Category: Non ARC

The Emperor’s Trap (formerly Seekers) by R.A. Denny

The Emperor's Trap (Tales of Tzoladia Book 2) by [Denny, R.A.]

4 Stars

Publisher: 

Date of publication: April 11th, 2017

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Number of pages: 238

POV: Alternating 1st person

Series: Mud, Rocks, and Trees

Refugees – Book 1 (review here)

Seekers – Book 2

Captives – Book 3

Warriors – Book 4

Where you can find Seekers: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

I can see the future, but it’s muddy.  A dream led me to Baskrod when I was a small boy. A dream showed me the emperor’s mad ravings in his throne room. And a recurring dream reveals that I will ride a lion into the city of Tzoladia at the head of a victorious procession.

But what if I’m wrong?

Prophecies, dreams, and signs are easy to misinterpret. Why else would the wise men of the Society of the Word hide in caves, carry swords, and employ spies? I thought they would know where to find the other deliverers.

But nobody knows what has happened to Brina and Moshoi.  For all I know, the emperor may already have them in his trap.

Trigger Warning: None

Continue reading “The Emperor’s Trap (formerly Seekers) by R.A. Denny” →

Complicity by L. Dalton White

Complicity: A Thriller

4 Stars

Publisher: Vernacular Press

Date of publication: February 27th, 2017

Genre: Drama

Number of pages: 334

Where you can find Complicity: Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

When Natalie finds proof that her now ex-boyfriend’s father might be alive, she also discovers that knowing him at all has placed her in tremendous danger. Pete helped a teenage girl forced into prostitution by an outlaw biker gang to escape. If Natalie can’t produce Pete, she may be forced to fill the empty bed in their criminal organization.

Pete was hitchhiking across the country after the death of his wife when his disappearance and presumed murder precipitated the breakup between Natalie and Bobby. She hoped the new information might salvage their relationship, or at least help Bobby get one of his parents back.

Instead, it almost gets her killed.

Natalie enlists Pete’s girlfriend Betty-Anne to help retrace his steps while being pursued from California to Massachusetts and back again by members of a motorcycle club, produce Pete or else. But how do they keep finding her? And why is Natalie the only one being threatened and assaulted? Why not Betty-Anne too?

Natalie’s skepticism and a keen sense for survival are all that stands between her and a fate worse than death.

Trigger Warning: drug use, attempted rape Continue reading “Complicity by L. Dalton White” →

Whispers in the Woods (Firemountain Chronicles: Book 1) by Victoria Lynn Osborne

Whispers in the Woods (Firemountain Chronicles #1)

4 Stars

Publisher: Azure Spider Publications

Date of publication: February 16th, 2017

Genre: Mystery, Fantasy

Number of pages: 184

POV: 3rd person

Series: Firemountain Chronicles

Whispers in the Woods – Book 1

Where you can find Whispers in the Woods: Amazon| Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

Dinah Steele was starting her career as part of a presidential candidates press corps when her team made a campaign stop in Tacoma Washington. Ever since then she has been seeing strange creatures in the shadows.
Drawn by a growing obsession to find answers to her visions, her journey takes her to Firemountain. She is drawn into the strange city. With the help of a privileged heir, she investigates the death of her predecessor and uncovers a plot spearheaded by a demon lord that seeks to conquer the city and take over the gate that has opened in the nearby volcano.

Trigger Warning: None

Continue reading “Whispers in the Woods (Firemountain Chronicles: Book 1) by Victoria Lynn Osborne” →

Family on the Run (Into the Storm: Book 5) by Margaret Watson

Family on the Run (Into the Storm, #5)

4 Stars

Publisher: Dragonfly Press

Date of publication: June 6th, 2017

Genre: Romance, Suspense

Number of pages: 250

POV:3rd person

Series: Into the Storm

To Save His Child – Book 1 (review here)

An Innocent Man – Book 2 (review here)

An Honorable Man – Book 3 (review here)

The Dark Side of the Moon – Book 4 (review here)

Family on the Run – Book 5

Where you can find Family and the Run: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

For three years, Andi McGinnis had haunted Chase Remington’s dreams. She was the one woman in the world he would never trust – or ever forget. Now she was back, as infuriatingly brazen – and alluring – as ever. But this time, he vowed their mission was all that could exist between them…

Driven by revenge, Andi had dreamed of the day she would meet Chase again. Now that she had, an innocent child’s life depended on her ability to pose as his loving wife. Together, the undercover agents set out through the perilous South American jungle to deliver the orphaned baby to safety, bound by their common cause – and tortured by a passion that refused to die…

Trigger Warning: None

Continue reading “Family on the Run (Into the Storm: Book 5) by Margaret Watson” →

The Dark Side of the Moon (Into the Storm: Book 4) by Margaret Watson

The Dark Side of the Moon (Into the Storm, #4)

4 Stars

Publisher: Dragonfly Press

Date of publication: June 2nd, 2017

Genre: Romance

POV: 3rd person

Series: Into the Storm

To Save His Child – Book 1 (review here)

An Innocent Man – Book 2 (review here)

An Honorable Man – Book 3 (review here)

The Dark Side of the Moon – Book 4

Family on the Run – Book 5

Where you can find The Dark Side of the Moon: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

Disturbing things are happening in the small town of Eagle Ridge. Veterinarian Tory Holt had come here seeking sanctuary after her life in Chicago fell apart. But the violence she’d escaped has followed her to northern Wisconsin. A serial killer is preying on single women, and Police Chief Holt Adams has appointed himself Tory’s keeper. 

