Category: Non ARC

The Lost Thorn by Joshua P. Aguayo

The Lost Thorn

3 Stars

Publisher: Full Runa Transmedia Studio

Date of publication: December 4th, 2015

Genre: Cyberpunk, science fiction, dystopia

Where you can find The Lost Thorn: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads synopsis:

The Lost Thorn is a science fiction novel, with a strong and unstable female protagonist, that fuses the ideas of cyberpunk with dashes of urban fantasy. It’s a heart-pounding adventure told from the perspective of a highly chaotic girl who has lost everything she held dear, leaving her with nothing but a powerful drug to cope with the inescapable pain.

Cyberpunk meets psychological thriller. The Lost Thorn deals not only with mega-corporate thugs and gang politics, but it also follows Samantha’s spiral and constant clash with the demons of addiction and madness.

The novel is a grim and depressing social critique that often becomes a foil for the protagonist, whose voice we hear guiding us through her story. She is spunky, easygoing, careless, and terrible at making puns. This is an adventure of contrasts from beginning to end, one that will leave you hanging and asking for more!

My review:

Cyberpunk is a genre that I haven’t read. So when I was approached to review The Lost Thorn, I decided to accept it. I am undecided on how I feel about this book. I thought that I had a good storyline with interesting characters. But, the plot was all over the place. I got lost several times while reading the book. The characters weren’t as fleshed out as I would have liked for them to be.

The Lost Thorn is about Samantha. Sam is an addict. She wasn’t always an addict. But after the execution of her father and her identical twin sister being held hostage by ClearSight, snorting Obsidian is her way of coping with her pain. Sam is barely getting through life when the head of the gang that she was affiliated with asks her to take a look at something they have. Something that only Sam can open. See, Sam is a mage. Mages had been outlawed for the past 20 years. Sam was in hiding. But she needs to reawaken her powers. Because someone needs her to break someone out of a prison for mages. They also need her to destroy it. Can Sam shake her addiction long enough to do what her mysterious employer wants? Or will she succumb to it?

I liked Samantha. She was such a wise guy. Always had a quick comeback for people or a bad pun if the situation called for it. Her grief over losing her father and sister came off the pages. Up until the end of the book, I felt that there could have been more “oomph” to her character. If what was revealed at the end of the book was stated at the beginning, everything would have made much more sense to me.

I couldn’t read Kiki. Up until the middle of the book, I didn’t know how she felt about Sam. Her flirting with Sam annoyed me because there was no other sign that Kiki felt anything for her. She flirted, it seemed to me, to get information out of Sam. She also knew a lot more than she let on. She had known about things that surprised Sam. I also didn’t understand why she had to go along for the rescue mission.

The secondary characters were interesting but I wish that they were more fleshed out. I wish that more was said about the mysterious Hummingbird and why that person wanted Sam to take down ClearSight’s mage prison. It was very frustrating not to know that.

As I mentioned above, the plotline was all over the place in this book. There were times where I had to backtrack to earlier chapters to understood what was being referenced in what I was reading. Or I was left going “what the heck“. Usually, because I couldn’t figure out what was going on in the book. I do not get confused while reading books. So, yes, this factored hugely in my rating.

I had a few questions about certain things mentioned in the book. What happened to Earth to make it the hellhole that the author made it out to be? Was it war? There were some vague references in the book but nothing was truly answered. I also wanted to know why mages were being hunted and kept in prisons. Why did the ruler of that city hate them so much that he ordered them to be executed? I also had some questions with Obsidian and its origins. Not going to get into it here but I was kinda confused about how it was created. The Last Thorn should have answered those questions by the end of the book. But it didn’t. I can only hope that there is going to be a book 2 and that book will answer my questions. And, like with the previous paragraph, this factored in with my review also.

The end of The Last Thorn confused me. What Sam “confessed” to should have been made clear at the beginning of the book. It did explain a lot about her personality. I got no sense of closure from the ending. The storylines were not ended and were left hanging. Which makes me wonder if there is going to be a book 2.

I gave The Last Thorn a 3-star rating. I thought the characters were interesting but felt that the secondary characters could have been a bit more fleshed out. The plotline was fast-moving but I kept having to backtrack and that added time to my reading. There were also times where I got lost because I had no idea what was going on. The end of The Last Thorn was confusing and storylines were not resolved.

I would give The Last Thorn an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I am on the fence if I would reread The Last Thorn. I am also on the fence if I would recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review The Last Thorn.

All opinions stated in this review of The Last Thorn are mine

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Aaru: Halls of Hel?

Love it? 

Hate it?

Meh about it?

Let me know!!!

Aaru: Hall of Hel (The Aaru Cycle: Book 2) by David Meredith

Aaru: Halls of Hel (The Aaru Cycle #2)

4 Stars

Publisher: Amazon

Date of publication: July 27th, 2018

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia

Series: The Aaru Cycle

Aaru—Book 1 (review here)

Aaru: Halls of Hel—Book 2

Where you can find Aaru: Amazon

Goodreads synopsis:

“… Let them have everything – health, food, a place to live, entertainment. They are and remain unhappy and low-spirited for the demon waits and waits…”
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Rose is a Veda.

In Elysian Industries’ virtual paradise of Aaru, that means she’s practically a goddess. She is immortal. She is powerful. A limitless paradise is hers and her friends’ to command. They are free from sickness and pain, old age and death. She should be ecstatic over her prestige and privilege, but the gilded utopia has lost its luster.

