I love to read. My favorite genres are women's fiction, romance, psychological thrillers, fantasy, young adult, steampunk, dystopian, LGBTQIA, and paranormal.
A power to be able control space itself . That is what Artorius possessed . He possessed a power akin to that of a God. But he didn’t feel like one…. Waking up, seeing himself drowning in the ocean of emptiness, Artorius saw the world that he had to confront. The governments that he had to face. Unable to die, unable to live, seeing himself devolve into obscurity, aeons went by. Seeking the world, becoming the villain in the face of it, he is going to topple it. In the face of such an existence, how are the world leaders going to react? How is the universe going to react….
One•Life is a story that goes through the life of a lone existence that was chosen by the universe. A gripping tale of geopolitical intrigue and cosmic wonder, Artorius takes his initial stride, ready to confront the notorious terror organization, ISII, and a world teetering on the edge. Containing psychological thriller elements as well as escalating action, One•Life displays the tumultuous life that one man can lead.
First Line:
WHAT IS THE COST OF LIFE? LIFE ITSELF.
One * Life: Ameno by Blaze Dendukuri
Artorius lives in the jungles of India, a solitary and lonely existence. One day, Artorius is called to leave the jungle. Once he does, it sets off a chain of events that will kill millions. Who is Artorius, and what does he want?
When I initially decided to read and review One * Life, I was intrigued by the storyline. A geopolitical, psychological thriller was right up my alley. But then I read it, and the storyline left me confused and unfulfilled.
I will do a quick review, different from the average in-depth review I usually do. As I said above, I was confused during Artorius’s parts of the book. The author gave no background about him other than that he was part of the void and had a daughter named Thalia, who died. As for his motives, they were just as murky. I couldn’t tell if he wanted to help people or if he wanted people to die.
As for feeling unfulfilled, that is mainly aimed at the end of the book. I wanted more from this storyline. There were sparks of something good when the author wrote about the world leaders and the blogger, but it was lost under everything else.
I would recommend One * Life to anyone over 21. There is extreme and graphic violence and language, but no sexual situations.
Many thanks to Blaze Dendukurri for allowing me to read and review One*Life. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
Now that Nicoleta knows her destiny is hunting vampires, she’s encountering them in places where she never expected to find them. However, that may be the least of her concerns. When she and her best friend, Tatiana, return to Romania to attend college, they soon learn that the unimaginable has happened. A voinico has been turned! Desperate to save the person she loves, will Nicoleta ever find a way to cure them, or will her true calling as a vampire slayer be put to the ultimate test?
This is book 2 in The Vânător Vampire Hunters series.
First Line
“Professor Cojori,” the girl said. “I was told that this would be a good time to see you.”
The Voinico’s Slayer by Sallie Cochren
Nicoleta (Nikki) and her best friend are wrapping up their summer. They plan to attend an international college in Romania together and spend the remainder of their summer with their family and traveling. Meanwhile, in Romania, the unthinkable has happened. A voinico has been kidnapped by Antansia and Varujan with the intent of trying and turning them into a vampire. And it works, much to Antansia’s delight and surprise. When Nikki arrives in Romania to start college, she is stunned to learn who that voinico is. Everything comes to a head in a bitter battle that pits friends and family against the former voinico, now a varcolac.
When the author approached me and asked if I wanted to read/review The Voinico’s Slayer, I immediately said yes. Having read The Voinico’s Daughter, I wondered what happened to Nikki once she returned to Arizona. So, yes, I was thrilled to read this book!
The Voinico’s Slayer is the second book in the Vanator Vampire Hunter series. You cannot read this book as a stand-alone. If you want to, go ahead, but I warn you that you must read book one first. It explains everything (the terminology, Nikki’s background, her parents’ background, and the vampire lore).
As with The Voinico’s Daughter, The Voinico’s Slayer takes place almost entirely in Romania. Romania is a country that I have heard very little about (other than the Dracula myth). Unlike the first book, the author didn’t spend much time on Nikki’s time in Romania (college and every day). I didn’t mind, mainly because I first read book one and knew what to expect.
I was so happy when I saw that the author had included a glossary at the end of the book. To help you with some of the terms, I am going to but brief descriptions of some of the words here:
Voinico—A person who has survived being bitten by a vampire. Going three days without feeding, the person develops special abilities after being bitten. They also cannot be turned into a vampire (or so the legend says).
Vanator—The child of a voinico. A vanator inherits strength and special abilities from their parent(s), which helps them fight and kill vampires. Vampires cannot turn them into vampires.
Paznic—A vampire’s servant.
Mijloc—A young vampire in the first stage of transitioning from human to vampire. They still have some of their humanity, and victims can sometimes use that to plead with them.
Varcolac—A fully turned vampire. They have no conscience and do whatever they please. You cannot reason with a varcolac.
All the words for the vampire hunters and the vampires are Romanian.
There are two storylines in The Voinico’s Slayer. The first one centers around Nikki, Tatiana, her move to Romania for college, and her absolute rage regarding vampires. It was interesting to see Nikki going rogue as she did in Hawaii and Romania. The second storyline centers around Daciana, Antansia, Varujan, and Daciana’s kidnapping and turning. Both storylines were well written. The author did a lot of switching between the storylines within each chapter. But, she would make it very clear what storyline it was.
