Review: The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER  •  FEATURING AN EXCLUSIVE NEW CHAPTER

GoodReads Choice Awards Semifinalist 

“Moving . . . a plot that surprises and devastates.”—New York Times Book Review

“A masterful epic.”—People magazine

“Mesmerizing . . . The Women in the Castle stands tall among the literature that reveals new truths about one of history’s most tragic eras.”—USA Today

Three women, haunted by the past and the secrets they hold

Set at the end of World War II, in a crumbling Bavarian castle that once played host to all of German high society, a powerful and propulsive story of three widows whose lives and fates become intertwined—an affecting, shocking, and ultimately redemptive novel from the author of the New York Times Notable Book The Hazards of Good Breeding.

Amid the ashes of Nazi Germany’s defeat, Marianne von Lingenfels returns to the once-grand castle of her husband’s ancestors, an imposing stone fortress now fallen into ruin following years of war. The widow of a resister murdered in the failed July 20, 1944, plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, Marianne plans to uphold the promise she made to her husband’s brave conspirators: to find and protect their wives, her fellow resistance widows.

First Marianne rescues six-year-old Martin, the son of her dearest childhood friend, from a Nazi reeducation home. Together, they make their way across the smoldering wreckage of their homeland to Berlin, where Martin’s mother, the beautiful and naive Benita, has fallen into the hands of occupying Red Army soldiers. Then she locates Ania, another resister’s wife, and her two boys, now refugees languishing in one of the many camps that house the millions displaced by the war.

As Marianne assembles this makeshift family from the ruins of her husband’s resistance movement, she is certain their shared pain and circumstances will hold them together. But she quickly discovers that the black-and-white, highly principled world of her privileged past has become infinitely more complicated, filled with secrets and dark passions that threaten to tear them apart. Eventually, all three women must come to terms with the choices that have defined their lives before, during, and after the war—each with their own unique share of challenges.

Written with the devastating emotional power of The Nightingale, Sarah’s Key, and The Light Between Oceans, Jessica Shattuck’s evocative and utterly enthralling novel offers a fresh perspective on one of the most tumultuous periods in history. Combining piercing social insight and vivid historical atmosphere, The Women in the Castle is a dramatic yet nuanced portrait of war and its repercussions that explores what it means to survive, love, and, ultimately, to forgive in the wake of unimaginable hardship.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck is an outstanding tale. One that brings me back to the past during the start of WWII. The lives that were lost, held captive, and tortured during this time brings back an unforgettable sadness. Families torn apart and gone…with only their memories living on…

I am a huge historical buff especially for WWII. Hitler is by far one of the worst devils ever presented to this world. How it went on for so long…still bugs me. The lives of the characters is amazing. The Holocaust and the German support of Hitler are explored on these pages.

Three women who are strong, determined, and battling their future head on…I instantly was taken with each of them. Their stories were so real. It was like I was living through each one of them. Brilliant story telling on Jessica Shattuck’s part. Her book carries a lot of history as well as entertainment. Themes of survival, hope, and love are found in this novel. I highly recommend it to all readers.

Review: Savage Liberty by Eliot Pattison

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

The fifth installation of Eliot Pattison’s Bone Rattler series follows the exiled Scotsman Duncan McCallum to the stepping-stones of the American Revolution

Acclaimed author Eliot Pattison continues his Bone Rattler series as Duncan McCallum is drawn into dark intrigue surrounding the Sons of Liberty in this gripping thriller set in the early days of the American revolution.

Pattison’s deep historical knowledge and attention to detail brings a young America to life, immersing the reader in the atmosphere and events that were to lead to the American rebellion. Protagonist Duncan McCallum is lead into a mystery of murder, treachery, and intrigue with Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and a secret society of American patriots organizing to resist the British throne.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Savage Liberty by Eliot Pattison is a novel that sent me back in time. I love following Scottish characters. I have never read a novel, where they were never not in trouble. There was always something going wrong to keep the action steady. Duncan MaCallum’s life was interesting. Death was constantly hanging over his head. Duncan is a strong, determined, and stubborn man. He appeared foolish but is not. He is braver than most men. His relationship with the strong-willed woman, Sarah, is beautiful. Both are good people struggling to survive in their new world. Boston was a place of danger, violence, and uprising. Duncan was smart to leave there but somehow it still chased after him. The time period was captured perfectly. Eliot Pattison created this story in way that deeply engaged me in all the characters’ lives. I felt as though I just lived through them all. Overall, I would recommend this to history fans and historical fiction lovers. This was fun to follow.

Review: Death Doesn’t Bargain by Sherrilyn Kenyon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:

Death Doesn’t Bargain is the second historical fantasy title in New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Deadman’s Cross series. Where Deadmen tell their tales, and every soul is damned or redeemed by the final choices they make.

The Deadmen are back…

But so are the demons who have broken free of their eternal prison and are bent on mankind’s destruction. The worst of the lot is Vine, determined to claim their lives for taking hers. She will see the world burn…and has the perfect lure to destroy them all. One of their own.

Kalder Dupree has never known a day of mercy. Born to the cruelest of mer-races, he sacrificed himself for his crew and is in Vine’s hands. He expects no mercy or rescue.

Yet Cameron Jack is determined to set Kalder free. As a Hellchaser, it’s her calling, and she cannot allow even a not-so-innocent to be tortured for an act of kindness that spared her damnation.

To defeat evil, it sometimes takes an even worse evil, and Cameron is willing to do whatever she must to make this right. If Vine thought she had her hands full before, she hasn’t seen anything nearly as powerful as Cameron’s resolve.

Rating: 4.5-stars

Review:

Death Doesn’t Bargain by Sherrilyn Kenyon is one amazing read. This romantic fantasy has all kinds of creatures for characters. Each one has its own story with choices made or to be made.

Kalder Dupree sacrificed himself for others. He’s suffering in hell because of that choice and yet he still fights with everything he has. Kalder’s life was never easy. So much loss, grief, and trouble inside of it…it made me wonder how he survived thus far. But his journey isn’t over yet…

Cameron Jack is a female not to mess with…her determination and strength make her a good protagonist. She’s a strong female who knows what she wants. That want is to free Kalder. His sacrifice helped her. Now, she wants to return the favor. Their journey is just beginning…

Danger, mystery, and a lot of action are found inside Death Doesn’t Bargain. The whole story had a way of captivating my full-attention. There were so many sides to fight that it was interesting. I was not sure which side would do what or when. The suspense and intrigue was on high volume. The ending…I liked it a lot but now, I cannot wait to get my hands on the next title. Sherrilyn Kenyon definitely knows how to enchant readers, lie myself. Dragging me deeper into her world of fantasy. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to all.

 

 

Review: Can’t Let Go

Synopsis:

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter is back with a sizzling Original Heartbreakers tale about an icy war vet and the only woman capable of melting him…
With trust issues a mile long, Ryanne Wade has sworn off men. Then Jude Laurent walks into her bar and all bets are off. The former Army Ranger has suffered unimaginably, first being maimed in battle then losing his wife and daughters to a drunk driver. Making the brooding widower smile is priority one. Resisting him? Impossible.
To Jude, Ryanne is off limits. And yet the beautiful bartender who serves alcohol to potential motorists tempts him like no other. When a rival bar threatens her livelihood, and her life, he can’t turn away. She triggers something in him he thought long buried, and he’s determined to protect her, whatever the cost.
As their already scorching attraction continues to heat, the damaged soldier knows he must let go of his past to hold on to his future…or risk losing the second chance he desperately needs. 

