Category: Review

Review

Sinkhole by Davida Breier – My Review

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Title: Sinkhole

Author: Davida Breier

Release Date: May 26th 2022

Genre: Thriller, Coming of Age


Humidity, lovebugs, and murder.

Lies from the past and a dangerous present collide when, after fifteen years in exile, Michelle Miller returns to her tiny hometown of Lorida, Florida. With her mother in the hospital, she’s forced to reckon with the broken relationships she left behind: with her family, with friends, and with herself.

As a teenager, Michelle felt isolated and invisible until she met Sissy, a dynamic and wealthy classmate. Their sudden, intense friendship was all-consuming. Punk rocker Morrison later joins their clique, and they become an inseparable trio. They were the perfect high school friends, bound by dysfunction, bad TV, and boredom―until one of them ends up dead.

Forced to confront the life she turned her back on fifteen years ago, she begins questioning what was truth and what were lies. Now at a distance, Michelle begins to see how dangerous Sissy truly was.

An ingenious debut from editor and publisher Davida Breier, Sinkhole is a mesmerizing, darkly comic coming-of-age novel immersed in 1980s central Florida. A disturbing and skillful exploration of home, friendship, selfhood, and grief set amidst golf courses, mobile homes, and alligators.

A brilliantly dark read!

I read the synopsis and saw the story would be taking place in the 1980’s. Done! I love anything 80’s. The story has a dark vibe to it and I was there for it. Growing up and trying to fit in is hard. We’ve all been there. Michelle wants a friend and meets Sissy.

The characters are all very well written. I found myself relating and connecting to some of them and what they were going through. High school is rough. Fitting in is rough. There were times I shouted out loud because I saw the signs. Those red flags. I wanted to warn them. I was fully invested in the book! I found it hard to put the book down but I needed to know how it ended! The twist was a really good one and the ending felt like the sun rising on a new day.

I highly enjoyed this book. It is very well written and the author’s storytelling is fantastic. I can’t wait to see more from this author. If you’re a fan of thrillers and mystery, give this book a try! You won’t be disappointed. I give this 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

The Prisoner of Paradise: A Dual-Timeline Thriller Set in Venice (Painted Souls Book 1) – My Review

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Title: The Prisoner of Paradise: A Dual-Timeline Thriller Set in Venice (Painted Souls Book 1)

Author: Rob Samborn

Release Date: November 30th 2022

Genre: Historical, Thriller

A trip of a lifetime.
A 433-year-old murder.
An ancient order that will kill to silence the truth.

AMERICAN WRITING AWARDS FINALIST (THRILLERS/ADVENTURES)
Nick and Julia O’Connor’s dream trip to Venice collapses when a haunting voice reaches out to Nick from Tintoretto’s Paradise, the world’s largest oil painting.

Though Julia worries her husband suffers from a delusion, Nick is adamant the voice belongs to a woman from the 16th century—his soul mate from a previous life. He discovers a religious order that has developed a method of extracting people’s souls, which they imprison in Paradise. Over the centuries, they’ve judged thousands of souls and sentenced them to eternal purgatory.

As infatuation with the past clouds his commitment to his present-day wife, Nick must right an age-old wrong—destroy the painting and liberate his soul mate. But freeing her would allow all the souls to be reborn.

The order will never let that happen.

A riveting thriller ignites with a time-spanning love story. Perfect for fans of Dan Brown, Diana Gabaldon, Neil Gaiman or David Mitchell.

This book was quite the adventure! Secret society and the past and future colliding makes for an interesting read. The beginning was a little slow for me. I struggled a bit to keep reading. I knew characters and plot were being set up so I kept going. I did find the switching of views between the characters a bit confusing at times. I wasn’t sure who’s point of view I was reading because it had switched. I found myself enjoying the chapters that featured the past. From the way they spoke to the events, I found those chapters most enjoyable. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. They all seemed like pretty awful people but I feel it was intentional. None of these issues affected the story for me too much. I kept reading and found myself immersed in a different world. There are twists and turns and I had to know what would happen next!

All that being said, this was a good read. I definitely stepped out of my comfort zone with this book and I’m so glad I did. If you’re a fan of historical time travel thrillers, this book is right up your alley! I give this 3 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

Rowan: The Lochlann Feuds Complete Series – My Review

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Title: Rowan: The Lochlann Feuds Complete Series

Author: Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison

Release Date: June 9th 2022

Genre: Historical Romance

A Reckless Princess. An Enemy Kingdom. And a mistake that could cost her everything.

Rowan never wanted the kind of love you go to war for — the kind of love that could break you.