Although Tory is drawn to Holt, she realizes he’s hiding secrets. As the violence escalates in Eagle Ridge and Tory and Holt grow closer, Tory is forced to make a decision. Can she trust Holt? Or will she pay the ultimate price for her trust?

Trigger Warning: Police brutality, stalking

Continue reading “The Dark Side of the Moon (Into the Storm: Book 4) by Margaret Watson” →

4 Years Trapped in My Mind Place by Johan Twiss

4 Years Trapped in My Mind Palace by [Twiss, Johan]

4 Stars

Publisher: Twiss Publishing

Date of publication: December 9th, 2016

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Number of pages: 284

POV: 1st person

Where you can find 4 Years Trapped In My Mind Palace: Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

Diagnosed with a rare form of meningitis, fourteen-year-old Aaron Greenburg is paralyzed from head to toe. Doctors believe he is essentially brain dead and unaware of his surroundings, but Aaron is very much aware—trapped in his own mind with no way to communicate. 

To cope with his imprisonment, he retreats to an imaginary world called his Mind Palace, but the lines between reality, and time itself, start to blur when he receives a new patient as a roommate—an old, outspoken, Jewish jazz musician, named Solomon.

Filled with witty humor and heart-warming experiences, 4 Years Trapped in My Mind Palace is a coming-of-age story, entwined with an end-of-age story, that will capture your imagination with a hint of nostalgia, a hint of the whimsical unknown, and a wild adventure through modern history.

Trigger Warning: None

Continue reading “4 Years Trapped in My Mind Place by Johan Twiss” →

The Dream Sifter (The Depths of Memory: Book 1) by Candice Bundy

The Dream Sifter (The Depths of Memory Book 1) by [Bundy, Candice]

4 Stars

Publisher: Lusios Publishing

Date of publication: August 15th, 2013

Genre: fantasy, science fiction

Number of pages: 578

POV: 3rd person

Series: The Depths of Memory

The Dream Sifter – Book 1

Dreams Manifest – Book 2

Where you can find The Dream Sifter: Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

Barren and shamed for her lack, Rai has no memory when she’s placed with an adoptive family, the large and prosperous Durmah Sept. Recurring nightmares pull her into another world–giving glimpses of a past she never recalls while awake. Rai fears for her new family’s safety in light of her mysterious past and newfound, bizarre abilities. Driven by a curiosity Rai can’t deny, she continues to search for the key to her fleeting bits of memory of people and places she has never seen. 

Aided by her new family and opposed by the formidable Temple Matriarchs and their Guardians, Rai pushes toward remembering and as she strives to know, realizes the horror of who she was and what she is. 

*****

A distant human colony races to prove themselves before the powerful Hegemonic races declare their attempt a failure. Although they’ve been on Az’Unda for a little over 600 years and have used aggressive breeding practices, a horrible plague has reduced their life spans, left many women sterile, and created heartbreaking husks of the people they once knew and loved, known as Terrors. Little do they know they are about to face their greatest threat from one of their own–causing attention to focus on the ordinary and unremarkable Durmah Sept.

The Depths of Memory Trilogy in a set in a future where humans have fled Earth and struggle to colonize new worlds and prove their worth to the alien consortium known as the Hegemony. Beyond the colonist’s day-to-day struggles, they face a devastating plague which requires extreme and constant vigilance. Faced with internal and external threats, how far will the colonists be willing to go to save not just their colony, but humanity itself?

The Depths of Memory Trilogy is a sci-fi/fantasy trilogy.

Trigger Warning: None

Continue reading “The Dream Sifter (The Depths of Memory: Book 1) by Candice Bundy” →

Diary of Anna the Girl Witch: Foundling Witch (Diary of Anna the Girl Witch: Book 1) by Vic Connor

Diary of Anna the Girl Witch: Foundling Witch by [Connor, Vic]

5 Stars

Publisher: Helvetic House

Date of publication: December 7, 2014

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Mystery, Paranormal

Number of pages: 284

POV: 1st person

Series: Diary of Anna the Girl Witch

Foundling Witch – Book 1

Wandering Witch – Book 2

Fighting Witch – Book 3

Where you can find Foundling Witch: Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

What do you do when you discover you’re a witch… And that using your new powers destroys your soul a little each time? 

Set in the Swiss countryside, this story blends ancient folklore with a coming of age tale about a young witch on the brink of womanhood. 