Rating: 4-stars

Review:

Can’t Let Go is a sexy as hell kind of book. This contemporary romance will play with readers’ minds. Ryanne is a strong female protagonist. She has tattoos and works as a bartender of her own pub. The Scratching Post. Ryanne is also a cat person. A complete animal lover. She doesn’t know much about animals but when they’re innneed, she wants to help them. Like the female pregnant cat by her pub. 
Oh, and there is Jude. A hot male warrior who is as tough as steel. But he doesn’t scare Ryanne. In fact, he has to come to her rescue. She placed herself into the line of danger. And now, it’s up to Jude to protect her. Jude, already lost a woman and his kids. He feels like a failure and still carries the heavy weight of their deaths. 
The plot sounds good. It’s steady. Not fast-paced like I would have liked. It does provide both emotional and physical risks on both of the protagonists’ parts. They have to fight for what they want. Ryanne wants Jude. Most of all, she wants him to be happy. Jude, only knows pain. He’s lusting after Ryanne who makes him feel things he doesn’t want to feel. He tries to stay away and not care about her. But fate intervenes. Neither one can let go…
Overall, the plot was believable. Not addictive but good. I recommend Can’t Let Go to others.

Review: The Angry Fighter’s Story

Synopsis:

Bullied at a young age, David develops a hot temper and needs an outlet to challenge his aggression into. When he learns about his Uncle’s past, David decides to follow in his footsteps and become a champion fighter, but it won’t be an easy journey. Can David live out his dream?

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Angry Fighter’s Story by Bill Vincent is well-written. His novel reminded me of The Karate Kid but at an older age. Just like The Karate kid, David, too was bullied by kids in school. Always coming back injured. Then, David’s life takes a turn for the better. He has an aunt and he discovers about a fighter in his family. The aunt has him trained. Soon, David goes on a new journey. The transformation was great. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this piece of fiction by Bill Vincent. His main charcater was well-developed. Emotionally entertaining. Engaging to read. Overall, I recommend The Angry Fighter’s Story to all. 

Review: The Price of Valor

Synopsis:

In the latest Shadow Campaigns novel, Django Wexler continues his “epic fantasy of military might and magical conflict”* following The Shadow Throne and The Thousand Names, as the realm of Vordan faces imminent threats from without and within.
In the wake of the King’s death, war has come to Vordan.

The Deputies-General has precarious control of the city, but it is led by a zealot who sees traitors in every shadow. Executions have become a grim public spectacle. The new queen, Raesinia Orboan, finds herself nearly powerless as the government tightens its grip and assassins threaten her life. But she did not help free the country from one sort of tyranny to see it fall into another. Placing her trust with the steadfast soldier Marcus D’Ivoire, she sets out to turn the tide of history.

As the hidden hand of the Sworn Church brings all the powers of the continent to war against Vordan, the enigmatic and brilliant general Janus bet Vhalnich offers a path to victory. Winter Ihernglass, newly promoted to command a regiment, has reunited with her lover and her friends, only to face the prospect of leading them into bloody battle.
And the enemy is not just armed with muskets and cannon. Dark priests of an ancient order, wielding forbidden magic, have infiltrated Vordan to stop Janus by whatever means necessary…

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Price of Valor by Django Wexler is the fascinating tale. There’s everything a reader needs…action, suspense, war, magic, fantasy, and a bit of romance. I loved it. The pages were brought to life. I have never read a novel by Django Wexler but I will most definitely start. This was an engaging, dark, and intense read. Each character added to the plot…creating a build that only grew. The ending….has only left me with more need to read the next book by this talented writer. The Price of Valor has a lot to offer. A Queen, secrets, and enemies …danger hanging around everywhere. Overall, I recommend this brilliant masterpiece to readers worldwide. 

Review: Brothers-In-Arms

Synopsis:

Can a Jew and a Nazi survive Hitler’s Germany?
Franz Kappel and Japhet Buchanan never expected their friendship to be tested by the Third Reich. Friends from early childhood, the boys form an inseparable, brotherly bond. Growing up in a little German village, they escape most of the struggles of war until the day Japhet is banished from school for being a Jew, and later has a rib broken when other village boys beat him up. Franz learns he is putting himself in danger for spending so much time with Japhet but continues to stand up for his Jewish friend even at the risk to himself. Then one day their lives are shattered when they see first-hand that the price of being a Jew is dangerously high. 
With the war now on their doorsteps, Franz and Japhet come up with a desperate plan to save their families and get them out of Germany alive. Leaving behind the lives they’ve always known, they move into Berlin with nothing to protect them but forged papers and each other. Convinced their friendship can keep them going, the boys try and make a new life for themselves while trying to keep their true identities and Japhet’s heritage a secret. Taking his best friend’s safety upon himself, Franz joins the Nazis in an attempt to get valuable information. At the same time, Japhet joins the Jewish Resistance, neither friend telling the other of their new occupations.
With everyone in their world telling them a Nazi and a Jew can’t be friends, it is only a matter of time before they believe all the lies themselves, until neither is certain if they are fighting against a race of people or fighting for their homeland. Somehow they have to survive the horrors of World War II, even when all of Germany seems to be against them.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Brothers-In-Arms by Jack Lewis Baillot is a tale that takes readers immediately back into the dark and haunting time for Jews. Even their German friends were in danger. Imagine trying to help a Jewish member escape from the cruelty of the Hitler’s Nazis…if caught one’s death could be just as bad or much worse than what the Jews received. Sad and troubling times. A moment in history all will never forget. Jack Lewis Baillot has created a fictional world full of suspense, deadly consequences, and an unforgettable friendship unlike any other. A German Nazis best friends with a Jew. 

Inside this novel, readers meet two boys who grew up being friends. Times have changed and with it their lives are at stake. Japhet Buchanan is a Jew. For that reason alone he is tormented by all. As war breaks out, he and his family will be in grave danger. His friend Fran’s Kappel, a German, works with his friend to get out of Germany with their family. Safety. But getting out will prove most difficult. Brothers-In-Arms had me rooting for both characters and crying too. Both went through so many demons to get to the ending moment. The writing brought back the fears, tears, and memories of WWII. I highly recommend it to all. Plus, the writer has gone even further by breaking more boundaries within this masterpiece. Absolutely, stunning. 