I liked Nikki, but I didn’t like her aggression at the beginning of the book. I understood and sympathized with her but felt she took unnecessary risks. I also felt she wasn’t ready to hunt for Daciana when she found out. She wasn’t trained enough, and it showed. My other beef with her is that she only told Tatiana about her nightmares. She didn’t tell her father or the other villagers because she listened to her friend. It frustrated me, but at the same time, I liked it because she was still a kid. A kid with some incredible abilities but still a kid.
I felt awful for Daciana. She endured so much while being held prisoner by Antansia and Varujan. Being forced to be turned into a vampire went against everything that she believed in. I liked that she held onto her humanity longer than the other vampires. There was one point in the book where I thought she might overcome it, and I was internally cheering her on. Also, during those same scenes, I thought she might finally eliminate the dynamic duo (Antansia and Varujan). That hope made the book’s last chapter entirely sad to read.
Antansia and Varujan need to go. If I didn’t like them at the beginning of the book, I loathed them at the end. It was funny that Varujan ended up being such a beta. For an older vampire, I did think he would have had more power than Antansia, but he didn’t. I wonder if his past as a murderer had something to do with it.
I wished a couple of characters had more time in the book. They are Revka (but she did get some time towards the end), Dr. Cojori (he knew a lot of vampire lore and legends), and the unnamed vampire that popped in now and then throughout the book. Along with their storyline (the cure storyline caught my attention), I hope they are featured more prominently in book 3.
The end of The Voinico’s Slayer broke my heart. While I figured what happened would happen, I wasn’t ready for how emotional I got reading it. I was also very intrigued by what was going on with Antansia and Varujan, and the unnamed vampire at the end of the book.
I recommend The Voinico’s Slayer to anyone over 16. There is violence and mild language, but no sexual situations.
Many thanks to Sallie Cochren for allowing me to read and review The Voinico’s Slayer. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
In a prequel to ‘Material Witness’ and ‘Thirteen in the Medina,’ it’s the summer before she met Keith and Carrie’s holiday plans have been thrown into disarray by the political climate. She ends up taking a trip to Sicily where she meets octogenarian Millie and a local Sicilian, Enzo. Enzo appears to be following Carrie as she tours around the island; is he smitten, as Millie maintains, or does he have criminal intentions, as suggested by another of her fellow travellers? And if so, is he responsible for a series of antiquities’ burglaries? Or is he on the hunt for Excalibur, the legendary sword rumoured to be lost in Sicily, a sword forged by the ancient Roman blacksmith, Vulcan, god of fire? Carrie and Millie decide to investigate, but their amusement palls when the adventure takes an unpleasant turn as someone, it seems, is playing with fire.
First Line:
The house was located in the midst of Lazio in central Italy, a region containing not only the country’s capital, Rome, with its ancient Forum, the Coliseum, and the more recent Baroque additions of the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps but also the Vatican, the spiritual and physical heart of the Roman Catholic Church; while of the coast sits Ostia with its ancient port.
Playing with Fire by Flora McGowan
Carrie had been planning on traveling to the Middle East when she was forced to look elsewhere to travel because of political unrest in the area. She decided to take a guided tour of Sicily. But her trip wasn’t the laid-back vacation she expected. Instead, she was pursued by a local named Enzo while ushering a King Author obsessed older woman around the island, all while trying to enjoy the island’s history. But, a string of burglaries throws a shadow over the tour. Who is robbing the museums and why?
When I read the blurb for Playing With Fire, I knew I needed to read this book. Not only does it take place in Italy, which is high on my list of places to visit, but it also offers an exciting view of where Excalibur and Camelot were compared to the legend. I am glad that I read this book because it was good. Plus, I loved reading the historical tidbits thrown throughout the book.
Playing With Fire started slowly and took a while to build up pace. But, once it got going, it flowed nicely. The book maintained a medium pace from the middle of the book to the end, which surprised me. I am used to mysteries having a more brisk pace. I liked it because it allowed me to process the information given.
Playing With Fire takes place entirely on the island of Sicily. I loved the author’s visuals of each town and the historical areas Carrie toured. I also liked the smattering of Italian given in the book.
The main storyline of Playing With Fire centers around Carrie, the tour, Enzo, and the burglaries. As I stated above, the book started slow. But, as Carrie traveled around Sicily and the mystery of Enzo/the art thefts deepened, the storyline gradually increased. This storyline was well-written and well-researched storyline. The author did not lose my attention for a moment.
I liked Carrie and admired her for traveling alone. I also liked that she gravitated toward people similar to her (her travel buddies). Millie and Joan were perfect for her. Vanessa, on the other hand, was not. She also had a good head on her shoulders and used it wisely during the book. Her instincts about Enzo and Vanessa were right on, well, for the most part.
The mystery angle of Playing With Fire was a slow burn. I wondered who the thief was. The author did use red herrings and misdirection to keep me from guessing. So, when the thief was revealed, I was shocked. Put it this way, that person was not on my radar.
There was a slight romance angle in Playing With Fire. The author kept it in the background and was brought up occasionally. But I wasn’t surprised at how it played out.
I want to mention King Arthur/Excalibur/Sicily’s history storyline. It was well-researched. I liked that the author threw some doubt as to where King Arthur was buried. I also liked that some of the mystery centered around Excalibur. And the history of Sicily was fascinating.
The end of Playing With Fire was standard. The author was able to wrap up the mystery in a way that satisfied me. I also liked how the author ended the romance storyline.
I recommend Playing With Fire to anyone over 16. There is no language, mild violence, and no sexual situations.
