From there Vic and Logan grew up together and eventually fell in love as teenagers.

This is also when her step father started actively hating her and would abuse her. For years, Logan was her protector until one day she was gone. Her step father abducted her.

This throws Logan into darkness where he will spend the next 12 years trying to find his first and only love. He wants no one else, just Victoria and will stop at nothing to find her.

The book alternates between both Logans and Victorias point of views. Throughout the book, you get a glimpse of the resources and funds that Logan uses to try to find Victoria. Meanwhile on Victoria’s side, it’s even darker than you can imagine. Her step dad is a horrible man and cares only about destroying Victoria until there is nothing left. She slowly descends into depression but still maintains hope that one day she will break free or Logan will rescue her.

The author did a good job portraying first loves and how strong the feeling for that person is. No matter how much time has passed, you will always remember your first love. Like I mentioned earlier, Victorias side of the story gets dark so if you are triggered by sexual assault and/or talk of suicide, you might want to steer clear of this book. If not, I recommend this book. It’s heart wrenching but hopeful at the same time.

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Sharon Funkhouser

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book I read by Gloria Oliver, and it was quite enjoyable! I love a fantasy novel that is rooted in reality- Julia’s character leads a life and has had experiences that reflect modern day society, and the fantasy aspect becomes interwoven throughout the story, naturally. The character dialogue and interactions develop with the ups and downs one usually encounters when meeting new people and starting a new job, which adds to the relatability of the story as well. Groundwork was nicely laid for the continuation of the series, and I am eager to read the next installment of The Secret Humankind!

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The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Julia Xero is a young woman wanting more from life, she is in a dead end job which pays badly and has the worst boss and coworkers she can imagine, so when a job becomes available with a company which cleans up crime scenes, she immediately applies. While she keeps her fingers crossed that she will get the job, she is still shocked when she does, especially when she sees the building she will be based in and how glamorous it looks, it doesn’t quite fit with the job description.

When she goes through the training, nothing seems to be too amis, apart from seeming too good to be true, she just wants to fade into the background in her usual way, but the people around her are not even close to how introverted she is. When she is out on a job with her partner in cleaning, it looks like it will be a normal shift, that is until a message comes through and the tension in the van goes through the roof.

It is the one thing she had not been trained for and so Julia is thrown into a baptism of fire before she has been deemed as ready when they are called to a decapitated body on a rooftop. While she is waiting for the all clear to come up, something lands beside the van and all Julia can see is a mouth full of sharp, pointy teeth glowing in the street outside her window and it doesn’t look human in any way!

This is where Julia us introduced to the Secret Humankind and the true nature of their job, to clean up after their attacks. This is then followed with the information that when she thought she had fallen asleep in the training videos, it turns out that she had been implanted with a small explosive devise which could kill her if she reveals what she now knows.

This throws Julia for a complete loop and she cannot process what she has just learnt, it is everything she didn’t want to be again, under someone else’s control and without her free will, but will Julia be able to reconcile with this new reality, or will the need to escape override the joy of finally having a job she had always wanted? This is a fantasy adventure which is full of secrets, revelations and supernatural beings galore as one young woman navigates through a web of intrigue to discover the information she needs to survive in this story which will leave you thrilled and wanting more.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Shannen Kern

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a magnificent start to the series! I absolutely love our main character, Julia, as she is a strong, no-nonsense female lead. She has endured many hardships in her life, but she never lets that stop her. I was pulled in from the very first chapter and couldn’t read fast enough to see what would happen next! I feel like the characters meshed perfectly and the flow of the story read so naturally. I can’t wait to continue this series as this author has already proved that they know exactly what their audiences wants. I highly recommend picking this up and giving it a chance, especially if you like sci-fi/supernatural thrillers!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Julie Johnson

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

This is a book that is really hard to put down! It’s a different kind of book for me in some ways, in others it’s not. I got a bit of an X-Files vibe from this book and I really enjoyed it!