Review: The Tut Clone Contracts

Synopsis:

Readers of this Book Will … 1. Enjoy robot combat with live ammunition at the 2033 Munich Oktoberfest as Edison Richards, a ten-year-old Tut clone, competes against the leading war-robot operators of Europe. 2. Participate in an attack on a drug lord’s mining camp in Guatemala as Kachil Coban, a Tut clone undergraduate at the University of Chicago, rescues a young Mayan cousin from sexual slavery. 3. Hide under a sink in the Oriental Institute as two of the Tuts’ girlfriends raid the place one night, looking for evidence of the clones’ origins. 4. Join a truck convoy crossing Cairo under fire as the Tut clan, now united, takes over their ancestral homeland, founds the 34th Dynasty, and revives a dysfunctional Egyptian state. 5. Listen in at the Tuts’ first press conferences as they meet the challenges of ruling Egypt after a lost war, an Islamic insurrection, and economic chaos. 6. Join the funeral procession of John Jazz Tut, assassinated by a terrorist, as he becomes the first royal interred in the Great Pyramid of Giza in 5,000 years. Hear Gordon Geertsma, now Tutankhaten II, deliver a funeral oration and restore Egypt to its place as a leading center of civilization in the year 2046, newly renumbered Anno Aegypti 6046.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

The Tut Clone Contracts by Jan Issaye Berkhout is one marvelous journey. Jan Issaye Berkhout takes readers into an unforgettable adventure of a lifetime. Intrigue, action, travel. Egypt is a fascinating place where so much can happen. This story has everything readers could dream of plus, more. It’s fast-paced and thrilling. There’s robotics, slavery, dysfunctional state of Egypt and others. Wars, danger, political as well as economic conflicts are brought into the tale. Creating a rich fantasy filled with nothing but exploration as the plot unfolds. 

This novel, caught my interest from the title alone. Anything with Egypt catches my attention. In fiction, there was a ton of room to make a story. The writer, Jan Issaye Berkhout went beyond any writer. I was excited, caught in suspense, and loving every moment. Every page had visual and entertaining scenes. The characters were well developed. Some parts of the novel, were educational. I found myself completely engaged inside of The Tut Clone Contracts. Whether one is into technology, sci-fi, or adventure…this is the perfect read as it has it all. Overall, I recommend it the book to readers worldwide.

Review: Cross-Out

Synopsis:

Cross-out…

17-year-old Jaime “Kimo” Flores is weeks away from graduation at Chavez High in Bell Gardens. Jaime has his foot in three worlds: he’s a talented art student; he’s a promising future cop in a Police Explorer program; and, as “Kimo,” he’s the informal leader of a crew of graffiti writers. A drive-by shooting results in the death of a gang member just released from jail. Things heat up when Posse leaders demand retribution for the death of their man. They are intent on first identifying, then hunting down the occupants of the drive-by vehicle. In this small community in southeastern Los Angeles, the continuation high school is considered one of the best in the state. Families work hard to earn a living. The police in town try to keep the streets safe, but these positives camouflage deadly and vindictive forces in the community. Nothing is quite what it seems. This story reveals a rare look into the guarded worlds of graffiti crews and street gangs. These subcultures are seen through Jaime’s eyes as he struggles to stay ahead of the malevolence that is cutting down those closest to him. Jaime’s worlds can no longer be separated. He must choose before others choose for him.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Cross-Out by Roger Cannon is a must read for all. Teens and adults need to read this book. It portrays the realistic side of a teen being stuck in the crosshairs of danger. Choices have to made before there isn’t time to choose. Urban street life comes alive on every page. The main character, Jamie, is the teen who is living it rough. He has secrets like the rest of us. His is the fact of living three separate lives which will clash time and time again, if he doesn’t do something about it. His family could be in danger. The intensity of his dreadful situation builds. Keeping me satisfied and hoping for the best. I want to sympathize and shake that kid. Taking his problems on his own may not be the solution. Bold, deadly, and entertaining. Cross-Out is about a community that also has a darkness. Good and evil living together…one will win. Suspenseful and cleverly written, Roger Cannon pulled me deep into his story. The title is a symbol…which readers will find once they begun this journey…overall, I highly recommend this crime novel to all. 

Review: Did I Mention I Miss You?

 

Synopsis:

It’s been a year since Eden last spoke to Tyler. After his sudden departure, she left for Chicago for college and found a new boyfriend—someone who (hopefully) won’t run when things get tough, like Tyler did. But as school breaks up for the summer, she heads back to Los Angeles. And she’s not the only one with that idea…

Despite their break-up, Tyler’s determined to rekindle what they once had. He’s restarted his life and he wants her in it. Eden’s not sure where to begin in finally forgiving him. But when a tragedy draws them together, Eden must search her heart and decide if Tyler is worth the risk once and for all.

In Did I Mention I Miss You?, the explosive finale to Wattpad sensation Estelle Maskame’s DIMILY trilogy: three unforgettable summers of secrets, heartbreak, and forbidden romance.

Rating: 5-stars

Review:

Did I Mention I Miss You? by Estelle Maskame is well-written and a deeply emotional read. I would recommend this book for those 18 and above…due to adult content. I would not want any fourteen-year-old reading this tale. Which, it says it’s suited for…other than that, this was a superb novel. The emotions coming forth from the scenes and the feelings from the characters were realistic. I can see them acting the way they did. Both main characters grew up…and changed into happy individuals. Their lives were so full of angry,  destruction, and troubles that it was nice to see things work out…eventually. There are a lot of major issues mentioned within this one title. Drugs, alcohol, sex…and step-siblings by marriage. I didn’t like the fact that family members could be in a romantic relationship, but they weren’t family by blood. It just felt so weird reading about it. But it was about two teens falling in love and struggling to make things right. I felt sympathy for both of them. Almost felt like the Romeo and Juliet tale in many ways…Estelle Maskame did an excellent job in portraying her characters as real life people. I thought it was great how she took something that happens and shows how it could work out in the end. There were still some issues to work through among the cast of characters but for the most part, I think the ending was perfect. I thought this novel was highly engaging and I recommend to readers. 

Review: The Candidate by Lis Wiehl

 

Synopsis:

How far will a candidate go to become president? Erica Sparks—America’s top-rated cable news host—is about to find out.

Mike Ortiz is a dynamic war hero favored to win the White House. Standing by his side is his glamorous and adoring wife, Celeste. But something about this seemingly perfect couple troubles Erica. Is Celeste really who she seems? And most importantly, what really happened in that squalid Al-Qaeda prison where Mike Ortiz spent nine months?

But more than the nation’s future is at stake. Erica’s relentless search for the truth puts the life of her preteen daughter Jenny in danger, even as Erica’s own dark past threatens to overtake her.

In her latest Newsmakers thriller, NewYork Times bestselling author and Fox News legal analyst Lis Wiehl weaves a taut and chilling story. The Candidate is packed with political intrigue and media manipulation as the lust for power turns deadly indeed.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Candidate by Lis Wiehl is the latest new novel in the Newsmakers series. Lis Wiehl couldn’t have planned her novel better… in time when the presidential campaigns are happening. No one trusts the government. Exactly what one would do to become the next president is a dark thought. With the technology of today and money made available, anything can happen. My thoughts were running back and forth like crazy. The suspense killing me. I had to read this new novel. Then, take the interesting yet peculiar couple that is trying to win seats in the White House. Both persons are a mystery. Where their intentions really lay is a question for Erica Sparks to solve. But with any kind of digging like this can bring a danger Erica never wanted. The danger that could come after, the one she loves the most…her daughter. The Candidate is a political thriller that will lure all readers in like a magnet. I was captivated, intrigued, and hooked. Lis Wiehl’s writing is one that entertains and drags readers deep into her worlds of fiction. Killings, witnessing, and an investigation that sent my heart racing. Family life is complicated but as much as Erica Sparks. She is the main character that proves to be a strong heroine. Overall, I recommend this new read to readers everywhere.