In a reality where anything can be hers with a thought, and Rose can master any skill instantly with nothing but her imagination, to what can she still aspire? She has all of eternity to fill, but what will her purpose be? Rose adores her sweet, Latin boyfriend, Franco. She loves wiling away endless immaculate days with her friends, but shouldn’t there be more to life than mere play? Also, Rose is dogged by a deep concern for her little sister, Koren, the Elysian Industries spokes-model and reality star back in the “Before” world.

Though Koren is wealthy, famous, and idolized by millions of adoring fans, her life is spinning out of control. Her parents’ marriage is on the rocks, and the boyfriend of her dreams, Jonas Perry, seems suddenly indifferent. Koren finds her celebrity increasingly isolating, her grueling work schedule exhausting, and the constant scrutiny of her personal life unwelcomed and intrusive. To top it all off, she has regular nightmares about the death of her friend, Kiku, and the still-at-large Magic Man who nearly stole away her everything.

Koren and Rose have more to fear from this quarter than they know. Magic Man’s obsession with the teenage idol has not lessened, and he is far from defeated. With vital aid from an unexpected source, his nefarious schemes to make Koren his own and to hack the Aaru mainframe are on track and moving forward. Unless the sisters can thwart his sinister designs, everyone and everything the girls hold dear could be destroyed.

My review:

I was so excited when I accepted the invitation to review this book. I will admit that I hyped up Aaru: Halls of Hel in my mind more than I should have. Usually, I get burned by the book. It ends up not being as good as I thought it would be. Not in this case. Aaru: Halls of Hel lived up to my mental hype.

Aaru: Halls of Hel takes place shortly after the events of Aaru. Rose has been made into the Arch Veda of Aaru. As she grows into the role that she was given, Rose deepens her relationship with Franco. She also becomes aware of Residents who were not allowed past the firewall because of different issues. While she is concerned about Koren, her first responsibility is Aaru and its Residents. Koren is not doing so well. She barely speaks to Rose. Her mother is cheating on her father. Her father is content to sit home and drink all day. Her boyfriend isn’t there for her and is seen stepping out with another girl. On top of it, she is having disturbing nightmares about Kiku’s death and the Magic Man’s assault. It is taking a toll on her and she is about to break. Hel is the Magic Man’s creation. Kept isolated in another computer, she is tortured and maimed. She has a dual nature. While loving and kind, she also is vicious. It is her dark nature that shows when she is in Aaru. How is Hel connected to Koren and Rose? Will Rose be able to look out for her sister and the Residents of Aaru? Will Koren reach a breaking point with her life? What is the Magic Man’s end game? And more importantly, who is the mysterious man helping him?

I was disappointed that I didn’t see as much as Rose as I did in the first book. I wanted to see more of what an Arch Veda could do in Aaru. I did like seeing her interactions with the other Vedas, though. I thought it was interesting what they could do and how much control they had over the Aaru’s landscape. I also liked reading about her relationship with Franco. I also wish that there was more interaction with Koren. But, that did come towards the end of the book.

Koren was a hot mess in this book. I felt so bad for her. She was spiraling out of control and had no safety net. I wondered as I read about her intense guilt over Kiku’s death and the Magic Man’s assault if she had received any sort of therapy for it. It seemed like Elysian Industries kept working her and turned a blind eye to what she was going through. She acted like the adult in her relationship with her parents. Which is sad for a barely 15-year-old. What I did like was how she was able to interact with Rose. Loved it!! I also got her confusion over meeting Hel. I would have been confused too.

I was a little confused when Hel was introduced. At first, I thought her chapters, which were brief, were Koren having nightmares about the Magic Man. I didn’t put two and two together until the Magic Man started interacting with Hel. He couldn’t have done that with Koren. Then I started to feel bad for Hel. What the Magic Man did to her was awful. What she was used for was awful. What she was programmed to think about Rose and Koren was frightening. Her skills were frightening. I winced at what she could do to the other Veda’s and Residents.  But, I am curious to see where her character development goes.

The Magic Man was as slimy as he was in the first book. What he did to Hel was awful. What he wants to do to Koren was as bad. I thought he got what he deserved when he was left in Mexico. But, I was also interested in his backstory. I wanted to know how he got the way he did. There were hints and I hope that more is explained in the next book.

As always, the secondary characters added more depth to the story. I will say that I thought Koren and Rose’s parents were awful in this book.

The first plotline in Aaru: Halls of Hel was the one with Rose. It showed Rose’s rise to Arch Veda. It detailed her relationship with Franco and the other Vedas. It shows her confusion about Quarantine after Dani was snatched away from her. Her relationship with Koren was also discussed even though they didn’t interact much with each other. It also showed her confusion when Hel arrived and wrecked havoc in Aaru.

The second plotline in Aaru: Halls of Hel detailed what was going on in Koren’s life. It showed how bad Koren’s life had become. She had no relationship with her mother and barely had one with her father. All she did was work. When she did decide to take a vacation, she ended up going back after a couple of days. Because of her work schedule, she wasn’t able to talk to Rose as much as she could. Her boyfriend was a huge jerk. Things did start to get better for her towards the end of the book but man, she was a mess.

The third plotline was about Hel. It showed how much she was tortured by the Magic Man. What happened to her when she was behind the firewall was horrific. Her joy at seeing Koren was heartbreaking because of what happened to make Hel react the way she did. The same went for when she saw Rose for the first time. She loved her and she hated her. All because of what the Magic Man did to her.

The secondary storylines, like the secondary characters, added depth to the story. The author did a great job at wrapping them up and incorporating them into the main storylines. I will say that I have a good idea at who Simon was, or at least who he is in Aaru.

The end of Aaru: Halls of Hel was insane. The author left all the storylines up in the air. Which in turn left it wide open for book 3. There was a twist in the plot that I did not see coming. It took me by complete surprise when Hel introduced that person in the book. I went “No way“. Then the book ended. So, yes, a bit of a cliffhanger but man, it was good.