Julia Xero is an orphan who’s faced more adversities in life than she should have. She has a roommate who is a model and whom I believe uses Julia. When an opportunity for a new job comes to light, Julia is ready for a change. She’s interviewing for a cleaning job but not your typical cleaning job. It’s a crime scene clean up gig. Not many people could endure such a job and her interview was pretty grueling to make sure she could make the cut.

Things start out as great as they could for someone cleaning up crime scenes, but then one night, a very strange call comes in. Life will never be the same after that! Not to mention, Julia learns that she’s been implanted with a sensor that could cause her carotid artery to explode. No worries, right?!?!

There are many interesting characters and lots of action in this book. I feel like it’s maybe geared more towards young adults but as a more mature adult, I enjoyed this too! I’m looking forward to the next book!

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The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1) by A. M. Porto – Review by M Policicchio

The Finding (Berrycreek Heights, #1)The Finding by A.M. Porto
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So, this wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. The relationship between Vic and Logan was everything it needed to be. He was her friend, he was her big brother, he was her boyfriend, he was her savior. She was his everything. The story was good. The characters were sappy and endearing.

There were a couple of things that bothered me, like the timeline. Vic said once it had been 8 years, and Logan said it had been six. A couple of other bobbles in the timeline but it didn’t completely detract from the impactfulness of the story. But, the things were not enough for me to understand the importance of Vic’s story.

Logan Lancaster moved next door to Victoria Appledeen right when Vic needed him. Logan and his mom, Annie, became Vic’s family. Unfortunately, they could not break Vic away from her abusive step-father. They just had to do their best to keep her out of his reach. It mostly worked up until Vic was about 15. Two months before her 16th birthday, Vic disappeared. Her stepfather took her. Logan couldn’t get anyone to believe it. For the next 12 years, Logan searched for Vic. Logan was finally able to convince the FBI that Vic’s disappearance was more than just them leaving town. Logan hired PIs to follow up on the clues, tips, and information that no one else would. Logan didn’t give up. Can Logan save Vic?

I don’t want to spoil the ending. This book has many topics that could be triggering for some. Although, not graphically discussed there is talk of rape, violence, other human trafficking and child abuse.

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Jo Wright

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG! This book is so good! This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Gloria Oliver goes above and beyond with her character developments and chilling mystery. This is a very intense book with twists and turns. As an orphan, she’s used to not getting things to go the way she wants, but she, somehow, finally manages to get her dream job… cleaning up after homicides, suicides, and dangerous chemicals; only to find out the job is just a little too good to be true. Her employers put a, quite literal, bomb in her neck to make sure she’d keep quiet about the secrets she was soon to uncover. When a dangerous assassin gets let off the leash, she feels it’s her duty to catch the killer. Such an exceptional book that I could not bear to put down! Anxiously awaiting the next one…

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@jowright

The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Rayne East

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant!
I had been looking for a ‘sink my teeth into’ series for awhile and then I came across this book. Filled with all the best aspects of an urban fantasy this book takes the reader on a journey into the world of Julia Xero. She’s had a lot thrown her way and has become pretty jaded. I love the author’s style and imagery as the story is delivered in a way that immerses the reader in narrative. I can’t wait to continue this series. Highly recommend!

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book #1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Angela Hayes

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

4.5 Stars

 

The Secret Humankind is the first book in The Discoveries of Julia Xero series by Gloria Oliver. This is the first book that I have read by Ms. Oliver, so I really didn’t know what to expect from one of her stories- but I love action-packed urban fantasies, and the blurb promised a gripping read- so I let my one-click finger loose and snapped up a copy and immediately set off to join the adventure.
I have to say that this turned out to be a surprising little gem! While I knew by the blurb that I would probably like the story, I certainly didn’t expect to love it as much as I did/do! I am now kicking myself that I hadn’t discovered this talented author before now- but am also a little excited to now have a new author to follow and enjoy. I feel a massive book-binge coming on.
This was such a fantastic urban fantasy with mystery, action, adventure, suspense, thrills, crime and investigation, assassins, paranormal beings/creatures/monsters, complexity, layers, secrets, quirky characters, superb world building, rich details + descriptions, dramatic developments, and so much more.
Julia is a glass-half-empty kind of girl. Her life hasn’t been easy, and she could do with life giving her a bit of a break. When she scores her ‘dream’ job, she has no idea that her whole world is about to be turned upside down. What she discovers sets her on an action-packed adventure that she could never have predicted. What ensues makes for a sublime read.
I really can’t wait to devour more instalments in this exciting series- as well as to explore Ms. Oliver’s other works. Colour me happy right now.
Highly recommended!
Happy Reading…