Many thanks to Flora McGowan for allowing me to read and review Playing With Fire. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
If you enjoyed reading this review of Playing With Fire, then you will enjoy reading these books:
Meet Riley MacLeod…loving husband…caring father…faithful friend…successful writer…and the world’s biggest idiot. Of course, in Riley’s insane mind he sees himself as the world’s biggest…well…hero. However, when Riley’s wife insists they take a romantic drive from Vermont to Minnesota to spend Thanksgiving with her family who is far from normal themselves, the man who is hated by his neighbors and loathed by an angry tom cat, sets out to prove that he isn’t an idiot…under duress, of course. The trip begins with Riley getting tied up by his best friend, his clothes stolen by a group of mischievous teenagers, and a tow truck driver with a happy gun finger. Determined to keep pushing forward, under duress of course, Riley continues down the road desperately trying to leave the state of Vermont only to encounter a killer truck driver, a girl with strange colored hair, and a pair of old people who turn out to be drug dealers. Yet, through it all, Riley somehow turns out to be a hero…well, kinda. Will Riley MacLeod and his wife make it to the Thanksgiving table in one piece or will they end up in a mental hospital locked away in little padded rooms?
First Line:
Thanksgiving had arrived again. And with those words, I will begin my story. Pity me.
Carving Up Riley by Paul Flanagan
A screenwriter, Reily uses his overactive imagination to create box office hits. But that same imagination has had the opposite effect in real life, translating to Reily having social issues. Take, for instance, Thanksgiving. Reily and his wife were offered a rare trip without their two children by Reily’s wife’s parents. They were to take a week and travel from Vermont to Minnesota, arriving in time for Thanksgiving. Easy, right? Not really. Because during this trip, Reily and Rebecca run into all sorts of issues. From teenagers who steal Reily’s clothes to trigger happy but mother-loving trucker to a hotel receptionist with different colored hair to an RV driven by a pair of elderly drug runners, they all make this trip to Minnesota impossible. Will Reily and Rebecca make it out of Vermont? Or will Reily’s habit of running his mouth and acting before he thinks end the trip before it gets underway?
I will admit that when the author approached me to read and review this book, I initially wasn’t going to accept it. I was super booked up with reviews. But then I read the blurb and got a chuckle, and I realized that I needed a book that could make me laugh (I had been reading some depressing stuff at this point). So, I accepted the invitation. I am glad that I did because this was a funny book.
Carving Up Reily is the first book in the Reily MacLeod series. So, anything I usually say about reading the books that come first in the series can be ignored. Feel free to pick this one up and enjoy it without wondering about background stories.
Carving Up Reily is a short book at 75 pages. It is also a fast-paced book. I did expect it to be fast-paced because of the length. There was no lag, which was great.
The main storyline of Carving Up Reily follows Reily, Rebecca, and their attempt at a romantic road trip without ending up in a padded room. It was a pretty straightforward comedy storyline, and I liked some of the jokes in the book. But, I will warn you that Reily has an imagination, and the author weaves it into his misadventures. I was slightly put off because I didn’t realize what was happening. Once it dawned on me, I started to understand some of the previous scenes in the book. For a while, I did think I was reading a take on a paranormal romance.
I didn’t like Reily. He was a self-centered idiot who only thought about himself. He couldn’t keep his mouth shut if you paid him. I could get why his wife was getting so upset. But, saying that, I did think the situations he got into were funny. There was a point where I had an internal bet going on with myself if he would survive this book.
I felt terrible for Reily’s wife, Rebecca. She was dealing with an overgrown man-child. I was right with her when she said, “He’s my idiot; I married him.”Of course, she did stoop to his level once in the book, and that was when she beat up the front desk clerk at the hotel. But she had a good reason, too (well, in her eyes). At various points in the book, I wondered if her marriage to Reily would survive.
The end of Carving Up Reily was standard. I liked how the author wrapped up the storylines. I was even more in awe that Reily ended up surviving everything.
I would recommend Carving Up Reily to anyone over 21. There is violence and language, but no sexual situations.
Many thanks to Paul Flanagan for allowing me to read and review Carving Up Reily. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
Mel and Dev are no longer a couple, but they run Blackhawk Security together. When being around Dev becomes too painful, she buys him out.
Dev knows she’s going after her old CIA boss Kingsley, so Dev makes her a deal – if she accepts his help on this last job, he’ll walk away.
But Kingsley is slippery. After he murders one man and almost kills a young woman, they realize he has a well-planned escape.
Can Mel and Dev stop him? Or will Kingsly eliminate them first?
First Line:
Mel walked down the hall to her office, still smiling. She’d just dropped Bree off at the Helena airport, and her security agent would be in Chicago in five hours.
Trust No One by Margaret Watson
While Mel and Dev are no longer a couple and haven’t been for years, it doesn’t mean that Mel still has feelings for him. When Mel’s feelings become too much, she tells Dev she is buying him out. Dev is stunned. But knowing that Mel is going after a corrupt CIA agent, he counteroffers with a deal: He’ll leave Blackhawk Security after they take Kingsley. But Kingsley is slippery and can take down any witnesses that tie him to nefarious activities. With Kingsley’s reach extended to the top of the CIA, Mel and Dev must take Kingsley down quickly. But can they do without bloodshed or anyone getting hurt? And, when the dust settles, will Mel and Dev be able to put their past aside and embrace their future together?