Review: The Harvested

 

Synopsis:

There are only a few things Mila is afraid of. Most are pretty common fears, but there is one that sets her apart from those around her. The fear of a secret. With one drop of blood, her secret of a power beyond anything anyone had ever seen before is unleashed, landing her in a place where she is a prisoner. And an experiment. And there are only a few that know their dictator’s ultimate goal. Some are willing to save her, others want to exploit her for their own dark and sinister intentions, and it is up to her to stop them before it’s too late.

Rating: 5 stars

Review: 

Harvested by Kindra Sowder is by far her greatest work to date. This urban fantasy sucks readers in fast. The action is thrilling…I felt fear and wasn’t sure what to expect. All I knew was that something bad was about to happen to the main character. Then, just when I thought maybe the fear would subside, the worst happened. Just like the main character, Mila, feared would happen. Sooner or later she knew they would come for her. Because of what she can do. Sleep wouldn’t come knowing that at any moment they were coming for her. Not knowing when nor how adds to the suspense of this spectacular read. I found myself lured deep into this dark world. The unknown keeping me on the edge of my seat…

A girl is soon taken into a facility where experiments and all are done. Mila is soon taken as a hostage and kept on like a lab rat. She has a power that they want from her…the question of who will survive or win this war is something I highly recommend readers to read on their own. Kindra Sowder has a power that is raw and magnetic. Readers will forever be trapped inside of her fantasy world and hanging onto every one of her words. I was deeply satisfied with this brilliantly well-written masterpiece. The desire, no, the need to read her next book, is so strong that it’s incredible. Kindra Sowder can wrap her readers around her finger and keep them hostage in her books. Absolutely, loved this new adventure.  Can’t wait for the next novel. Overall, I highly recommend this page turner to all. Harvested is definitely a must read for all.

Review: Rise of the Chosen

 

Synopsis:

In Sam’s world, there are two rules. Rule #1: Nobody dies. Protect the living at all costs. Rule #2: Everybody dies. At least once.

The Waking was a global event in which a force called the Lifeblood invaded all humans who died. The few strong enough to control it came back as powerful immortals. The rest let the bloodlust take over and awoke with one goal – to kill.

Newly appointed Watch Guard Samantha Shields has a legacy to uphold. Her father died a hero defending their city and now she wants to follow in his footsteps. Except for the dying part, of course. Unfortunately, fate has other plans as she discovers deep dark secrets that make her choose between her loyalties and the lives of everyone in her city. Both rules are in play as Sam is forced to make hard decisions that could cost her everything – including the person she cares about most.

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

Rise of the Chosen by Anna Kopp is intense. There are the dead,  and the dead who walk. Then, there’s an army of individuals set on protecting the innocent. One young woman lost her dad and then her mother. After the loss of her mother, Sam was promoted to the highest level of fighting. Her boyfriend ends up being killed but issues out a warning to her. Then, she and her new teammates are preparing to fight a battle. One that is about to break out and only time will tell what happens next.

Rise of The Chosen was well-written. The main character, Sam, is a lesbian. So there’s plenty of F/F action happening. The tale is fast-paced. Packed with tons of action, tough choices, and fighting. Death is everywhere inside this novel. Losing the only family Sam had is a tough emotional journey. Then she also loses a past boyfriend that she cared about like a friend. Work is tough especially when the leading female didn’t have time to prepare or work her way up to the highest level. Lots of science fiction fantasy themes can be found in this exciting read. Anna Kopp is a talented writer. I was fascinated by her book about the dead and the war at hand.

 

Review: Immortal Writers

 

Synopsis:

Young up-and-coming author Liz McKinnen has no idea that her life is about to change forever when she comes home from her first book tour. When she’s kidnapped and told by her captors that she has to kill her fantasy book’s antagonist, she thinks that she’s fallen into the hands of crazy, dangerous fans… until her antagonist sends a real, fire-breathing dragon after her.

Liz is quickly initiated into the Immortal Writers, a group of authors from throughout time whose words have given them eternal life, and whose prose is so powerful that it’s brought stories over from the Imagination Field into the Reality Field. As Liz meets authors such as William Shakespeare, JRR Tolkien, Edgar Allan Poe, and Jane Austen, she has to learn how to control magic, fight dragons, and face her own troubled past before her power-hungry villain takes over the world. Will she survive the ultimate battle against the dragon lord whom she created?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Immortal Writers by Jill Bowers is a sensational read. Adventure, creatures, intrigue, and suspense all wrapped into one amazing book. Imagine the characters that are created in a book suddenly come to life…and the only way to stop the bad characters is for the writer to fight the bad guys off….which is quite scary, funny, and richly entertaining. Liz McKinnen wrote such a book. After finishing her book tour she had been kidnapped by none other the hot sexy male protagonist from her book! Then meeting other famous writers and characters that one would deem are rich crazy people who need help. But are they really real of just all nuts? Jill Bowers has the raw power of drawing readers into her plot. I could not stop reading it. The story hooked me from beginning to end. The action, danger, and challenges ahead were exciting. Immortal Writers is about a bad character who makes it his mission to take over the real world. The one us human beings call home. It’s up to Liz McKinnen to save the world from her protagonist…and dragons. Overall, I highly recommend this brilliant read to all.

 

Review: Follow the Ashes

 

Synopsis:

What does it mean to be the Executioner? Is it the struggle between good and evil, and the fulfillment of a Gypsy
legend?

For Robin, it’s simply another day in the park in downtown LA. It’s killing the undead as she attempts to juggle life and love the same as any other ordinary woman would. That is until she meets Gordon, a crazed demon with a conscience. Now she must battle an ancient evil far more powerful then she’s ever faced before, or risk losing the world to Lilith, the mother of all vampires.

Will she save mankind? Or will we all follow the ashes of destruction as we burn in Hell?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Follow the Ashes by Kindra Sowder is a must read for all. Talk about an amazing plot that is fast-paced, full of adventure, action, and heat. For every paranormal lover out there…this is the book to have. I was instantly taken in by the story and swept into the journey ahead.  This riveting tale contains some similarities to my all-time favorite paranormal reads. Here, is a leading female protagonist trying to live her life and fight the things that would give us all nightmares. LA seems like the place where all the dark paranormal beings like to live…and where the good battle them at every corner. Some paranormal beings are good. Like her caretaker, Gordon. He is a demon but one that is a good guy. It will prove hard not to fall for Kindra Sowder’s characters. Brilliant writing that masterfully weaved a tale worth every reader’s wish. Evil is in full. Vampires are definitely found in this novel, and I couldn’t be any happier. Once this book is opened…readers like myself will be pulled in deep. Or sucked in whole. Beware the writer’s talent will have readers breathless, excited, and begging for more. Overall, Follow the Ashes is highly recommend to readers everywhere. I look forward to reading more by Kindra Sowder in the future.