I gave Aaru: Halls of Hel a 4-star rating. This was a fast paced book that I enjoyed reading. The characters and their situations were relatable. I will say that the twist at the end of the book took me by surprise. It left me wanting to know more.

I would give Aaru: Halls of Hel an Adult rating. There is sex and sexual situations that were not graphic. There is violence. There is language. I would suggest that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Aaru: Halls of Hel. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Aaru: Halls of Hel.

All opinions stated in this review of Aaru: Hall of Hel are mine

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Aaru: Halls of Hel?

Love it? 

Hate it?

Meh about it?

Let me know!!!

Tetterbaum’s Truth (Just Call Me Angel: Book 1) by S.R. Claridge

Tetterbaum's Truth (Just Call Me Angel Book 1)

4 Stars

Publisher: Global Publishing Group

Date of publication: August 16th, 2015

Genre: Romance

Series: Just Call Me Angel

Tetterbaum’s Truth – Book 1

Traitor’s Among Us – Book 2

Russian Uprising – Book 3

Where you can find Tetterbaum’s Truth: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads synopsis:

Angel Martin plans to marry Tony and live happily ever after until Tony disappears. Nursing a broken heart, she takes a job at Tetterbaum’s Pub, unaware it is the most prestigious Mafia hangout in Chicago. She finds herself suddenly caught in the middle of a revengeful scheme from a past she’s never known and a blackmail scandal that has left several dead, and she’s next on the hit list. Racing to find answers, Angel’s life is left hanging in a twisted balance of deception and revenge, and the only way out is to expose the truth… TETTERBAUM’S TRUTH

My review:

I am not normally a huge fan of Mafia-inspired thrillers but when I read the blurb for this book, I had to read it. I am glad that I did read this book because it was good. It was a little slow to start but once I got past the chapter explaining Angel’s background and her relationships, the book picked up steam. And the ending was excellent!!!

Tetterbaum’s Truth is the first book in the Just Call Me Angel series. Angel Martin has become content with her life. She owns a successful pub. She also has an on again/off again relationship with a man she only knows as Grayson. But that changes when she gets injured in a car accident that kills Grayson. Everything that Angel knew about herself and her past is revealed to be false. While she is coming to terms with who she is, she is also dodging hitmen. She is also trying to solve the mystery behind a massacre that turned the four Mafia families against each other. Who can she trust? Can she expose who was behind the massacre?

I couldn’t believe what Angel went through in this book. It was unbelievable. Car accident? Check. Finding out that she had a mysterious past? Check. Being stalked by strange men who wanted to kill her? Check. Getting kidnapped? Check. I kept thinking to myself “Her therapy bill is going to be HUGE“. I thought her reactions to Grayson’s death was a bit much. I mean, she demanded to see his body and then she broke into his house to cry. I got some serious obsessive vibes from her. On the flip side, I thought that her reaction to her past was fantastic. I would have acted the same way. Not believing until evidence is shown.

Andrew rubbed me the wrong way. When he was introduced in the book, I thought that something was off about him. He was always on the verge of saying something. I don’t understand why he didn’t tell Angel everything when he told her about her past and the danger she was in. Heck, he even put her in danger himself. There was a point in the book where I wondered what his deal was. Plus, I don’t like it when a guy calls a woman “sweetheart” if they aren’t in a relationship. It makes them sound condescending. Plus, putting a tracker on someone screams stalkerlike behavior to me.

I liked Grayson. He was mysterious and Angel couldn’t keep away from him. I was rooting for them to get together, even after it was revealed who and what he was. And, man, I was beyond upset when what happened. I threw down my Kindle and said a few choice words.

The secondary characters made this book. From Olga to Tony, they created a rich background for the story to be set against. They made Angel’s story much more poignant to read.

There were two major plotlines in Tetterbaum’s Truth. Both of those plotlines were filled with action and suspense. The author did a great job at keeping who Angel’s father Compare was. She also did a great job at keeping exactly where Tetterbaum’s tapes were. When the storylines were merged, they were merged in such a great fashion. I was scared for Angel at that point.

The first major plotline dealt with Angel and her past. While I didn’t like how she was told (Olga should have told her), I thought she did a fantastic job at processing everything that was told to her. I know that if it was me, I would have noped the heck out of there. I also loved her full name!!!

The secondary plotline dealt with the Mafia, Tetterbaum’s tapes and how Angel was going to right past wrongs. I learned more about the workings of the Mafia from this book than I ever knew. There were different terminology that I have never heard before. I also liked how the author had Angel figure out where Tetterbaum’s tapes were. I would have never thought to look where she did. I enjoyed how Angel got to the truth of what happened to her father and cleared his name.

Tetterbaum’s Truth fit right into the mystery/thriller/suspense genre. I liked how the author tried to throw in a bit of a love triangle in there. It will be interesting to see who Angel will end up with.

The end of Tetterbaum’s Truth was great. I liked how the author wrapped up all the storylines. I was surprised at who Angel’s Compare was. I was also surprised at the measure that he went through to get Tetterbaum’s tapes. But justice, Mafia-style, was served. I did a fist pump when justice happened. I was also surprised at what Angel did at the end of the book. Is she ready for that? I am eager to read book 2. Only because I have some questions that concern Andrew and Tony.

I gave Tetterbaum’s Truth a 4-star rating. I enjoyed reading this book. It was a fast-paced read that kept me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t like how Angel was continuously kidnapped or had guns held up to her head in the book. There are triggers in Tetterbaum’s Truth. They are extreme violence, kidnapping, and attempted rape.