When the author contacted me to ask me to read/review Trust No One, I immediately said yes. Margaret is an auto-accept for any books for me. I have been reviewing and loving her books since 2017/2018 (not sure about the year and am too lazy to look it up). I was also super excited when I saw this was Mel and Dev’s story. I have read this series from the beginning and longed for their book. Now that I’ve got it, I am happy.
Trust No One is the 8th book in the Blackhawk Security series. This book is the series’s last book, but I could be wrong. I would classify this book as a semi-standalone book. You don’t need to read the entire series to understand Dev and Mel’s story or the series’ background. But I suggest reading book seven first (Bree and Jameson’s story). The author comprehensively explains the Kingsely storyline in that book.
Trust No One is a fast-paced book. It occurs within a few weeks of Mel telling Dev she wants to buy him out. The author doesn’t let up on the pace. The pacing suited the book, considering what Mel and Dev were up against. It didn’t slow until after the airport scene at the end of the book.
Trust No One takes almost entirely in Washington, D.C., with the beginning chapter in Montana and the ending in Seattle. The author perfectly captured Washington’s hustle and bustle while highlighting the city’s seedier parts.
The main storyline in Trust No One center around Mel, Dev, and Kingsley. It was a wonderfully written storyline that kept me glued to the book. While I knew how this storyline would end up, I still loved the ride it took me on. There was a twist in the plotline that did take me by surprise. And the author kept me guessing who dirty CIA agents were until almost the end of the book.
I liked Mel. She was feisty, headstrong, and determined to bring down Kingsley. Did I think she was silly for wanting to go after him alone? Yes. But it showed her dedication to keeping her agents safe and bringing down a bad guy. She was paranoid, but in her work, being paranoid was a given. That paranoia helped her and Dev out during several instances when Kingsley’s agents followed them. The only thing that I didn’t like about her was how she dealt with her feelings for Dev. It didn’t follow the strong woman the author had built up throughout the series.
Dev drove me up the wall during the book. I was in awe of his surveillance skills and contacts. I also wanted to know more about what he did during his SEAL/SpecOps days. But at the same time, I also wanted to smack him upside the head. He didn’t want to listen to Mel (though he had more experience in the field). It took him a while to admit that she had skills. As for his feelings for her, I was getting very frustrated with him about that. I knew his feelings for Mel from the beginning of the book. But it took him until almost the end of the book to discuss his tumultuous upbringing and to admit his feelings.
What do I say about Kingsley? He is a personification of any high-ranking official in Washington, D.C. He was overconfident, had connections that made my head spin and was willing to do whatever it took to cover up his mistakes. But, unlike real life, he was getting his comeuppance. I was left with a bad taste in my mouth every time he appeared in the book.
The romance angle in Trust No One was a slow-burn one. It was always in the background, with Mel’s feelings being more upfront than Dev’s. It did take a back seat to Mel and Dev’s investigation for a while, but you knew it was there.
The end of Trust No One was terrific. The author did a great job of having Kingsley get what he deserved. But how he got it and the events that led to it were fantastic and action-packed. I did get a giggle at the kid with the frog in the airport. It reminded me of my youngest daughter. That would have been something she did at that age. Of course, Mel and Dev got their HEA, and the lead-up to that was emotional. The epilogue was great, and I loved seeing them so happy!!
I recommend Trust No One to anyone over 21. There are language, violence, and sexual situations.
Many thanks to Margaret Watson for allowing me to read and review Trust No One. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
If you enjoyed reading this review of Trust No One, then you will enjoy reading these books:
On screen, they’re in love. Off screen, they can’t stand each other. Two co-stars with a complex history reunite to film the final season of a beloved paranormal drama in this tension-filled will they won’t they romance from the author of How to Fake It in Hollywood.
Lilah Hunter and Shane McCarthy are madly in love— at least, their characters are. As the stars of the hit paranormal TV show Intangible, they spent years pining for each other on-screen… until Lilah ditched the show at the end of season five in hopes of becoming a film star. With no such luck, she’s back to film the much-hyped ninth and final season, in which their characters will get together at last.
But coming back means facing one of the biggest reasons she left: Shane. Ever since their secret behind-the-scenes fling imploded at the end of the first season, the two of them have despised each other.
Now back on set together for the first time in years, with the world’s eyes on them and their post-show careers on the line, they’ll have to grit their teeth and play nice. But under pressure to give Intangible’s fans the happy ending they’ve been waiting for, Lilah and Shane are forced to get closer than ever. And if they’re not careful, they just might get blindsided by one final twist: a real-life happy ending of their own.
First Line:
Lilah Hunter knew better than to get her hopes up.
Will They or Won’t They by Ava Wilder
Lilah and Shane play a madly in love, but kept apart, couple on the hit paranormal show, Intangilble. In real life, though, they loathe each other. So, it was a good thing when Lilah left the show to make a movie and see what else was out there. But the film was a flop, and Lilah wasn’t getting any work because of it. So, when the producers approached Lilah with an offer to return to the show, she wouldn’t turn it down, even if that meant working with Shane again. But Lilah and Shane realize that maybe their hatred towards each other was more than that (thanks to a risque photo shoot). What will they do? Will they give in to their feelings? Or won’t they?
When I wished for Will They or Won’t They, I was on a huge contemporary romance kick. I hoped I liked the book because the blurb seemed rather bland. Unfortunately, I feel the same way now that I have read the book. This book didn’t create any strong feelings for it either way.