 

Review: The Bodyguard of Deception

 

Synopsis:

Can the American and British Allies stop a vaunted German spymaster and his U-boat-commander brother from warning Hitler’s High Command about the Allies’ greatest military secret? It is a secret that could win the war for Germany–or, at the very least, delay the outcome for years with an inestimable cost in bloodshed, physical destruction, and suffering. And it is a secret that the two contentious brothers must grapple with within their own Wehrmacht ranks, as they bring U.S. and British intelligence to their knees on America’s doorstep with the clock to D-Day ticking down. From a U-boat on the frigid North Sea to a brutal British interrogation center in the heart of London, to a remote German-POW camp, and the world-famous Broadmoor Hotel overlooking the high plains and snow-dusted mountain peaks of Colorado, Bodyguard of Deception will keep you guessing until the final chapter. The first book of #1 Denver Post Bestselling, Award-Winning Suspense Author Samuel Marquis’s World War II Trilogy.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Bodyguard of Deception by Samuel Marquis is the most realistic World War II novel that I have ever read. The story swept me off my feet and deep into the horrors of the war at hand. The SS officers frightened me. They are are arrogant and violent. It was surprising to hear the German spy brother question how such violent people rose to their positions in Germany. The fight between two brothers is believable. But both have their jobs to do and now, that their paths have crossed, both may be in for danger. Shooting at the enemy lured a fight that the German brothers couldn’t hold up against.  Prisoners of war…Nazis, and the Allied Forces is something that will forever be stuck in my mind. Hitler’s orders…cold, cruel, and devastating to his country. Bodyguard of Deception is truly a remarkable historical tale that readers everywhere will love. I was deeply satisfied with the fast-placed plot. Felt like I was there in the story as the war went on…Danger, enemies, and espionage all brilliantly re-told in this exciting thriller. Samuel Marquis has once again, captivated me from the beginning to end. Overall, I highly recommend this novel.

Review: Hero of My Dreams

 

Synopsis:

The crew of the Arklardin Command Air Transport traverses a wormhole that empties them into the spiral Milky Way galaxy. Time is running out and they must find the one they seek. This is the third day of their search to find a hero who can lead Arklardin against an alien invasion. ZEUS, their onboard computer, directs them to a small blue planet. Kumari, the beautiful science officer who operates the advanced computer wonders, “Will we find the one we seek here?”

Arklardin is a peace-loving planet that is millions of light years from Earth. Their ancestors outlawed war centuries ago and nothing could have prepared them for this intrusion upon their serenity. An evil tyrant interrupted the nation of Pretoria’s winter games; his chilling words rang out across their fairgrounds: “Surrender or die.”

Kumari is filled with dread as she realizes her dreams are coming true. For over two years she has been tormented by visions of imminent danger to her world. She is perplexed and confused because the hero of her dreams always snatches her from the jaws of the dragon but never lets her see his face. If her hero is her fiancé, then why does he hide his face? Surely if he is known to her, he would show himself. Kumari and her crew have been commissioned by the Pretorian king to search other worlds and recruit the warrior they so desperately need.

Dragoon is Lord and Master of the planet Zharbruk. His lust for power and conquest causes him to turn his eyes to his neighbor, the huge peace-loving planet of Arklardin. A secret alliance gives his forces what they need to begin the interplanetary assault. However, his vision of conquest is not limited to his own solar system. Once he has Arklardin under his heel, there will be other inhabited worlds to conquer. Will the universe bring forth a champion to defend this beautiful planet?

Meanwhile on Earth, a young, handsome war hero contemplates his life and the war he has come home from. Awarded the Medal of Honor for courage during a bloody action in Southeast Asia, he wonders if there is some grand design for his life. Has he endured the horrors of war for nothing, or has a Higher Power been preparing him for some worthy cause? He is confused at the direction of his life. Lieutenant Alexander Freeman last saw Veronica standing beside his best friend when he sailed off to war. He was not prepared for her Dear John letter to arrive the day his first tour of duty ended. It was at this time he began to have the dreams. A beautiful apparition often visited and seemed to be in peril. He knows it is only a dream but is puzzled at the strong emotions manifested.

Arriving back in his hometown of Wimauma, Florida, the war hero settles into the rustic life of a cattleman. One night as he lays beside the pristine Little Manatee River, absorbed in the beauty of the night sky, a bright light suddenly catches his attention. Alexander Freeman has no idea the events of this night will cast him into conflict out among the stars where he has always found solace. Destiny has finally found him and his life will never be the same.

Could it be possible these two young lives have connected in their dreams from worlds that are millions of light-years apart? Have the dreams of Kumari and Alex brought them together for some purpose other than repelling the invasion? Is he truly her hero and can he, in the process of saving her, save her world?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Hero of My Dreams by J.R. Pitts is a fantasy all readers must have. It is fast-paced. Tons of action, as well as immediate danger, plunge readers deeper into the story. A journey that travels beyond space into dreams. This romantic story packs a lot.  A peaceful planet in danger of a horrible invasion and they only have so much time before they find someone who can save them. One man on earth might be just the one. Alex, already a hero from fighting a war in his country keeps having dreams of a woman. What he doesn’t expect or know is that the woman is real and her planet is in trouble. Dreams, love, fate, and war are all tied in beautifully by this talented writer. I normally am very picky when it comes to fantasy novels and this one has met every one of my expectations. I was instantly taken into the foreign world created in this stunning fictional piece. The characters were believable. Enemies can be defeated and dreams can come true. I loved reading Hero of My Dreams. Overall, I highly recommend it to readers everywhere.

Review: The Origin of Aaron Jackson

 

Synopsis:

Aaron Jackson was just a normal mechanic when the russian mafia came knocking at his place of employment. After the russian mafia hurts his friends and takes over his old neighborhood because they want the land. When no one helps and the system is corrupt, Aaron has no choice other than to begin his one man war on crime against the mafia and take back what they have stolen by any means necessary. Trained as a martial artist in a deadly martial art by his mentor Mr park since he was a child he will employ all that he knows to bring them down. Will Aaron survive or will he triumph over evil.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Origin of Aaron Jackson by Norman R. Colson is a novel packed full of action, danger, and suspense. One young man goes up against crime when no one else will. This creates an irresistible journey that readers can’t ignore. Good versus evil is a strong theme that continues to lure readers into thrilling adventures like this one. Things like the Russian maifa, corruption, and the black ops will plunge readers into a world that will keep them on the edge of their seats battling for their lives against the crimes being committed within this new title. This story almost reminds me of the Karate Kid Norman R. Colson’s writinng is highly entertaining and well-done. The Origin of Aaron Jackson is definitely mystery thriller all should read. Overall, I highly recommend it to readers everywhere.

Review: The Road to Rus’

 

Synopsis:

In the 9th Century, the Byzantine Empire was on the rise. The Vikings were also well on their way to influencing most of the known world with their spirit of adventure and quest for glory. Slavic tribes led by the Polians and their leader Vratymyr with the aid of the Vikings and their representative Askoldir organize a brazen attack at the heart of New Rome – Constantinople. Their goal is not only revenge but the formation of a new empire. There are battles, political plots, sea voyages, treachery, bravery, and death. This is a story of adventure. This is the only historical novel to date about this event. This is the story of the birth of Kyivan Rus’.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Road to Rus’ by Michael Hnatyshyn is truly a remarkable novel that captures a moment in time that no other novel has captured. Michael Hnatyshyn has brilliantly woven together real historic figures and history into his stunning novel, The Road to Rus’. I am a huge fan of history and loved how this tale captured one of my favorite places in history…Rome…or more specifically Constantinople. The characters were so well-developed that it was like watching a historic battle and play come, to life. The Road to Rus’ concentrates on the ninth century. A century full of upheaval. Battles from foreigners would be common place. Warriors could be found everywhere and greed like today was super bad. The talent is obvious to readers from page one. Michael Hnatyshyn definitely enjoyed bringing history and culture alive for readers everywhere.