Anna Sophia has always known she was different. She didn’t know just how different until now. 

On the eve of her 13th birthday — in the orphanage where she’s spent most of her childhood — Anna wonders about her past. She never knew her parents, doesn’t even know where she came from. All she has to go by is an unbelievable fairy tale her uncle used to tell: that she was found as a baby, tucked among a pack of bear cubs in the wilds of Russia. 

To make matters even more complex, Anna has discovered that she can see and do things that no one else can. So far, she’s kept her powers a secret, and they remain strange and frightening even to her. 

It’s only when Anna receives a letter from her mother — a mother she will never meet — that she discovers some of the truths about her past, and begins to uncover the possibilities in her future. As Anna continues to learn more about her secret abilities, she finds out that her neighbors are hiding something of their own: a plot to harm Anna and her friends. 

Can Anna Sophia use her newfound supernatural powers to stop them? Can she fight back, without endangering her own soul? And maybe, just maybe, is her own secret tied up with theirs? 

Through a story of otherworldly magic, Anna Sophia finds a sense of real-world belonging. With its cast of strong characters, an inventive setting, and engaging storyline, this fantasy adventure is a relevant novel for middle-grade children or young adults. 

Genre: middle grade / young adult adventure.

Trigger Warning: none

Continue reading “Diary of Anna the Girl Witch: Foundling Witch (Diary of Anna the Girl Witch: Book 1) by Vic Connor” →

Catching a Witch by Heidi Eljarbo

Catching a Witch: A Novel of Loyalty, Deception, and Superstition

4 Stars

Publisher: TCK Publishing

Date of publication: August 1st, 2017

Genre: Paranormal, Historical Fiction

Number of pages: 284

POV: 3rd person

Where you can find Catching a Witch: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

What Would You Do to Save Your Best Friend from Burning? 
The year 1660 is when it all changed… 

That’s when a witch-hunter comes to Clara Dahl’s seaside village in Norway. She’s horrified to discover how fast her neighbors and friends are to turn against each other. She soon realizes her sleepy, little, picturesque corner of the world has been invaded by evil—and it has nothing to do with witchcraft. 

As neighbor turns against neighbor, Clara finds herself drawn into the fray, forced to do what she can to protect her friends and loved ones. An educated and upstanding minister’s daughter, Clara speaks out against the witch-hunter’s unjust treatment of those accused of witchcraft. She sees how he plays the villagers, using their superstitions and religious beliefs to make good people accept horrible things. 

When Clara’s best friend Bess is accused of being a witch, Clara must make an incredible sacrifice to save not only her friend but the entire town… before it’s too late. 

About the Book

In 1660, women had no voting rights, couldn’t own property, and were treated as second-class citizens. If that weren’t bad enough, many innocent women—especially poor women—were tried and executed for witchcraft. The people responsible for their deaths were often their own friends, family members, and neighbors. 

Catching a Witch is a story about a young woman who’s willing to do whatever it takes to protect the people she cares about most in this world. 

You’ll love this book if you enjoy… 

Historical dramas 
Witches and witch hunting 
Historical thrillers 
The history of religion and superstitions 
A story with a strong female protagonist fighting for what’s right 
Readers of similar books such as Year of Wonder by Geraldine Brooks, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent, and The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare will love Catching a Witch. 

Scroll up and click “buy now” to help Clara save her village from evil.

Trigger Warning: abuse of women, some graphic death scenes

Continue reading “Catching a Witch by Heidi Eljarbo” →

Naked We Came (Jake Travis: Book 5) by Robert Lane

Naked We Came (Jake Travis, #5)

4 Stars

Publisher: Mason Alley Publishing

Date of publication: September 25th, 2017

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Number of pages: 355

POV: 1st person

Series: Jake Travis

The Second Letter – Book 1

Cooler Than Blood – Book 2

The Cardinal’s Sin – Book 3

The Gail Force – Book 4

Naked We Came – Book 5

Where you can find Naked We Came: Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Book synopsis (from Goodreads):

Jake Travis searches for the man who abducted and killed his sister and only sibling over 30 years ago, while on a family vacation in Florida. She went to their motel room to get the book “Matilda.” She was never seen again.

Now, the man suspected of killing her has washed up on a beach near Jake’s house. He penned a confession just days before his mysterious death. Jake believes that the confession was forced and that DNA was tainted.

His vengeful quest tangles him in a web of murky and powerful figures. As Jake forges ahead, seeking both justice for his sister and personal closure, he questions if he will ever spring free of his past, or whether the past will forever shackle him in its chains.

Foreword Clarion Reviews calls, “Naked We Came” “An emotionally austere and endlessly surprising thriller. Jake remains a character who shines among other genre leads. His dialogue is snappy, his appetites are insatiable. A thriller with heart.”

Trigger Warning: None

Continue reading “Naked We Came (Jake Travis: Book 5) by Robert Lane” →