The medium pacing of Will They or Won’t They did suit the book. This pacing allowed Lilah and Shane to recount their past relationship (working and personal) on their own and with the therapist. There was some lag toward the end of the book, but since it was the end, it didn’t affect anything for me.
Will They or Won’t They takes place mainly in Hollywood, with a brief scene in New York City and a chapter in Canada. I was disappointed that the author mostly kept to where the show was filmed, convention centers and hotel rooms. I would have loved to see more of those cities and where they filmed in Canada.
The main storyline in Will They or Won’t They are Lilah and Shane’s love/hate/love relationship. The author did a great job of giving Lilah and Shane’s backstories in a way that didn’t seem forced. I could see a behind-the-scenes romance blowing up and causing issues. I could also see a producer wanting his main stars to get along and send them to couples therapy. But, once the book started focusing on the present day, I began to feel “meh” about it. The storyline seemed to be Lilah and Shane rehashing stuff from their past. Also, I wasn’t a massive fan of how their romance ping-ponged back and forth.
I didn’t care for Lilah. She came across as a neurotic pain in the butt who was also a bit of a diva. She self-sabotages almost every relationship she has had (and she admits this at one point in the book). But, at the same time, I felt terrible for her. Growing up, she had a horrible home life that caused her severe anxiety. Her mother got her into acting to overcome it, and things took off. I also felt how she treated Shane was pretty crappy, both past and present. Now, he was no angle, but she took it to another level.
I had no real concrete feelings for Shane. For most of the book, he came across as bland. He went out of his way to needle Lilah (the whole donut scene at the beginning of the book stands out the most to me). I did guess what his real feelings were reasonably early in the book and guessed what he would do with those feelings.
The romance angle of Will They or Won’t They bored me. While I like secret romances, I wasn’t a huge fan of theirs. How can a relationship flourish if they never go out together and always have sex? It can’t, and in the long run, if this were real, I would say they didn’t have a chance long term.
The end of Will They or Won’t They was pretty standard. The author surprised me with a twist towards the end of the book. The author explained the twist in the epilogue, and I was back to feeling “meh” about the characters.
I would recommend Will They or Won’t They to anyone over 21. There is language, mild violence, and sexual situations.
Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Dell, NetGalley, and Ava Wilder for allowing me to read and review Will They or Won’t They. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
If you enjoyed reading this review of Will They or Won’t They, then will you will enjoy reading these books:
Family. The Channon legacy entails keeping a well-guarded secret safe until the time arrives to face the psychopath bent on imprisoning psychics, studying genetic mutations for the purpose of creating an army, and dominating the world.
The psychopath is Brianna’s brother, a psychic with a following of murderous spirits and trained mercenaries.
Through the years, Nicholai Semenov has overseen a group of psychics intent on ensuring safety and peace among their kind. After discovering one of his team is a shifter, the group expands to include the entire pack.
Join the warriors in this final chapter as they take on the Order of Assassins and warrior ghosts determined to control the fate of humanity.
First Line:
In a singular twist of luck, fate assisted Roth’s effort in preparing for the most romantic evening of his life.
Shadowed Deliverance by Reily Garrett
Brianna Channon has finally been reunited with her children after twenty years of forced separation due to her deranged brother, Roth. Brianna is ready to confront Roth for everything he has done to her family. But first, Brianna must recover an amulet that will help with their battle against Roth and his allies. This amulet can only be used by a chosen one, but who that chosen one could be is unknown to Brianna. And unfortunately, Roth has gotten his hands on the amulet and is using it to rally spirits to his cause. At her side, also, is Nicholai Semenov, a powerful psychic and group leader. He has gathered and protected her children from Roth and his allies. But, even with Nicholai’s help, the battle against Roth will be hard. He thinks he is guaranteed a win with the Order of Assassins, the amulet, and the spirits on his side. But is he? Can Brianna and her family (biological and found) defeat Roth? Or will they all fall to his mad and psychotic delusions? And who will wield the amulet?
I was happy and sad when I got the email from the author asking me to read/review ShadowedDeliverance. I was delighted because I had reviewed this series from the beginning and enjoyed reading it. I was sad because this is the last book in the series. The author explained that while the Channon family’s story ends, it doesn’t mean the other characters’ stories would. But still. I had grown attached to the characters and struggled with change.
Shadowed Deliverance is The Guardians series’ 7th (and last) book. This book cannot be read as a stand-alone book. You need to read books 1-6 to read this book. If you don’t, you will be lost. I didn’t read Logan’s story (book 3) and felt I missed a lot (I will be reading it as soon as possible, though).
Shadowed Deliverance is a fast-paced book that I couldn’t put down. The book started fast (it started right after the events of book 6) and slowed down at the end of the book.
The main storyline of Shadowed Deliverance focuses on Brianna, her children and their spouses, Casper, Nicholai, and Roth. This storyline was a well-written storyline that kept me glued to the book. While I was interested in Brianna and company, I was more interested in Roth and the amulet. He had been gone from the series for a while. The author did not disappoint (I will discuss him further in the review).
The storyline with the amulet was interesting. When Roth had it, he gave a good look into how it worked. But, I was more curious about who could wield it and what it could do once it was with the chosen person. When the author revealed who the chosen person was, I was surprised. It was someone I didn’t see coming. But, at the same time, it made sense.