Thank you, Gloria Oliver!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Jenni Bishop

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Secret Humankind is an engaging urban fantasy mystery. It is the first book in this new series from Gloria Oliver. Gloria is a new author to me, and I enjoyed her work. Her world-building is well done, and she has cleverly woven together complex threads in a multi layered story.
The intriguing plot is fast-paced and full of suspense, tension, frustration, fear, desperation,
This darkish occult thriller is a page-turner and is action packed with mayhem, aliens, supernatural beings, humans, secrets, mystery and magic.
Gloria’s narrative and a few twists and turns makes it easy to become intrigued with the characters and their journey.
Have a murder on your hands? Have a crime scene? Need the mess to go away? Need a crime-scene cleaner? Then Julia is your girl.
I wonder where the series goes. I look forward to reading more.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Toni Sellers

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fantastic! What a wonderful start to a series. I can’t wait for more; I didn’t want to put it down. Julia was easy to relate to in a lot of ways for me, all the characters were well written. There are good twists and turns with plenty of action. Mystery, murder and magic. What else do you need? I definitely recommend this book.

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Kerry Baker

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the first book in an new fantasy series. It is fast paced and a brilliant story. I was pulled into it right from the start and really connected with the main character. The book was action packed and really exciting to read. As the first book in a new series it really kick starts things with a bang.
This is a new author to me and I hope that her work continues just like this book. I could have read this book for so much longer and I cannot wait to see what the next installment brings.

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Secret Humankind is Book One in The Discoveries of Julia Xero. It is a fast-paced, occult, urban fantasy thriller that centers around the character of Julia who is an orphan trying to find solace in her chaotic and stressful life. Her work environment is toxic at the best of times but suddenly she finds herself facing aliens who try to force her into silence by implanting her with a bomb. Julia now finds herself struggling to survive as she battles against the forces intent on destroying her. Along her journey Julia makes discoveries about herself that come as a bit of a surprise. This was a great read with a blending of the real world and the supernatural world melding together. Julia was an interesting character that one can easily relate to. Wanting a less stressful life and trying to make the best of things made her very relatable and easy to root for. This book had action, suspense, mystery, magic, mayhem, aliens, otherworldly creatures, and a few twists and turns that will captivate you until the end.

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The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1) by A. M. Porto – Review by Elisha Johnson

The Finding (Berrycreek Heights, #1)The Finding by A.M. Porto
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Finding by A.M. Porto- 4 out of 5 stars

This book brought forth a range of emotions, some were not so pleasant. I believe this author has a great deal of writing potential as she grows her following. The storyline deals with dark subjects that can be very sensitive to readers but I feel it is respectfully written. The Finding has it’s fair share of twists and turns as the main character’s reunite years after Victoria’s stepdad sold her to a cartel. All in all, the plot was great.

Review by @elishajohnson

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Rebeca Elliott Figueiras

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Discoveries of Julia Xero series which was a great start to a potentially amazing series. I thought the premise of this book was interesting and that’s what initially drew me in. The world-building was great and the character’s job, was very interesting to see incorporated into the book. I enjoyed the characters, even the ones I couldn’t stand (because of their personalities/actions, not because they were written poorly because they weren’t), they fit the story well.

I look forward to reading book 2 and finding out what happens next.