But when a harmless adventure lands her in the dungeons of her enemy, she’ll realize that’s just one of many things that’s beyond her control. Between Socairan politics, blood debts, and arseling lords with perilously gray morality, Rowan is forced to learn more than she ever wanted to about herself, about the kinds of choices she is capable of making.

And about how much she’s willing to risk for a love she never wanted to begin with.

**The Lochlann Feuds takes place after the events of The Lochlann Treaty Series, but it can be devoured and enjoyed all on its own.**

A fantastic and exciting series!

From beginning to end, these stories will captivate you and then leave you wanting more! It was great to read and watch Rowan change from that very first page to the end. Nothing went like I thought it would and it was glorious! The characters were a fun bunch and very well written. Well, some weren’t as fun. You’ll see what I mean once you dive in. I had my favorites for sure. Secrets, lies, and revenge made for some really great reading. Was I irrationally angry when I had to put the book down? Yes but in my defense I REALLY wanted to stay in this world!

If you love adventure, witty characters, and more, this collection is for you! I’m a fan of this writing duo and will highly recommend their books to anyone who will listen. I give this 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

New Release · Review

Bad Girls Drink Blood (Blood Fae Druid Book 1) by S.L. Choi – My Review

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Title: Bad Girls Drink Blood (Blood Fae Druid Book 1)

Author: S.L. Choi

Release Date: May 17th 2022

Genre: Paranormal Suspense, Fantasy

Part sun fae, part blood fae, all abomination.

After a life spent dodging slurs, threats, and assassination attempts, Lane Callaghan gave her past the one finger salute and ditched her former fae home for good.

The detective agency she and her sisters run on the edge of Las Vegas continues to limp along, with Lane doing more debt collecting and intimidating than investigating, but anything to pay the bills. Between working for low-lifes to bring down even lower-lifes, eating cheesy poofs by the bucket, and flirting with the criminally attractive bartender where she conducts business, life is good.

That ends when a routine job goes sideways leaving Lane with a sack full of stolen sun shards—the source of sun fae power. Without the shards, the sun fae face giving up their magic completely, or risk death if they use their power.

As far as Lane’s concerned, good riddance, considering they would rather see her dead—except her father and adopted sister are sun fae. Lane must choose to return home to save the fae bastards that almost killed her…or let them burn.

“With tantalizing hints of a wolfy blood tryst, a heavy dose of sisterly love, and plot twists to make the ride a surprise, S.L. Choi’s, Bad Girls Drink Blood is too much fun. If you like the Hollows, you will love this.” — Kim Harrison, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Hollows series

Bad Girls Drink Blood has the heroine we didn’t know we needed and may not deserve! Lane is one tough cookie. She doesn’t back down from a fight and she always gets the job done. 

What an entertaining ride this book was! You get a front seat into the adventures and shenanigans that Lane seems to find herself in. Her humor is on point, which had me laughing. Action and humor. A great combo! Teddy is dreamy! New book boyfriend? I think so! The banter between the characters was great. It made this a fun read. Oh there were plenty of moments that got you right in your feels too. That ending left me longing for the next book. I needs it!! 

A fantastic debut for S.L. Choi! The book is well written and the world building is impressive. This witty, action packed paranormal goodness will have you on one crazy ride. A ride that you won’t want to get off any time soon! I give this 5 stars. 

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

New Release · Review

The Shadow’s Heir (The Cursed Queens Book 2) by E.E. Hornburg – My Review

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Title: The Shadow’s Heir (The Cursed Queens Book 2)

Author: E.E. Hornburg

Release Date: May 17th 2022

Genre: Fantasy, Retellings

Myra has spent years hiding—in servitude of the now imprisoned Queen Amelia, and from a lineage she never wanted.

Now that she is freed from Amelia’s clutches, Myra is ready for a new start, but the echoes of the past, and the truth of who she is—a direct descendant of Stula, the goddess of death—will only disrupt the peace she wants to find in the kingdom of Oxare.

The kingdom is beautiful, as is the handsome prince Alvis and though his offer to join him at the Golden Palace is tempting, Myra is determined to make her own way.

But when a life on her own becomes too difficult, Myra is forced to accept Alvis’ offer and lands in the thick of a plot to free Queen Amelia. To keep the entire realm and her people safe, Myra and Alvis must find out who among the Golden Palace court is the betrayer before Amelia escapes.

But with each passing day Myra feels her connection to Alvis growing stronger, and her past continues to haunt her. Can they protect the kingdom and each other, before Amelia takes her revenge and Alvis finds out the truth?

Fans of Sarah J Maas, Hannah Whitten, and Emma Hamm will love this magical Cinderella retelling and follow up to The Night’s Chosen!

Fantastic world building! Mystery and deception. People are more than what they seem.