I had figured that Brianna would have the last book in the series. Why? Her six children had found each other again (in Silver’s book), and there was no indication that the author ended the series. Plue, only Nicholai was left without a mate, so I took a guess and figured that Brianna would be the next book. I liked seeing the group from her POV and how the different dynamics worked out. I also liked seeing Roth from her POV. She went between hating him (he did kill their parents, forced Logan to kill Devon, and kidnapped/abused Ashlyn) and pitying him. The pitying part made me feel awful because she kept flashing back to when Roth was normal (not psychotic and murderous).
I was thrilled that Nicholai would be featured as a main character in this book. He was very mysterious during the series and used his psychic powers as they came to him (he could see into the future but also saw different paths). He was a guiding force with the Channon children and was like a second father to all of them. His relationship with Caspar was pretty funny, and I loved seeing him parent her (his reactions to her are what I have with my seventeen-year-old). I thought he and Brianna were perfect for each other (and I will discuss that more in the romance section).
The third main character in Shadowed Deliverance is Caspar. That girl had me rolling with her one-liners and made me tear up with her fierce devotion to her family. Her verbal sparring sessions with Roth were on point and truthful. She was the most powerful of any psychics there, which the author repeatedly showed. I also loved how she needled Dacien (it was a running theme throughout the series) and tried to get anyone to tell her about sex (those scenes had me in stitches). I do wish that the author had given more information about her background. Other than the nickname, Moon Pie, there was nothing. Not even her real name. The author said she will be featured in a new series, so I hope more information is given in those books. Out of all the characters, I will miss her the most.
The last main character in Shadowed Deliverance is Roth. It was interesting to see another side to Roth other than his usual psychotic/murderous one. What was also interesting was the catalyst for everything. It showed a different side of Roth that I wasn’t expecting and explained why he turned evil. But, ultimately, his pride and manipulating ways ended him. I wasn’t sad to see him go, but at the same time, I wondered what if (if you read the book, you know what I am talking about).
The paranormal angle was wonderfully written. I loved that the author incorporated psychics, shifters, and spirits into the storyline. The concept of evil spirits at Roth’s bidding was scary and wasn’t an enemy the group could easily fight. I’m not going to go into much detail, but I loved how the author handled the spirit storyline and the ending of it. It was scary and sad at the same time.
As with all of Reily’s books, romance is very much present. But in this book, it did take a backseat to everything else that was going on. I liked it that way. I liked that the author had Brianna need a moment to think about everything happening between her and Nicholai. She was worried about what her kids (and Caspar) would think. It was normal, and I loved it (spoiler, they could care less).
The end of Shadowed Deliverance seemed almost anti-climatic compared to the other books. I can’t get into much detail, but I was not expecting what happened to Roth. It was a twist that I should have seen coming. I will not go into much after this because there will be spoilers but be prepared to have tissues!! I was openly crying.
I recommend Shadowed Deliverance to anyone over 21. There are language, violence, and nongraphic sexual situations (the author faded to black after kissing).
Many thanks to Reily Garrett for allowing me to read and review Shadowed Deliverance. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
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A tragedy brought them together as teens, and then fate tore them apart. After fifteen years, can the pain and secrets of the past be forgiven to rekindle a once-in-a-lifetime love?
As a teen, Milo Covell’s life was destroyed when his mother was killed and his father was imprisoned for causing her death. His first love, Olivia Dunham, was the only beacon that brought his soul back into the light, promises of forever whispered under the stars creating an unbreakable bond—until the night Milo left Olivia heartbroken and alone.
When an unexpected phone call draws Milo back to New York, he’s forced to face the ghosts of the past he left behind fifteen years ago. Finding his estranged father, Mac, losing his battle with cancer, Milo is overcome with anger and betrayal when he discovers the girl he once loved has befriended the man who destroyed his life.
As Olivia struggles with her grief at the thought of losing Mac, she must also confront the man who abandoned her in her greatest time of need, leaving her life in pieces.
Brought together by fate during this trying time, the two must face hard truths, unshared secrets, and long-forgotten feelings.
Is their teenage love strong enough to span the decades and heal old wounds, or is the pain of the past too powerful to be forgiven and forgotten?
First Line:
Love, Loss, Passion, and Resentment. On the surface, those four little words don’t appear to have much in common.
Forgive or Forget Me by Ann Einerson
As a teenager, Milo’s life was turned inside out when his mother was killed in an accident that his father caused by driving drunk. Going to live with his mother’s best friend and her daughter, Milo spent his teenage years harboring bitterness and hatred towards his father and falling in love with Olivia, the daughter of the woman who took him in. But, when tragedy happens again, Milo leaves Olivia to pick up the pieces of her life. Fast forward fifteen years later, and Milo receives a phone call that shakes him to his core. His father has terminal pancreatic cancer and has been out on patrol for seven years. He is again shaken to his soul when he realizes that Olivia has a close relationship with Mac. Wanting to rekindle his relationship with Olivia but not wanting to have one with Mac, Milo is torn. Will he walk away from his one true love? Or will he swallow his negative feelings towards Mac and stay in Olivia’s life?
I was excited when I read the Forgive or Forget Me blurb. Sometimes I need an angsty, angry, and sad book to read. Forgive or Forget Me delivered on all of that. But, I was bothered by how much unresolved and misplaced anger there was in this book. It made Milo’s parts of the book hard for me to read.
Forgive or Forget Me is split into the timelines of Present Day and Past (which went from 9th to 12th grade). This book was divided between Olivia and Milo in Present Day and Past. In no way was I confused or couldn’t figure out where in time or whose perspective I was reading. The author marked the beginning of each chapter.