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Kerry Carr

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the The Discoveries of Julia Xero series. This was a really interesting read. I loved the twists and turns and the mixture of mystery and magic. The author does a great job of writing a story that is unique and that twists and turns so you never know what is coming and what to expect. I couldn’t put it down.
I loved Julia’s character. She has had a hard life being brought up in the care system until she was deemed old enough to be on her own, and after losing the friend she considered her own family she is fighting to carry on. Now she is a dead end job that she hates and wants a change so she applies for a job cleaning up crime scenes.
Julia is surprised when she gets offered the job but she soon becomes aware that isn’t not just a straight forward job. As secrets start to be revealed and non human creatures start to emerge Julia starts to have her eyes open to alien beings when her employers show their true colours and have a unique way of insuring Julia’s silence and co-operation.
All through the story you can feel Julia’s struggle as she tries desperately to survive in a role that becomes more dangerous than she originally thought. What happens when her ideal job turns into a job that could take her life?
Can she survive the assassin that is on the lose?
With Mysteries to uncover, secrets to be revealed and dangers that come from a unknown source this is one book that is sure to grip you. I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for the next book in the series.

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver – Review by Shelly Kittell

The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1)The Secret Humankind: An Urban Fantasy Thriller by Gloria Oliver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this book to be entertaining. Ending up at a crime cleaning service which isn’t quite what it says it is. Learning that not everything is as it is is kind of the lesson of the book. For the first in the series, I find the author set up the book in a perfect way. I was drawn in by the characters right from the start. I am a fan of urban fantasy. This is one of my favorite genres becasue it can go in a few different ways. The story is quite fascinating. I can’twait for the next book to come out.

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The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver

•°•🔹️•*•📖•*•🔹️•°• BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE •°•🔹️•*•📖•*•🔹️•°•
The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver
Genre – Occult, Thriller
Page Count – 206
Cover Designer – Dimension Palace Publishing

She keeps her head down and cleans up messes. When the body count starts rising, will trying to make a living get her rubbed out?

Julia Xero is stuck in survival mode. After losing the only person she loved, the introverted orphan longs to escape her toxic employment for the zen of crime and trauma scene decontamination. But when she lands her dream job and is called to a bloody rooftop with a decapitated corpse, she’s horrified to come face to face with an otherworldly shark-toothed assassin.

Furious to learn she’s been enlisted by a clandestine race of beings against her will, Julia’s dismay fountains when she finds out they implanted her with a neck bomb to ensure her lips stay tightly sealed. Fit to be tied, and her thunderous confrontation with her boss hitting a deadend, the stubborn young woman begins plotting ways to leave the energy-powered entities in her dust.

Can she outwit an ancient civilization before her carotid goes boom?

The Secret Humankind is the gritty first book in The Discoveries of Julia Xero urban fantasy thriller series. If you like fish-out-of-water heroines, complex worlds, and dark truths, then you’ll love Gloria Oliver’s multi-faceted mystery.

Buy The Secret Humankind to match wits with monsters today!

~ AMAZON ~

Click here to view the Book Trailer for The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver

Click here to experience a Chapter Reading of The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver

Gloria Oliver lives in Texas, staying away from rolling tumbleweeds while bowing to the never-ending wishes of her feline and canine masters.

Her previous works have been fantasy, urban fantasy, young adult fantasy, and recently historical cozy mystery novels. Several contain romantic and mystery elements. Her short speculative fiction stories can be found in many anthologies, covering things from the fantastic and strange to a Bubba Apocalypse.

The Discoveries of Julia Xero will be her second series. Her first is the Daiyu Wu Mysteries.

Gloria is a member in good standing of BroadUniverse though she has yet to make the list for Cat Slaves R Us. In her spare time (what’s that?), she watches TV shows, movies, anime, plays PC games, and reads books.

For some free reads, sample chapters, appearance schedule, and more information on her and her works, please drop by and visit her at  www.gloriaoliver.com or subscribe at www.gloriaoliver.com/subscribe to get news, deals, releases, and a free gift for joining!