I would give Tetterbaum’s Truth an Adult rating. There is extreme violence. There is language. There is sex, but not graphic. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Tetterbaum’s Truth. I would also recommend this book to family and friends. I would tell them about the triggers, first.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Tetterbaum’s Truth.

All opinions stated in this review of Tetterbaum’s Truth are mine.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Have you read Tetterbaum’s Truth?

Love it? 

Hate it?

Meh about it?

Let me know!!!

Days of Reign by Elisa Hansen

Days of Reign

4 Stars

Publisher: RABT Book Tours

Date of publication: June 29th, 2018

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopia

Where you can find Days of Reign: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Goodreads Synopsis:

Zelenka is an outcast. Tormented by the harsh rules and punishments of Eldon, she will soon be imprisoned in the horrifying government factories. Her lover, the charismatic Fraco, may be her one chance to escape. But Zelenka is drawn to the dangerous and elusive world of the Amaryllians. Only through them can she triumph in her two dreams: freedom, and survival.

My review: 

I was intrigued when I got the invite to review Days of Reign. The whole plotline of a girl trying to escape an oppressive regime caught my attention. I know that books like this in the dystopia genre are a dime a dozen but Days of Reign stood out from that crowd. This book had relatable characters and touched upon some real-life issues that we are facing today.

Eldon is a planet that is dying. Zelenka is a girl who has two choices in life. Either she marries by her 19th birthday or she risks going into a government-run factory. There, she will birth children until she dies. Zelenka is desperate to avoid that fate but she also wants to marry for love. Zelenka is also different from other girls her age. Zelenka has been taught to read and write, beyond what the government mandates for girls. Zelenka dreams of escaping Eldon. Her chance comes when she meets an intriguing woman named Fianna from Eldon’s sister planet, Amaryllis. After suffering a heartbreaking loss and enduring an attack by someone she thought she loved, Zelenka is ready to go. But, is Amaryllis all that it is cracked up to be? Will Zelenka find the freedom that she has craved?

I liked Zelenka. I also felt bad for her. The oppression that she lived under was stifling. But, somehow, she managed to thrive under it. She could read and write beyond what a woman in that society was allowed too. I felt that was amazing because her parents (and grandfather) took such a risk in educating her. She was hoping for a love match with Fraco to avoid being placed in the factories. I liked how she questioned her faith and wondered about Amaryllis. I was a little confused about exactly how she met Fianna. But that connection helped her when she needed to escape Eldon. Her wonder and amazement when she arrived in Amaryllis were exactly how I would have reacted. Considering the oppression that she left, Amaryllis was heaven to her.

I liked Fianna but I didn’t understand her role in the book for about half the book. Everything became clear after she and Zelenka landed in Amaryllis. What she was destined to do and who she was going to help. I do wish that it was revealed a bit earlier in the book. There were hints but still.

I didn’t like Fraco. I did pity him towards the end of the book but I didn’t like him. The things he did were heinous. But, he was a product of the male-dominated society of Eldon. He did what he thought was in his right.

As with every book, the secondary characters made the book. And with Days of Reign, they definitely added some much-needed depth to the storyline.

There were 2 plotlines in Days of Reign. Both plotlines were wonderfully written. They were also compelling. What got me was how some of the issues on both Eldon and Amaryllis reflected issues today. It actually scared me a little.

The first plotline centered around Zelenka in Eldon. It showed how awful her life was on Eldon. It showed how awful conditions were there. Take for instance her best friend, Sara. Her father sold her to a family as a communal bride (I know, right!!). When Zelenka went to visit Sara, she finds out that Sara committed suicide. It was one of two events that pushed Zelenka into leaving with Fianna. The other event, well, you will need to read the book to find out.

The second plotline is also centered around Zelenka. But she is in Amaryllis and discovering that living in Amaryllis is not what she thought. I shared Zelenka’s awe over everything that she saw and learned on Amaryllis. I wish I had a shower like she had.

There were a few secondary storylines that added to the story. Such as Zelenka’s writing and the storyline with Maeve. Those storylines added much-needed depth to the book.

Days of Reign fits in perfectly in the dystopian genre. It also fits in with the science fiction angle of the book.

I will warn that there are triggers in this book. They are rape, female circumcision and suicide. Not to mention that women are only looked at for sexual gratification and considered non-people. Like I mentioned at the beginning of the book, some of these follow different issues in real life.

The end of Days of Reign was confusing for me. Is there going to be another book? Because if there isn’t, a lot of storylines were left up in the air. If there is another book, it was brilliant of the author to end the book the way she did.

I gave Days of Reign a 4-star rating. This is a well-written book that I enjoyed reading. The characters were relatable and well-rounded. I did have an issue with how the book ended. Hopefully, there will be a book 2.

I would give Days of Reign an Adult rating. There is sex, but it isn’t graphic. There is violence. There is mild language. There are triggers (see above). I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Days of Reign. I would also recommend this book to family and friends. I would include a warning about the triggers.

I would like to thank RABT Book Tours for allowing me to read and review Days of Reign.

All opinions stated in this review of Days of Reign are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Have you read Days of Reign?

Love it? 

Hate it?

Meh about it?

Let me know!!!

Worldwielder by J.M. Vaughan

Worldwielder

4 Stars

Publisher: Aeternal Books

Date of publication: July 30th, 2017

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Where you can find Worldwielder: Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

Melissa Mabrey isn’t like other sixteen-year-olds. From the time she was four, she’s been able to see the colors of people’s minds, colors that reveal to her their true feelings, desires, and fears. She’s only met one other person who’s like her—her best friend Kyle. But two years ago, Kyle mysteriously disappeared, and she hasn’t heard a word from him since. 