I could not put this book down! I was totally captivated right from the start. I knew that Myra and Alvis’ story was going to be truly special and I was not disappointed! The characters added color and flavor to the story. Unique in their own way. Loved how witty most of them were. The playful banter put a smile on my face. Can we befriend fictional characters? That’s truly how I felt with some of them. With the magical word weaving from Miss Hornburg, I was able to easily imagine the sounds and sights of another world. I loved the connection between Alvis and Myra. A slow burn kind of dance. That ending has me wanting more! I need book three ASAP!

This is a series I highly recommend and has fast become a favorite of mine. Enjoy retellings with a twist? These books are for you. Take a chance. You won’t be disappointed! I give this 5 stars. 

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

New Release · Review

Spellbound (From the Magic & Malice Anthology) by A.D. Luna – My Review

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Title: Spellbound (From the Magic & Malice Anthology)

Author: A.D. Luna

Release Date: May 15th 2022

Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy

Shayna
All my life I’ve been different. For starters, my family are vampires, and I am a human who can see and talk to the dead. I also have a natural ability for witchcraft. An ability that’s landed me at the most prestigious wizarding academy around.
But when I set foot on the ground of Aldridge Academy in the middle of the night after being whisked away, I know there’s more to the story, and I intend to figure it out.
Eli
My life has always been about the end game. A fourth-generation wizard with gifts like mine means I’m on a path not many will follow. It also means I’m an outsider, especially among the students at Aldridge. I’m used to being alone, with only my magic and mountains of paperwork to keep my company.
At least I thought I was. Until Aldridge gets a new student.

Magic & Malice is a magical collection of stories from some pretty awesome authors!

Spellbound by A.D. Luna is one of my faves! From the first couple of words, I was hooked. From the story to the characters, everything is very well written. I was digging the mysterious and slightly danger vibes the story was giving off. That ending! I can’t wait to see what comes next from A.D. Luna. A new author to watch and follow! I give this 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

New Release · Review

Forsaking the Dragon (Flames of Kalleen Book 3) by K.L. Bone – My Review

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Title: Forsaking the Dragon (Flames of Kalleen Book 3)

Author: K.L. Bone

Release Date: May 24th 2022

Genre: Fantasy

7,000 years ago a lie was born to hide a destructive truth—a Kalleen Princess defended her Amethystine love to her dying breath.

***

For millennia, Amethystine dragons have been banished from the Kalleen Kingdom, their very existence erased from the annals of history. But some claim, in the icy wastelands to which they were exiled, the Amethystines survived and wait for an opportunity to reclaim their land and birthright.

To protect her kingdom from the wicked and powerful temples that challenge her rule, Dragon Queen Amelia ventures into the ice-swept mountains in search of legends. The path proves treacherous, and the dragons she seeks may be the greatest threat she has yet faced.

Accompanying Amelia on this journey, Conner will stop at nothing to protect her, hoping his devotion and loyalty will be enough to overcome the secrets and family legacy he has kept hidden from the woman he loves.

As Amelia delves deeper into Amethystine lands, she must contend with the ancestral hatred from those her kingdom wronged centuries before, while finding a way to convince the Amethystines that if they fail to stand together both kingdoms will fall. To forge such an alliance, the Amethystine council demands a shocking price, one Amelia may not be willing to pay.

Return to the Kingdom of Kalleen…

Includes character and dragon illustrations by Raven Quinn, Vii Morte, and Barn-Swallow Art.

K.L. Bone knocked the third book in her Flames of Kallen Series out of the park! This book tied the remaining portion of the second book with much success. You get introduced to new characters and the world continues to build and build, leaving you wanting more. This enchanting series will both captivate and fascinate you. I highly recommend it! I give this 5 stars!

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

Fool Me Once: A Novel by Ashley Winstead – My Review

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Title: Fool Me Once: A Novel

Author: Ashley Winstead

Release Date: April 5th 2022

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Second Chance

“A simmering slow burn bursting with banter… This is a romance for anyone who’s ever felt too messy to be loved.”

—ROSIE DANAN, author of The Roommate

In this fierce and funny battle of the exes, Ashley Winstead’s Fool Me Once explores the chaos of wanting something you used to have.

Lee Stone is a twenty-first-century woman: she kicks butt at her job as a communications director at a women-run electric car company (that’s better than Tesla, thank you), and after work she is “Stoner,” drinking guys under the table and never letting any of them get too comfortable in her bed…

That’s because Lee’s learned one big lesson: never trust love. Four major heartbreaks set her straight, from her father cheating on her mom all the way to Ben Laderman in grad school—who wasn’t actually cheating, but she could have sworn he was, so she reciprocated in kind.

Then Ben shows up five years later, working as a policy expert for the most liberal governor in Texas history, just as Lee is trying to get a clean energy bill rolling. Things get complicated—and competitive—as Lee and Ben are forced to work together. Tension builds just as old sparks reignite, fanning the flames for a romantic dustup the size of Texas.