Author Interview with Gloria Oliver

~ FACEBOOK ~ INSTAGRAM ~ BOOKBUB ~ TWITTER ~ TIKTOK ~ PINTEREST ~ GOODREADS ~ YOUTUBE ~ AMAZON ~ NEWSLETTER ~ WEBSITE ~

The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1) by A. M. Porto – Review by Lucy Machard

The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1)The Finding by A.M. Porto
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

CONTAINS SPOILERS/CONTENT WARNING

This book definitely was interesting. It follows the story of Victoria; and tells about the countless abuse she suffered at the hands of her stepfather. There are detailed descriptions of child abuse in this novel, and honestly I did find myself needing to take a bit of a break here and there from the story because of some of the details of abuse. Her stepfather also goes along and ends up selling her to a cartel, where she does end up getting SA’d by the cartel leader. The SA doesn’t go in to detail, for those that might struggle with reading things like that.

The writing style of the author to me seemed to be full of dialog, and a little low on actual action. Don’t get me wrong, I love a book full of dialog, but I feel like I personally missed a lot of opportunities to connect with the characters and connect more with the story due to the way we don’t get to see a range of emotions that can connect readers with characters. This isn’t me saying there are *no* emotions, but honestly there’s only about three- love, rage, and determination. The idea and the plot was absolutely fantastic, but I personally feel like the writing style could have been a little more detailed when it comes to the actions of the characters. This isn’t a dig to the author; I really did like this book, it’s just the writing style wasn’t for me, but it could be perfectly fine for you.

As I said, I do love the plot, and I love the basis surrounding the book. I think this author has a phenomenal amount of potential as a writer and as she develops more into her craft, and I look forward to seeing what else she puts out into the world and to watch her grow!

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Shadow (Devil’s Handmaidens MC: Timber-Ghost, Montana Chapter Book 2) by D.M. Earl – Review by Kristin Boutelle

Shadow (Devil's Handmaidens MC-Book Two)Shadow by D.M. Earl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is about the Enforcer in the Devil Handmaidens MC, Shadow/Zoey. It does tell Shadow’s backstory and why she is the way she is. It is an emotional rollercoaster. The author does well with character development. Shadow will only let a few people in to see her true self once she determines that she feels safe with them.

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•°•🔹️•*•📖•*•🔹️•°• PREORDER •°•🔹️•*•📖•*•🔹️•°• The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver

•°•🔹️•*•📖•*•🔹️•°• PREORDER •°•🔹️•*•📖•*•🔹️•°•
The Secret Humankind (The Discoveries of Julia Xero Book 1) by Gloria Oliver
Genre – Occult, Thriller
Page Count – 206
Cover Designer – Dimension Palace Publishing

She keeps her head down and cleans up messes. When the body count starts rising, will trying to make a living get her rubbed out?

Julia Xero is stuck in survival mode. After losing the only person she loved, the introverted orphan longs to escape her toxic employment for the zen of crime and trauma scene decontamination. But when she lands her dream job and is called to a bloody rooftop with a decapitated corpse, she’s horrified to come face to face with an otherworldly shark-toothed assassin.

Furious to learn she’s been enlisted by a clandestine race of beings against her will, Julia’s dismay fountains when she finds out they implanted her with a neck bomb to ensure her lips stay tightly sealed. Fit to be tied, and her thunderous confrontation with her boss hitting a deadend, the stubborn young woman begins plotting ways to leave the energy-powered entities in her dust.

Can she outwit an ancient civilization before her carotid goes boom?

The Secret Humankind is the gritty first book in The Discoveries of Julia Xero urban fantasy thriller series. If you like fish-out-of-water heroines, complex worlds, and dark truths, then you’ll love Gloria Oliver’s multi-faceted mystery.

Buy The Secret Humankind to match wits with monsters today!

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The Finding (Berrycreek Heights Series Book 1) by A. M. Porto – Review by Sara Grantham

The Finding (Berrycreek Heights, #1)The Finding by A.M. Porto
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a dark, twisted, and emotional thriller. It kept me wanting more and more, so I couldn’t put this book down until I was completely finished. Lots of twists and heartache, but such a great read. I highly recommend it!

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