Until today. In a book carried by a stranger, Melissa finds a desperate plea for help from Kyle. Following his clues, she’s hurtled from our world into the Gallery, a gateway to millions of worlds. Each world is entered through a painting, and each has a different “pull” on the minds of its occupants. There are pulls that make people grow calm in the face of peril, or flee from shadows in terror or kill each other or forget things forever. 

But for Melissa, there’s nothing scarier than the unknown, and now she must traverse countless perilous worlds to find Kyle, fending off ruthless barbarians, the Gallery Guard, and her friend’s captors. Along the way, she’ll discover the truth about what she and Kyle are—a truth so terrifying her life will never be the same.

My review:

If you have read this blog for any amount of time, then you know how much I love fantasy and Young Adult. As much as I love those genre’s, I have found myself wanting when trying to find a combination of the two. Don’t get me wrong, I have read some awesome fantasy/YA books. But they are few and far between. So when the author approached me with a request to review Worldwielder, I almost declined. Then I read the blurb and my interest was caught. I thought to myself “Hmmm, this book could good.” And guess what, it was!!

Worldwielder is the story of Melissa. Melissa is different from other girls (and boys) her age. She has a special talent. From the age of 4, she has been able to see the colors of people’s minds. Through that, she is able to see their true feelings/desires/fears. When she was younger, she told her parents what she saw. That lead to years of doctors and therapy. But it eventually ended with her parents treating her like she was making everything up. The only bright thing in her life was her friend, Kyle, who shared the same abilities that she did. But Kyle disappeared 2 years ago. His disappearance and her actions afterward furthered the divide between herself and her parents. Things change when Melissa reads a message in a book from Kyle. A message that is pleading for her help. Melissa must overcome her self-doubts and rescue Kyle. She will also find out that her talent is not what she thought it was. That it was the tip of the iceberg. Can Melissa rescue Kyle?

I felt awful for Melissa. She had it tough at home and at school. She couldn’t get over Kyle leaving. She was so depressed at the beginning of the book that I wanted to reach through the book and hug her. Reading about her home life made me sad. No child should feel like that. I did think that she was obsessive about Kyle, though. But, if I were in her shoes, I probably have done the same thing at 14. I loved seeing her character blossom in this book. In the beginning, she was antisocial and tried to drive people (mainly Brock) away. But, towards the end of the book, she was able to rely on people for help and learned to accept the help offered. She also learned that sometimes her best friends were the ones that were sitting right under her nose the entire time.

I didn’t feel as connected to Kyle as I did to Melissa. But, I did think that it was a smart move on the author’s part that he slowly leaked information about Kyle. It was Melissa’s memories of Kyle that painted the picture of a boy who was kind and gentle. Which was the complete opposite of what I read later in the book.

Brock annoyed me as much as he annoyed Melissa in the first few chapters of the book. He didn’t know when to stop. He was too laid back too. I can’t believe I said that about a secondary character…lol. But, after she met up with him in the last half of the book, he grew on me. He showed that he was a true friend to Melissa by his actions.

The fantasy angle of the book was excellent. I loved the world building that went into the book. Each world had layers to it, which I enjoyed. I do wish that more time had spent on a couple of worlds. Other than that, I loved it. I also enjoyed how Melissa was able to get from world to world. Accessing them through a painting was a great idea.

Melissa’s talent was interesting too. I liked how she was able to tell the moods/feelings/desires from the color of people’s minds. But what I liked the most was that was only the tip of the iceberg with her. What she was able to do after meeting up with Ringo and getting that book was amazing. I also like that her power was connected to the “pull” of the planet. It made for some interesting scenes in the book.

The young adult angle of the book was great too. Melissa acted her age, which was refreshing. I have read books where there the main characters were supposed to be 16 and they acted 20. So to have a teenage character actually act like a teenager was refreshing to read.

The end of Worldwielder was good. I wasn’t expecting Kyle to be how he was. It was a bit of a letdown for me to read that. I also didn’t think that his mother would give up so easily. The storylines were all wrapped up and ended in a way that satisfied me as a reader. I do wonder if a book 2 is going to be in the works. Because there is so much that I need to know. Mainly about the Worldwielders. I also want to know about the other worlds that Melissa could sense.

What I liked about Worldwielder:

A. The plotline. It was original

B. The fantasy angle

C. Melissa

What I disliked about Worldwielder:

A. Melissa’s parents

B. I didn’t feel as connected to Kyle as I should have felt

C. How Kyle was in the last half of the book.

I gave Worldwielder a 4-star rating. This is a solid Young Adult/fantasy book. The storyline was interesting and engaging. The characters, I felt connected too (except for Kyle). This is a book that would be right for teenagers 16 and older.

I would give Worldwielder an Older Teen rating. There is no sex. There is violence. There is no language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I would reread Worldwielder. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Worldwielder.

All opinions stated in this review of Worldwielder are mine.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Dead Girls Don’t Love by Sarah Hans

Dead Girls Don't Love

4 Stars

Publisher: Dragon’s Roost Press

Date of publication: May 28th, 2018

Genre: Horror

Where you can find Dead Girls Don’t Love: Amazon | Barnes, and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads): 

Do you enjoy creepy stories about people who don’t quite fit in? Dead Girls Don’t Love is a collection of poignant tales for the outsider in all of us. For a domestic violence victim, there is no life after death–but could there be revenge? Can a woman returning to her life after 40 years with the fae remember how to be human? When two Buddhist monks travel to China to spread the dharma, will they survive the unspeakable horror they find instead? What really happened when the Big Bad Wolf ate the lonely grandmother living in the woods? Will the love between two zombified women help them break the spell that binds them in eternal servitude? And, perhaps most importantly, can an Elder God find true love? These and many more fascinating questions will be answered on the pages within if you dare to read them. But be warned: the strange and horrifying realities contained in Dead Girls Don’t Love may haunt you long after you close the back cover.