Inside this new historical title, readers are taken back in time, of the Byzantine Empire. Vikings were very much real and a major threat. Many people got together to plan an attack on the New Rome, Constantinople. This is where the novel gets intense. A suspenseful yet highly intriguing read. Readers will get their first-hand taste of warfare back then…and feel as though they have been transported to the battle. The descriptions are vivid as well as the viewpoint in which the story is being told. I found it unique and engaging as I rushed to read every page. The reasoning for what the characters did seemed to be reason enough to attack their enemy…lives for lives. The Road to Rus’ will have readers on the edge of their seats breathless as the scenes are lived through the words of Michael Hnnatyshyn. A time of gruesome warfare and lives of many…I enjoyed reading this exciting tale and look forward to more future works by this writer.  Overall, I would highly recommend it to readers worldwide.

Review: Love Me If You Can 2

 

Synopsis:

Ethan thought that Kayla was down for him until he finds himself locked up and serving 30 days in the county jail. After serving his thirty day sentence, Ethan is released and revenge is on his mind. Kayla has moved on and has decided to work things out with her baby daddy A.J.

Ethan starts following Kayla and A.J and begins to play both of them against one another. Ethan doesn’t plan on Kayla ever having a happily ever after with A.J.

Keandria is devastated when she learns Ethan has been released from jail. She’s fallen in love with James and prays that Ethan stays away from her and their son. But Ethan has other plans. Keandria soon realizes that Ethan wants his family back and is willing to do whatever he can to work things out with her. Who will she choose James or Ethan? Will she forgive Ethan for being abusive and cheating on her?

Jasmine has stepped back into the picture and throws everyone for a curve ball. She wants what she wants and is making it her business to expose everyone’s secrets. She has a lot of anger directed towards Ethan and Keandria and she doesn’t plan on stopping until everything that has been done in the dark comes to light.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Love Me If You Can 2 by Shanice B. is wound up too tight in this urban drama that it’s hard to resist. The plot thickens to a boiling point…who will survive and who doesn’t, keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they race through this exciting tale. I simply can’t get enough of these fabulous characters. Their sassy strong personalities and heated love debates and love triangles keep me guessing. I want Keandria to be with a man that make her happy but now it seems that her new man, as well as her old one, have both sunk low in handling things with her. Who she picks to keep on living with is a question that drives readers further into the plot. Then there’s an unexpected twist with Jasmine wanting to wreck havoc on everybody’s life that has the power to flip the entire plot over and make it interesting…Love Me If You Can 2 is the craziest yet most intense urban drama romance that I have ever read. I absolutely loved reading this new title by Shanice B. Her writing is brilliant and realistic. Overall, I highly recommend this new title to readers everywhere.

 

Review: The Exiled Seven

 

Synopsis:

When Alariq is exiled from his home city-state for a crime he did not commit, only six, stand by his side convinced of his innocence and steadfast in their loyalty.

The seven dwarfs must set out from Ishtara to look for a new place to call home, but in doing so, they make a discovery that puts them all in danger. They are rescued and taken in by a mysterious and beautiful outsider, who lives alone in the depths of Loraheem Forest. What follows is Alariq’s struggle to come to terms with his exile, as those around him seek, to make a place for themselves in this new life. Soon, however, it becomes clear their situation is more complex than they initially realized, and they begin to wonder if there is more behind Alariq’s exile than simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Told in a unique storyteller voice, this reversal and reimagining of the classic fairy tale explored the themes of shattering betrayal, the subsequent struggle to trust again, and the basic desire to take control of one’s own destiny.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Exiled Seven by Blake Renworth is a unique tale told in a narrator form. It’s like watching a movie come to life. This novel has a fascinating twist. A dwarf exiled along with his loyal companions will soon find themselves taking on one very unexpected adventure of a lifetime. The hero…is one that none would have expected but will come to know. The Exiled Seven is this hero’s story. Readers like myself are taken deep into the plot and held in suspense as we are led into the unknown. Blake Renworth’s writing is brilliant. I felt like I was transported directly into his novel from my chair. The characters are an interesting bunch of dwarfs each with their own set of skills that make them easily likable. The connection with Alariq, the hero, is deeply satisfying. He’s not what one deems as the norm for a hero and yet something about him drew me into his story. For fans of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and fairy tales…then, this, is indeed highly recommend for reading.

The Exiled Seven is vivid and highly entertaining. Travel, adventure, and action come in full loads within this read. The tale is opposite that of the original Snow White story. However, there are many other variables that, gives The Exiled Seven a fresh outlook as well as a new world for readers to get lost within…Alariq was wrongly accused, for a crime he didn’t commit and was then banished from his city. His group of six other dwarfs believed in him that he was innocent. Readers can figure out right away the differences of this tale, and the one called Snow White. The dwarfs have no choice but to leave their home that they once called their city and enter into dangerous ones that are occupied by creatures that would bring fear to all…frustration, despair, and conflict sets, upon the group of dwarfs as they realize danger isn’t just in getting into a safer territory but from the city and their city’s enemies. Time is a major factor in staying alive…and only that will tell if the group survives…Blake Renworth’s The Exiled Seven is the perfect blend of fantasy and folklore as well as fairy tale. I can definitely see this novel being played on big screens everywhere. Overall, I highly recommend this masterfully woven piece to readers worldwide.

 

 

Review: The Alphas’ Bliss

 

Synopsis:

Micha, King of the Vampires and Devin, Leader of the Wolves, are two alphas who must learn to share one mate. They will also need to work together to convince said Mate to accept them both while trying to keep her safe and alive from a pack of rogue wolves who are dead set on capturing and killing her.

Bliss has lived most of her life thinking she was half human and half vampire. She soon finds out that she’s also part wolf and the mate of the Lead Alpha of the Wolves. News not so well received. While she’s dealing with all these new changes in her life, a rogue pack of wolves is also out to capture her and kill her for unknown reasons.

Will she accept her mates in time for them to help her through her vampire/wolf transition? Will her mates be able to keep her safe from the threat of the wolves?

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Alphas’ Bliss by G.J. Cox is a sensational masterpiece that instantly hit home with me. I was immediately blown away by the strong male and female characters. G.J. Cox’s writing is superb. Anyone that opens up any one of her novels knows this…no matter what genre she experiments with…this talented writer can succeed at such levels that readers will feel a tug to her writing and characters. The scenes pop off the pages and once again the characters are definitely three-dimensional. Inside this particular novel, G.J. Cox wrote her first paranormal contemporary romance packed with several surprises. One such surprise is having two alpha males from different sides that are also best friends find their mate…the issue is that both claim she’s their mate. What happens next sent me on a thrilling journey and wild choose chase as the victim and alphas searched for the suspects. Suspects because the danger is so close to home that it’s frightening. The strength of the males is intoxicating…and the heat packed inside is scorching hot. So hot I felt myself blushing as I race to turn the pages in haste to finish reading it all. Overall, I loved this new title and was amazed by the raw beauty of the story at hand. Sure many will say it’s just a romance novel packed with lots of sex, but those who really read this will find that it’s so much more than just that. I felt the characters’ emotions as though I were te only one experiencing the fear, the tears, and the heightened pleasure…a crazy but fun filled world that over took me senses from page one.