Fool Me Once is a quirky and fun read. Lee Stone is smart, strong, and funny. She also has her issues which we see come out during the story. While this was a fun read for me, it had some cringe moments. It made me say “Girl what are you doing?!” more than once. I think that is what makes Lee relatable. The other characters are not perfect and some are not likable at all. The energy between Lee and Ben is great. The playful banter between the two had me laughing. I kept saying “Just kiss already!”

This is not my normal kind of read and I’m glad I took a chance on it! It was fun along with some heartfelt moments that caused me to tear up. This is a new to me author and I will be looking into her other book. If you love fun quirky romance reads, I highly recommend you check this book out! I give it 4 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

Such a Pretty Smile: A Novel by Kristi DeMeester – My Review

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Title: Such a Pretty Smile: A Novel

Author: Kristi DeMeester

Release Date: January 18th 2022

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Paranormal Suspense

“Brutal and shocking, lush and evocative. DeMeester is a highly-original voice in horror.” – emily m. danforth, bestselling author of Plain Bad Heroines

A biting novel from an electrifying new voice, Kristi DeMeester’s Such a Pretty Smile is a heart-stopping tour-de-force about powerful women, angry men, and all the ways in which girls fight against the forces that try to silence them.

There’s something out there that’s killing. Known only as The Cur, he leaves no traces, save for the torn bodies of girls, on the verge of becoming women, who are known as trouble-makers; those who refuse to conform, to know their place. Girls who don’t know when to shut up.

2019: Thirteen-year-old Lila Sawyer has secrets she can’t share with anyone. Not the school psychologist she’s seeing. Not her father, who has a new wife, and a new baby. And not her mother—the infamous Caroline Sawyer, a unique artist whose eerie sculptures, made from bent twigs and crimped leaves, have made her a local celebrity. But soon Lila feels haunted from within, terrorized by a delicious evil that shows her how to find her voice—until she is punished for using it.

2004: Caroline Sawyer hears dogs everywhere. Snarling, barking, teeth snapping that no one else seems to notice. At first, she blames the phantom sounds on her insomnia and her acute stress in caring for her ailing father. But then the delusions begin to take shape—both in her waking hours, and in the violent, visceral sculptures she creates while in a trance-like state. Her fiancé is convinced she needs help. Her new psychiatrist waives her “problem” away with pills. But Caroline’s past is a dark cellar, filled with repressed memories and a lurking horror that the men around her can’t understand.

As past demons become a present threat, both Caroline and Lila must chase the source of this unrelenting, oppressive power to its malignant core. Brilliantly paced, unsettling to the bone, and unapologetically fierce, Such a Pretty Smile is a powerful allegory for what it can mean to be a woman, and an untamed rallying cry for anyone ever told to sit down, shut up, and smile pretty.

This is a pretty dark read and I was here for it! As you begin to read, there’s a sinister feeling. Like an unseen evil lurking around every corner. Caroline and Lila. Mother and daughter. You bounce between the present and Caroline’s past. Disturbing unexplained events unfold and you’re in for one crazy ride. I love how the author was able to both creep and fascinate me at the same time with how she described certain scenes. Fantastic writing style! Parts of the story were extremely slow but not enough for me to stop reading. It didn’t end like i thought it would. Which is a very good thing. As a whole, there’s an important message in this book. Read it to find out for yourself.

If you’re a fan of dark suspense reads, this book is for you. This is my first Kristi De Meester read and it won’t be my last. I plan on checking out her other books. I give this 3 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*

Review

End Game: A Valentine Wedding (Games we Play) by Lindsey Powell – My Review

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Title: End Game: A Valentine Wedding (Games we Play)

Author: Lindsey Powell

Release Date: April 22nd 2022

Genre: Erotic Suspense

The underworld never sleeps, not even when there’s a wedding…

Joey and Paige.

King and Queen.

Meant to be.

And now they are about to make their union official.

A sprinkle of murder, a whole lot of steam, and A Valentine Wedding.

A Games We Play short story.

 

*It is advised to read Checkmate before End Game as it may enhance your reading experience if you do.*

This seductive short story is addicting and entertaining. Did I mention steamy? The chemistry between Paige and Joey is scorching. I’m surprised my fingers didn’t burn from kindle screen! *fans self*

I love that we got to read about their wedding. It’s truly not a Valentine story without some murder and revenge.

If you haven’t read any of the books in this series, do yourself a favor and read them today! It’s got everything my little black heart desires. Action, revenge, strong women and the alpha men who love them. I can’t wait to see what comes next from Miss Powell. I give this 5 stars.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*