My review:

While I like to read anthologies, I don’t review them. I find them hard to review because they are short stories. But, when the author approached me with a request to review Dead Girls Don’t Love, I had to review it. Because of the blurb. The blurb made me want to read this book and share it with everyone. The other reason why I accepted is that I like sharing books by indie authors. They should be showcased on blogs as much as the mainstream authors. All it takes is one person to give that author a chance.

I am glad that I decided to read Dead Girls Don’t Love. The range of the stories in this book was amazing. There was a bit of everything. You want a story about the Fae? You got it. You want a story about what happened after the grandmother was eaten by The Big Bad Wolf? You got it. You want a zombie love story (which was my favorite story)? You got it.

I am not going to get into each individual story in this book. If I did that than this review would be super long and you would lose interest after the first blurb. Like I mentioned above, these stories are varied. There is a connecting thread of horror in each of them. In some stories, it takes a bit longer for the horror element to show up but it is worth the read.

There was also a small romance theme that ran through a few of the stories. The tree, the Elder God, and the zombie women were the three main ones that I remember. What I enjoyed, even more than the romance was that the author had two of those romances be LGBTQIA themed. Rarely I read a horror book where one or both of the characters in the story are gay or lesbian. It was refreshing and I loved it!!

The horror angle in each of these stories was different. Some were in your face (the Fae) and others were subtle (the story of the monks on the ship). But they all got you in the end. The one that freaked me out the most was the one with the wandering monks. I got chills reading that story. Even more so because one of the monk’s questions about his past wasn’t answered. I was left wondering about him.

To wrap up this review, go pick up this book. It is 230 pages but it is a fast read. It is wonderfully written and I was creeped out by some of the stories.

I will not be doing a like/dislike section for this book.

I gave Dead Girls Don’t Love a 4-star review. I enjoyed reading this book. The stories were chilling to read.

I gave Dead Girls Don’t Love an Adult rating. There is sex. There is violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Dead Girls Don’t Love. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Dead Girl’s Don’t Love.

All opinions stated in this review of Dead Girl’s Don’t Love are mine.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

The Last Straw (Pigeon-Blood Red: Book 2) by Ed Duncan

The Last Straw (Pigeon-Blood Red Book 2)

4 Stars

Publisher: Creativia

Date of publication: November 25th, 2017

Genre: Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Series: Pigeon-Blood Red

Pigeon-Blood Red – Book 1

The Last Straw – Book 2

Where you can find The Last Straw: Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

When a teenage girl witnesses a carjacking gone bad, she is marked for death by a crime boss with no apparent motive. A black lawyer and a white enforcer with an unlikely history forge an uneasy alliance to protect the girl from a hitman with an agenda of his own. 

After they find out that the crime boss is the father of the black teenage carjacker, Paul Elliott – lawyer and close friend of the witness’s family – begins counseling them. 

As the long-simmering feud between Rico and John D’Angelo reaches boiling point, bodies start to pile up in rapid succession… and old scores will be settled.

My review:

I like suspense/mystery/thrillers/crime books. I like them because most of the time they can get my pulse running. Also, I am unable to put the book down. That was the case with The Last Straw. This book had me hooked. You know a book is good when you start dreaming about the characters.

As much as I liked The Last Straw, I felt lost at times while reading it. I didn’t understand the connection between Rico and Paul until Paul explained it. I don’t like being in the dark about backstories. I don’t like starting a book and thinking to myself “What are they talking about? What happened?” Unfortunately, that happened in this book. So, if you are to read The Last Straw, you need to read Pigeon-Blood Red first.

I thought the characters were well written. They were 3D and had depth to them. I liked Rico. He was an uneasy anti-hero. He came across as first as an unfeeling killer but as I read the book, he definitely had feelings. He had a strong moral compass. He had no problem killing people but drew the line at killing children. He didn’t have any friends yet he felt compelled to protect Paul against a rival hitman. If there is a 3rd book, I can’t wait to see where the author takes his character.

I didn’t get that same sense of development in Paul. I didn’t feel the connection to him that I felt to Rico. I do think that Paul wouldn’t want to be a person to tick off. That’s for sure. Because he can definitely take care of himself. The end of the book showcased that perfectly.

The Last Straw’s plot was intriguing. Teenaged girl witnesses a botched carjacking. The carjacker is the illegitimate son of a notorious crime boss. She is marked for death but the first attempt takes out her father instead. Paul is determined to protect her from whoever is killing her. Rico is on the hunt for the person who attacked his escort girlfriend when his boss pulls him aside and asks him to take a job. The job: To take out a girl who will be testifying at the murder trial of his son. Rico passes, only to be brought back into it when he realizes that the girl’s protector is Paul. Determined to protect Paul and the girl from the hitman contracted, Rico has to go against a hitman who hates him. And one who is willing to do whatever it takes to finish the hit and take Rico down. Can Rico thwart him?

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This book is bloody. So, if you don’t like violence and blood in a book, don’t read it. I liked it because it was a no holds bars books. It didn’t hold back or pussyfoot around things. Instead, it was in your face and made you think about things. It also made me value the boring life that I live…haha. I also did wonder at one point in the book how the police were dealing with all the bodies.

The secondary characters definitely made the book. But the one that stands out for me was Beverly. She loved her son but she also wanted to see justice done. She went out of her way to make sure that the girl wasn’t going to be touched by her son’s father (which was a lie). She made herself into something from nothing. A strong woman who tried to instill right from wrong in her only child. I liked her.