There were a few storylines in Forgive or Forget Me, and keeping track of them got confusing. The main storyline centered around Milo and Olivia and their trials and tribulations (past and present). That main storyline was well-written and did keep my attention. But, the secondary storylines carried the book. They added additional depth and added more information to the main storyline.
I liked Olivia but thought she had a terrible choice in men. But, on the other hand, she was the most selfless, giving person I have read in a book to date. I liked how she pulled herself out of that horrible place and achieved her dreams. I also liked how she dropped everything to take care of Mac. But, going back to her terrible choice of men, I didn’t want her with Milo. It made her look weak and diminished whenever they were together, and she had to deal with his toxicity.
Oh, Milo, where do I start with you? How about with this? He was one of the worst characters I have read in a book. There was a moment when I pitied him (when he was in a medically induced coma and right after). Then my pity ended, and my dislike began. He was so bitter that I expected my screen to pucker up. His anger issues were palpable. There was a point at the beginning of the book where I expected him to physically strike out at Mac (who was in a hospital bed). He had jealousy issues and continuously accused Olivia of cheating, even though they weren’t together. What he said to Olivia at Mac’s wake sealed my dislike deal for me. It was disgusting and unforgivable. I got that he was super upset over what Olivia had just told him (and I get it, I would be too) but come on. It was beyond disgusting what he said.
I did like the romance angle of Forgive or Forget Me but only during the Past part of the book. Milo and Olivia had an adorable and innocent romance. They knew it was the real deal and were committed to each other. But when Milo jetted, I was so upset. I wouldn’t say I liked the Present Day romance angle, though. Milo was so angry, bitter, and jealous that I couldn’t look past it.
The end of Forgive or Forget Me had me doing a facepalm and shaking my head. I shouldn’t have been surprised by how the book ended or the epilogue. While I was gladish about everything that happened, I couldn’t help but think that a leopard doesn’t change his spots, and Milo wouldn’t change his.
I recommend Forgive or Forget Me to anyone over 21. There are semi-graphic sex scenes, violence, and language.
Many thanks to Ann Einerson for allowing me to read and review Forgive or Forget Me. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
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Desperate Housewives meets The Couple Next Door in a chilling story of murder and intrigue set in a well-to-do DC suburb.
Sometimes the darkest acts occur in the most beautiful houses…
When Alexis and her husband Sam buy a neglected Cape Cod house in an exclusive DC suburb, they are ecstatic. Sam is on the cusp of making partner at his law firm, Alexis is pregnant with their second child, and their glamorous neighbors welcome the couple with open arms. Things are looking up, and Alexis believes she can finally leave her troubled past behind.
But the neighborhood’s picture-perfect image is shattered when their neighbor Teddy – a handsome, successful father of three – is found dead on the steep banks of the Potomac River. The community is shaken, and as the police struggle to identify and apprehend the killer, tension in the neighborhood mounts and long-buried secrets start to emerge.
In the midst of the turmoil, Alexis takes comfort in her budding friendship with Teddy’s beautiful and charismatic widow, Blair. But as the women grow closer, the neighborhood only becomes more divided. And when the unthinkable truth behind Teddy’s murder is finally uncovered, both Blair and Alexis must reexamine their friendship and decide how far they are willing to go to preserve the lives they have so carefully constructed.
First Line:
The listing popped up on my phone last night. I scrolled through the pictures as least a dozen times, then tried to conjure the house’s full layout in my mind’s eye as I fell asleep.
What the Neighbors Saw by Melissa Adelman
Alexis and her husband Sam are thrilled to buy a fixer-upper in an affluent suburb of Washington,D.C. But things start to go south almost immediately after they move in:
The house they loved is turning into a money pit with endless repairs.
Alexis’s relationship with Sam turned from goodish to rocky.
The husband of her next-door neighbor (Teddy) is killed while running on a popular path that borders the Potomac River.
Alexis, a stay-at-home mother of two children, slowly makes friends with the other women in the neighborhood. But, the one she grows closest to is Blair, who happens to be the widow of the man killed. But the longer it takes for Teddy’s killer to be identified, the more tense the neighborhood gets, and long-held secrets come to light. What secrets are being unearthed in this neighborhood? And how are those secrets directly linked to Teddy’s death?
When I read the blurb for What the Neighbors Saw, I thought I was getting into a psychological thriller. But what I thought and what I read were two different things. In a way, it was a psychological thriller but not how I thought it would be. This book was an almost soap opera-type look into an affluent neighborhood. It reminded me a little bit of a Jackie Collins book. I did enjoy reading What the Neighbors Saw but wished there was less drama and more thriller.
What the Neighbors Saw is a medium to fast-paced book. It took me over a day to read it. The pacing of What the Neighbors Saw did suit the book. I wish the author had slowed the book’s pacing during key points (mainly the ending).
What the Neighbors Saw takes place entirely in an affluent neighborhood in Washington, D.C. There are some flashbacks to Alexis’s life growing up in Baltimore, but the entirety of the book is set in this one neighborhood.
I liked Alexis, and the more she revealed about her past, the more I felt terrible for her. But, she was an unreliable narrator. She was exhausted from caring for a newborn and toddler (even with ananny), and I felt that exhaustion colored her views of people and events in the neighborhood. This sentiment extends to her waste of space husband, Sam. He gaslit and verbally abused her for 90% of the book. Their scenes together alternately made me sad and ticked me off.