 

Review: The Urban Boys

 

Synopsis:

The Urban Boys: Discovery of the Five Senses is an action-adventure story about five teen boys who are mysteriously exposed to a foreign energy source that gives them extremely heightened senses. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell become hypersensitive gifts that forever change the world. The story chronicles their effortless interrelations and later exposes the testing of their deep bonds. It introduces the reader to an array of supporting characters who alter the boys’ lives forever. The Urban Boys offers young and mature readers central themes of loyalty, responsibility, honesty, fear, and triumph, which become artfully integrated with cinematic-level action and high drama. The story twists, turns, and grinds through elements of paranormal and action-adventure in a diverse, exciting, edge-of-your-seat narrative!

Overview: The story’s small town of Danville Heights, a carefully crafted universe, contrasts with the dark, gloomy town of Sandry Lake, where evil abounds. Upon the boys’ mysterious incident with the energy source, they’re instinctively called to Sandry Lake to root out evil. Their senses guide them each time. However, secrecy about their mission, furious battles with evil thugs, extreme fatigue, and stress and pressure soon overwhelm the boys, but they must find a way to embrace their fate. A lurking, Dark Stranger seems to know their plight, and a strikingly beautiful, fearless girl leads the way to heightened confusion. Shocking details about these two characters, and the evil antagonist, the dreaded truth, twists and grinds the story even further. Despite the tension and fierce battles, will the boys hold it together long enough to fulfill their destiny?

Intriguing, intelligent, and full of action, The Urban Boys: Discovery of the Five Senses offers a memorable, emotion-packed, thrilling ride for young and mature readers alike!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Review:

I received this novel in exchange for an honest review. The Urban Boys: Discovery of the Five Senses by K.N. Smith is an exciting tale that packs a lot of adventure, suspense, and paranormal twists.I wasn’t sure what to expect, inside this story. But what I found was highly entertaining. It is here that readers will meet a group of boys who gain a superhero element. Their destiny is unknown to them and they must figure out how to handle their new power as well as the evil that lurks around them. Fighting evil is never easy, and these boys will be tested to their limits before they fight the evil that can destroy them all. The survival means that others will be safe and without them the evil may win…but the question is can they rise to the challenge and the changes they are faced with?

K.N. Smith has masterfully woven a story whose images comes off like vividly and engage readers like myself deeper into the enchanting plot. For me the story didn’t kick off until chapter two…there it felt solid and more like a journey through memory lane. Imagine a forest that is talked about constantly…you go to see it…and when you do…you experience dark things and see violence…like one young couple. An energy source lives within the forest, the place, that no one should be…but still some daringly enter on their own. The tale at first takes readers between places and introduces a variety of characters. One’s fascination…takes on a roller coaster ride. There is so much to see and find out before the dangerous journey ahead occurs. A battle between good versus evil is one theme that will forever attract readers in like honey to a bee. The Urban Boys…are five boys all in all. Each one has a unique sense that will help them fight against evil. Crime and peace sit side to side inside this intriguing read. This brilliantly well-written novel reminds me almost of The Great Gatsby where good and evil themes are also tied in… however, K.N. Smith’s fantasy adventure is a crossover novel. Readers of all ages can easily find something to enjoy within this title. Action, family, morals, and growing up…are some of the things readers like myself can find and connect to…despite it being entirely fictional. Overall, I highly recommend The Urban Boys to readers everywhere.

Review: Lightening Round

 

 

Synopsis:

The blockbuster SerialTeller serial THE LIGHTENING ROUND is now a novel.

In THE LIGHTENING ROUND, Hannah More, a sassy single mom with weight issues, reluctantly enters Ultimate Level, a San Francisco gym which groups its members based on their weight and fitness levels. Much to her shock, Hannah actually finds that this crazy “fitness experience” works well for her. That is, until she falls for another gym member who is on a different level.

Ultimate Level’s rigidly enforced policies only allow its members to communicate with members on different levels in person for 15 minutes every two weeks both inside and outside of the gym. Hannah will have to come up with some rather ingenious and comic schemes in order to land the romance of her dreams.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Lightening Round by Bruce Stuart is definitely a must read for all women. A laugh-out-loud novel that will keep readers turning the pages. Bruce Stuart is indeed a talented writer. His words will captivate any audience. Page after  page of excitement will leave readers falling in love with this terrific story.

A story of how one woman lets go and fights for who she is and what she wants. Somewhere along the way Hannah finds the courage that she hasn’t had in a long time. It all starts with her 6-year relationship with a man that criticizes both her and her son and wants her to give me a piece of her business if they were to have a real relationship in the future. My reaction was oh no way, mister! It surprised me at how fast Hannah has grown up and took back full reins on her own life. making her life the way she wants it to be. She’s an excellent baker who runs a successful business with sister. However life isn’t perfect, Hannah had it rough growing up, her son is son attacked, and her sister was almost abused badly. Then there’s her weight that has kept her from thinking that deserves the very best. So, when she enters a weight gym with a friend, her whole life changes. I loved the woman Hannah ahs changed into at the end. Bruce Stuart has beautifully written a novel that readers will love reading from time and time again. Overall, I highly recommend Lightening Round to readers everywhere.

Review: The Slient Dead

Synopsis:

When a body wrapped in a blue plastic tarp and tied up with twine is discovered near the bushes near a quiet suburban Tokyo neighborhood, Lt. Reiko Himekawa and her squad take the case. The victim was slaughtered brutally—his wounds are bizarre, and no one can figure out the “what” or the “why” of this crime.

At age twenty-nine, Reiko Himekawa of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police’s Homicide Division is young to have been made lieutenant, particularly because she lacks any kind of political or family connections. Despite barriers created by age, gender, and lack of connections, she is mentally tough, oblivious to danger, and has an impressive ability to solve crimes.

Reiko makes a discovery that leads the police to uncover eleven other bodies, all wrapped in the same sort of plastic. Few of the bodies are identifiable, but the ones that are, have no connection to each other. The only possible clue is a long shot lead to a website, spoken only in whispers on the Internet, something on the dark web known as “Strawberry Night.”

But while she is hunting the killer, the killer is hunting her… and she may very well have been marked as the next victim.

Rating: 5 stars

Review: 

The Silent Dead by Tetsuya Honda is a thriller that will leave readers feeling cold with fear. An inside gateway to what the killer thinks and feels sends shivers down my spine. The dead are piling up, and the killer isn’t satisfied unless there’s constant bloodshed. Every bloodshed means the killer feels the world is not grey…and when it feels grey there’s bound to be another killing. The suspense is overwhelming.  Readers will find themselves buried deep in the case along with the female lieutenant. But the killer isn’t far from her heels…

Tetsuya Honda’s writing is clever, frightening, and suspenseful. Every page brings readers closer to the danger at hand. A killer that kills because the world is much better then when there’s no killing…no fighting.  The feel from the first kill sparked something into the insane, unstable killer whom a female lieutenant, Reiko, is out to catch. A strong independent woman who has a way of solving cases. Little does she know this one will take everything she has to solve or it might be too late. I also enjoyed the companionship that Reiko shares with an older doctor. Their friendship is refreshing and the family life, of Reiko’s, is an interesting one that many readers can easily relate to…Overall, I highly recommend The Silent Dead to readers everywhere.