D’Angelo was freaking nuts. When it was revealed why he hated Rico, I laughed. All that hatred over a woman….smh. He held onto that hatred like a dog with a bone. I could see that he was becoming unhinged towards the end of the book. I did wonder if he was going to go after Rico or try to harm Rico’s charges (can’t say, friends, because Rico didn’t have any). You have to read the book to what he does. I will say that he deserved what was coming to him at the end of the book.

Speaking of the end of the book, it was an explosive bloody end. There were a lot of deaths. Some deserved, some not. But it was the end of the book that put a smile on my face. A classy way to end the book!!!

What I liked about The Last Straw:

A) Well written characters

B) Intriguing plotline

C) Secondary characters that made the book

What I disliked about The Last Straw:

A) Need to read book 1 first

B) Paul’s character wasn’t as developed as Rico’s was

C) D’Angelo

I gave The Last Straw a 4-star rating. This book was a great read with well-developed characters. But you do need to read book 1 first to understand the relationships between Rico and Paul.

I would give The Last Straw an Adult rating. There is sex. Not explicit but it is there. There is graphic violence. There is language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread The Last Straw. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank Kelsey from BookPublicityServices for allowing me to read and review The Last Straw.

All opinions stated in this review of The Last Straw are mine.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Incognito by Siobhan Davis

Incognito

4 Stars

Publisher: 

Date of publication: June 30th, 2018

Genre: Romance, New Adult

Where you can find Incognito: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

A new adult STANDALONE college romance from USA Today bestselling author Siobhan Davis.

A troubled popstar forced into hiding… A sweet small-town girl overcoming tragedy… And the kind of love that only happens once in a lifetime.

Dakota’s dreams of attending Juilliard were shattered the night tragedy struck her family. It’s one year later, and she’s now enrolled at a local university trying to piece her life back together.

Shawn is one of the world’s most famous faces, having lived under a spotlight since his star exploded when he was fourteen. Now jaded by an industry forcing him to perform music he no longer enjoys, he craves normalcy and the opportunity to rediscover his muse. When a crazy stalker gets too close, and death threats start mounting, Shawn’s management team comes up with a plan—one which will allow him to work on his latest album while staying incognito on a college campus.

Romance is the last thing on Dakota’s mind, but after she crosses paths with a hot, prickly cutie with rock-hard abs and smoldering good looks, she can’t shake him from her thoughts.

Shawn can’t afford to bring any girl into his fucked-up life, but the gorgeous blonde with the sad blue eyes captivates him in a way no girl ever has, and he finds himself falling hard and fast. 

But outside forces are conspiring against them. 

When danger draws closer, and secrets are revealed, will their love survive?

My review:

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I am going to admit, I decided to read this book because of the cover. Yup. I went there. I didn’t bother to read the blurb until after the book was sent to me. So if I didn’t like the book, it was on me. Thankfully, I liked the book.

Incognito is the story of Dakota and Shawn. Dakota was supposed to attend Julliard when she received news that her sister was murdered. That was the night that her life fell apart. Forced to attend a local university by her father, Dakota is trying to move on with her life. But that is easier said than done. She is under incredible pressure. Her only release is dancing on the rooftop of an abandoned building. Shawn is a famous musician who is being stalked. When the stalker ups the ante, Shawn is forced into hiding until the stalker is caught. He relocated to the same university that Dakota attends. Sparks fly when they meet. Neither wants a relationship but somehow, they end up in one. Only thing…Shawn hasn’t told Dakota who he is. When Dakota finds out, can she forgive him? Can Shawn keep her safe or will she end up a pawn in the stalkers end game?

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Dakota was pretty awesome in the book. She didn’t take crap from anyone. She used that attitude a lot in the book and I loved it. The only time I didn’t love it was when she was having a conflict with her father. That situation (which I will go into) was horrible. I also liked how she handled her ex-boyfriend and his girlfriend. Talk about putting them in their place. Loved it.

Shawn came off as very immature at the beginning of the book. I don’t know why he felt the need to hit on his security head’s wife. But, the more time he spent with Dakota, the more he started to grow up. I did get stalkerish vibes from him about Dakota. He didn’t full out follow her but he also didn’t miss her midnight dances. My only fault with him, besides him being immature at the beginning of the book, was that he didn’t tell Dakota who he was. I can understand why he didn’t. He didn’t want his stalker to find out about her. But with her trust issues, I thought he should have told her sooner. It would have caused a lot less heartbreak.

The stalker storyline was interesting. I did think that it was one person in the entire book, only to find out it was someone else. Talk about a twist that I didn’t see coming!!

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The chemistry between Shawn and Dakota was insane. Sparks flew. I liked how the author had them become friends before anything happened between them. It made the connection between them deeper.

When Shawn and Dakota had sex, it was hot. I had to have a cool sip of water and fan myself afterwards. Every single sex scene was like that. Burning hot.

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I do want to mention the situation with Dakota’s father. He was scum. He didn’t care about his wife and it showed. Dakota was the only one with sense. I am glad she did what she did in the middle of the book because her father was going to screw her mother over big time. Then to spring what he sprung on Dakota. I wanted to smack him. Selfish, selfish man.

Dakota’s friends need a mention here. I died laughing whenever she was with them. Tabitha reminded me of a few friends I had in college. Boy crazy….lol.

Dakota’s ex and his girlfriend drove me nuts. He couldn’t take a hint and she, well, she was a witch with a b. I loved how Dakota put them in their place every single time she saw them.

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The end of the book was action packed. I wasn’t expecting the twist with the stalker plotline. It was a great twist in the story. One that I didn’t see coming. I loved the epilogue!!!