I liked Alexis, and the more she revealed about her past, the more I felt terrible for her. But, she was an unreliable narrator. She was exhausted from caring for a newborn and toddler (even with a nanny), and I felt that exhaustion colored her views of people and events in the neighborhood. This sentiment extends to her waste of space husband, Sam. He gaslit and verbally abused her for 90% of the book. Their scenes together alternately made me sad and ticked me off.
I wanted to like Blair but couldn’t quite cross that line. There was something about her that rubbed me the wrong way. Her grief over her husband dying was too predictable. Her friendship with Alexis was too convenient. And there is the question of her secret. I figured it out quickly but was still surprised (and disgusted) when it was revealed.
The thriller angle was lacking in What the Neighbors Saw. It didn’t reach thriller level in my eyes. It did come close to that towards the end of the book but has yet to get it. I was sad about that because I could see the potential.
On the other hand, the mystery angle of the book was chef’s kiss. The author kept the mystery of who killed Teddy and why under wraps until the end of the book. It also went hand in hand with two twists that surprised me—these twists I did not see coming.
As I said above, the end of the book was full of twists. I was in disbelief over what was revealed, and I needed to retake everything. But the ending didn’t mesh with the rest of the book. I felt the author rushed it.
I recommend What the Neighbors Saw to anyone over 21. There is language, violence, and mild graphic sex scenes.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Melissa Adelman for allowing me to read and review What the Neighbors Saw. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
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“It is not often that a man steps through a doorway knowing that he has just made the best and worst decision of his entire life.” So declares notorious criminal, Vazeer the Lash, at the start of A Dream of Shadows. Raised in Hell’s Labyrinth, the corrupt city where crime and violence are the order of the day, Vazeer has lived on a knife’s edge his entire adult life working as a contract smuggler. Having turned himself into an educated man, Vazeer longs to retire from his nefarious career, which has always been at odds with the more cultured side of his personality.
His chance comes when he is paid a fortune to bring down The Raving Blade, one of Hell’s Labyrinth’s most infamous and sadistic power brokers. Vazeer joins a rogue’s gallery of expert Shadow Bidders, each a master of a unique set of unsavory skills, to complete one last contract. Among them are a brilliant actress who finds herself playing a key role in a criminal world where she doesn’t belong, and a calm, mysterious assassin, who draws events ever forward towards a series of increasingly dire consequences.
With life and death hanging in the balance, a dangerous romance unfolds. Secrets are revealed and violence erupts, irreversibly blurring the line between good and evil.
Perfect for fans of George RR Martin, Joe Abercrombie, and Patrick Rothfuss, A Dream of Shadows marks the start of a thrilling new literary fantasy series from Peter Eliott.
First Line:
It’s strange the things you remember. When I call up my story, it always drags with itself a smell, a distinct smell, one that intermittently haunts my memories and dreams with the ghostly provocation of a dead lover’s perfume.
A Dream of Shadows by Peter Eliott
Vazeer the Lash wants to retire from his life as a smuggler. Born and raised in Hell’s Labyrinth, a city filled with criminals, smugglers, and murderers, Vazeer longs to leave that life behind and start a new one as a cultured man. He gets his chance when offered a Bid with several other people. If he gets this job down within the time, he will be financially set for the rest of his life. But, in a world where life and death balance on a dangerous edge, Vazeer must balance that line carefully. Because one misstep, one wrong move could send this Bid into a tailspin.
I was immediately intrigued by the blurb for A Dream of Shadows, but I almost didn’t accept the author’s invitation to review. I was over-saturated with reviews for June. But something about this book called to me, and after much thought, I decided to review it. I am glad that I did because this was a great read.
A Dream of Shadows is a fast-paced read. The entire storyline takes place within 48 hours of the Bid being placed. I did find some lag toward the end of the book (when Vazeer is swept through the tunnels), but it didn’t bother me. I also found myself flipping back to previous chapters or making notes about different characters. That did bother me a little, but since I was taking notes anyways, it wasn’t a huge deal.
The storyline for A Dream of Shadows was well-written and complex. It is layered and complex, with nuances and histories that will need more than one book to explain. This twisty storyline also kept me guessing what would happen next. I didn’t know what the next chapter would bring, and I loved that.
Vazeer wasn’t written to be liked, and he was an unreliable narrator. He came across as a snob, and no one liked him except for a minor and a main character. But, weirdly enough, I liked him. He was good at what he did (smuggling), and all he wanted was to retire and surround himself with art, antiques, and books. Oh, and let’s not forget that he is very morally gray. While he proclaimed himself a villain at the beginning of the book, I came to see him as an antihero.
I want to warn you that this book involves a lot of blood, gore, and violence. Considering the city’s violence and who they were going after, I wasn’t surprised.
The end of A Dream of Shadows is one of the bloodiest I have ever read. It also surprised me with the twist that seemingly came out of nowhere. I was surprised at what I read and wondered how Vazeer would deal with the fallout from everything in the upcoming books. I also didn’t quite trust who Vazeer met on the boat. There was something about that person that seemed off to me. Also, I was surprised at who visited Vazeer in his dream state and what that person wanted. I was left with more questions than answers, and hopefully, they will get answered in book 2.
I recommend A Dream of Shadows to anyone over 21. There are nongraphic sexual situations, mild language, and graphic violence.
Many thanks to Peter Eliott for allowing me to read and review A Dream of Shadows. All opinions stated in this review are mine.
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Escape Into Reading 