Review: The Sword Chronicles

 

Synopsis:

She is a Dog – one of the many children and teens across the empire of Ansborn who have been sentenced to fight in the arenas. There they fight in battle after battle until they die for the sport of the people of Ansborn – an empire built atop the peaks of five mountains.

But one day she picks up a knife… and everything changes.

She discovers she is a Greater Gift – one of a handful of magic users with powers so great they have only two choices: to join the Empire as one of its premier assassins or die as a threat to the Empire itself.

She is no longer a Dog. Now, she is Sword. And she will soon realize that in this Empire, not all is what it seems. Good and evil collide, and she can never be sure whom to trust – not even herself.

She holds life in her hands for some. Brings death by her blade to others.

She is a killer.
She is a savior.
She is Sword.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Sword Chronicles by Michaelbrent Collings is an excellent adventure waiting at readers fingertips. This brilliant world of fiction is a fantasy that will take readers into the heart of life, death, and truth. A journey of discovery, determination, and a rise to a new rank. This novel is definitely for fans of the Hunger Games, Twilight, and The Lord of the Rings, then this novel is definitely for you.

The Sword of Chronicles takes readers on one girl’s journey from her past fate to her future one. She is deemed a dog to fight until she dies just for other’s entertainment…until something remarkable happens. Now, after having picked up a sword…she discovers she has a lot more power than before and is no longer a dog but a sword. Michaelbrent Collings masterfully weaves many elements in this story that will leave readers sympathizing with the character to rooting her on as she goes about full-filling her new destiny. But life just got more complicated and difficult instead of easier for her…she now has two choices become an assassin for the empire or to die…But not everything is what it seems…I highly recommend this brilliant YA novel to readers worldwide. This was the first novel I have read by Michaelbrent Collings and I loved reading it. The Sword Chronicles is stunning, adventurous, and absolutely entertaining.

 

Review: Death Steppe: A WWII Novel

 

Synopsis:

Merriam Press Historical Fiction HF11 (First Edition, 2015). This World War II novel takes place in 1944, during Germany’s retreat from the western Soviet Union. The story follows the lives of a Russian war widow, Elena, a dissident, Christian, and black marketeer, as she serves as a medic on the front lines, and a disillusioned German lieutenant, Halder, a former professor and concentration camp officer, as he fights in a losing effort. In time, Elena and others, are forced into service as temporary navigators in an all-female regiment to the Red Army air force. After Elena’s plane crashes, she finds the injured Halder from the squadron she helped bomb. As enemies, the injured Elena and Halder alternate between helping and nearly killing each other. Eventually, the desperate soldiers discover an unexpected bond. Together they embark on a turbulent journey as lovers and disheartened deserters.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

Death Steppe (A WWII Novel) by Judy Bruce is brilliant. Her novel takes readers straight into the plot. WWII in 1944 was indeed a scary time…what’s scarier is actually meeting the person whom one has tried to kill…meeting the person considered as your enemy can take a toll on a person. However, Judy Bruce takes an unexpected encounter of two enemies during this war time and force them to meet. Both are surprised but also weary of the other. Thinking of killing the other one or to work together to survive their outcome is a big decision that neither can take too lightly.

Judy Bruce has captured the realistic historical time period down to every specific detail as well as creating characters who will never be forgotten. I love anything featuring history and showing readers how difficult it was like back then and how every decision has a huge impact on one’s life. Just one decision can change your future forever…can Elena and Halder make the right choice? This tale like many others that capture historical moments will make readers cringe atwhat really happened and how cold people can be during this time periods. Haunting, dark, but with some truth and accuracy…readers will be taken back to the front lines of WWII. Readers will feel like they are actually witnessing the events in this novel through their own eyes instead of the characters. Judy Bruce has created a maserpiece when she wrote Death Steppe. I loved reading this book, and I highly recommend it to readers worldwide.

Review: The Shadow of War (The Great War)

 

Synopsis:

The Shadow of War is the first novel in Stewart Binns’s new series which will see a book release for each year of the First World War.
June 1914.
The beginning of another long, prosperous summer for Britain. But beneath the clear skies, all is not as it seem – as the chill wind of social discontent swirls around this sceptred isle.
Shots ring out in a distant European land – the assassination of a foreign aristocrat. From that moment the entire world is propelled into a conflict unlike any seen before.
This is the story of five British communities, their circumstances very different, but who will all share in the tragedy that is to come. All that they have known will be changed for ever by the catastrophic events of the Great War.
This is a story of love and comradeship, of hatred and tragedy – this is the story of the Great War.
The Shadow of War, the first novel in The Great War series from Stewart Binns, is a thrilling read and perfect for those who enjoy the writing of Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell.

Rating: 5 stars

Review:

The Shadow of War by Stewart Binns is a sensational historical piece. Readers, who were born way after this war and WWII, will finally be able to get an insider’s view to the battle that happened in  June 1914. Stewart Binn’s novel takes readers deep into the historical events of the war. The people it affected and the places it took place. Brilliantly well-written and the characters are well-developed. Readers will feel like they went back in time and are experiencing it all first hand. The battles were real, the losses were many, and suffering all around you. Men going into the unknown to fight off enemies. Rich and poor will go through the war experience alike. Death…is like a black cloud that consumes men. Never know if you will survive the war or not. The fear feels so real, readers will feel their foreheads sweat in anticipation…and shivers down their spines.

The Shadow of War by Stewart Binns captures the realism of the war and the people involved. Stewart Binns definitely knows how to bring history alive to his readers fingertips. I love history. This story was fast-paced, thrilling, and absolutely spectacular. The people who lived during this time period were fascinating. Readers will get a glimpse into those people’s lives especially the poor ones. Railroads taking away business from towns…are left struggling to keep their towns running. Education, water, and illnesses are transparent all inside this great read. It was like watching it all come live in front of one’s eyes. I can see this book and many others by this talented writer in becoming a movie series. Not many today understand, remember, or know what it was like during this time period…until the read this fictional piece containing the historical realistic times in an entertaining book. Stewart Binns also beautifully captures the Pennine dialect of the North-East Lancashire. Dwindling resources….war…death…and much more is penned perfectly for all to enjoy. I look forward to reading more novels in the future by Stewart Binns…he writes his historical fiction in a way the allows everyone to understand and witness the war. Overall, I highly recommend this novel to readers worldwide.

Book Review: The Strange Maid by Tessa Gratton

The Strange Maid, is definitely an exciting read! A paranormal romance for young adults that triggers the senses and pulls at the heart. Decisions and sacrifices have to be made if Signy Valborn wants to be the next Valkyrie. Two others will help her get to where she needs to be. Ned has to teach her things she needs to know of in fighting and death. Soren has his future connected to the next Valkyrie but Signy seems to love another. Will both Ned and Soren help Signy meet her destiny or will they fail? Young love was portrayed well by Tessa Gratton inside her amazing novel. I found it intriguing and new. It wasn’t like any YA romance that I have ever read. The plot was suspenseful with every new scene. Keeping me on my toes as I read further into the book. The scenes were visual and sensual too. Bringing the characters to life before my eyes. This story is full of adventure and displays the realistic feelings of young adults. I highly enjoyed reading it. I would definitely recommend readers everywhere to pick up this stunning piece. Tessa’s unique writing and well written plot is a must read!