What I liked about Incognito:

A) The cover

B) Dakota’s take no crap attitude

C) Shawn’s maturing over the course of the book

What I disliked about Incognito:

A) Dakota’s father

B) The stalker

C) Dakota’s ex and his girlfriend

I gave Incognito a 4-star rating. I liked the book. The storyline flowed and the characters were relatable. There were no lags in the plotline. There were no storylines that weren’t wrapped up.

I would give Incognito an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is violence. There is language (Shawn likes to use the “F” word a lot). Even though I put this in the New Adult genre, I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Incognito. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Incognito.

All opinions stated in this review of Incognito are mine.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Diana Christmas by F.R. Jameson

Diana Christmas

4 Stars

Publisher: 

Date of publication: March 21st, 2018

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Noir

Where you can find Diana Christmas: Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

In 1959, Diana Christmas – the beautiful, vivacious redhead – was a major star in Britain. It was her moment. She was on the cusp of making it big in Hollywood. Then, she simply walked away from the limelight. Vanished from an industry that adored her. 

Twenty years later, Michael, a young film journalist, arrives at her suburban home and discovers the still vibrant and alluring Diana. Between her sheets, he hears for the first time the reason for her disappearance – a tale of coercion, shame, and blackmail. 

To his shock, he learns that those who destroyed her career and ruined her life still have their claws in her. 

Totally smitten, he promises to help her. But Michael soon finds that the past doesn’t let go easily… 

Diana Christmas – A new thriller of desire and betrayal from F.R. Jameson.

My review:

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Thriller Noir is a newer genre for me to read and review. While I have heard of it, I have seen thriller noir films and I was intrigued by a book form of the movies I have seen. I was glad that I accepted to request to review Diana Christmas. This book was an homage to the black and white thriller noir films that I watched as a child/teen.

Diana Christmas was a vivacious redhead who was about to make it big in the late 50’s Hollywood when she walked away from it all. She vanished. 20 years later, in the late ’70s, Michael tracks her down. An aspiring film journalist, he is thrilled at the chance to meet and interview Diana. He did not expect to end up in bed with her. He also did not expect for her to reveal the true reasons why she walked away from it all or that she is still being blackmailed. Michael, believing he is in love, decides to take it upon himself to help Diana get her blackmailers off her back. But Diana Christmas is not what she seems.

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Michael was one of the most naïve characters that I have read to date. I liked him but I wanted to shake some sense into him. He put himself into situations that made me mentally shake my head and go “Why would you do that“. Don’t even get me started on his relationship with Diana. That relationship was doomed from the start. He fell in love with her too quickly and she, well, she was not a very nice person to him. Actually, that is an understatement. She cost him everything.

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I didn’t like Diana from the minute she was introduced in the book. She saw that Michael was this naïve young man who actually knew who she was and decided to use him. I went from not liking her to hating her in the middle of the book. What she put Michael through was despicable. I was happy when she got what was coming to her at the end of the book. She deserved everything that happened to her.

The ending of Diana Christmas wasn’t a happy one. It was genius of the author to end the book in that way. It was full of regret, self-loathing and a slight undercurrent of bitterness. Which was a perfect ending for this book.

What I liked about Diana Christmas:

A) It was a new genre for me to read

B) Michael

C) The ending. Refreshing to read a book where everything wasn’t ended happily

What I disliked about Diana Christmas:

A) Diana.

B) Michael (yes, I liked and disliked him)

C) Almost too fast-moving for a book

I would give Diana Christmas an Adult rating. There is sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would recommend Diana Christmas to family and friends. I would also reread this book.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Diana Christmas.

All opinions stated in this review of Diana Christmas are mine.

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**

Missing: The Morris Mystery Book 1 by Shawn Jolley

Missing: The Morris Mysteries #1 by [Jolley, Shawn]

1 Stars

Publisher: 

Date of publication: January 2nd, 2018

Genre: Mystery

Where you can find Missing: Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

The idea of becoming a legal guardian wasn’t easy for Cecil Morris to swallow because of his profession as a traveling private investigator. However, that didn’t stop him from adopting his nephew, Evan, shortly after his parents were killed in an automobile accident. Together, they uncover what happened to a wealthy businessman’s missing son in a small desert community.

My review:

I like mysteries. But I don’t like it when a mystery leaves you hanging at the end. Or it was poorly executed. Which is what happened in this short story.

This book is 34 pages. It starts off strongly. Evan was taken in by his uncle Cecil after his parents were killed in a car accident. Cecil is a PI and he has taken on a kidnapping case in the desert. Evan meets him there. While waiting for his uncle, Evan is befriended by a strange girl, Janine. Evan becomes involved in the case and helps Cecil solve it.

It was after Evan meets Janine that the book went sideways for me. We were given the bare bones of the kidnapping case. There was no investigating. Evan is brought to the station by one of the officers on the case, only to be interrogated? No lead-up, it happened. Then everything was fine. Cecil didn’t even ask why Evan was there. WTH? Then when the case was solved, there was no huge reunion, no arrest. It ended. I was shaking my head.

I also wondered why Janine was involved in the plotline. She brought nothing to it except more confusion.

I got no sense of satisfaction from the ending. I felt like I was left hanging and was wondering what was going to happen.

Like I mentioned above, I felt that the mystery was poorly executed. There was no build up, no red herrings, nothing. If that could be fixed (along with the other things), this has the potential to be a good story.

I am not going to do a like/dislike section because there was nothing that I liked about Missing.

I would give Missing an Older Teen rating. There is no sex. There is no language. There is some mild violence. I would suggest that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

I would not recommend Missing to family and friends. I also would not reread this book.

I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Missing.

All opinions stated in this review of Missing are mine.

**I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it**