I was scrolling through NetGalley, checking out the new arrivals and saw The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark. I haven’t read any of her work, but I was intrigued by the premise of the story. Julie Clark was able to grab my attention from the opening pages and keep me engrossed in Olivia’s story until the very end.
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont is having financial problems, so when she was approached to ghost write her father’s memoirs, she said yes.
Her father, Vincent Taylor, a famous horror writer, has Lewy body dementia, which creates difficulties when it comes to figuring out what is true and what is false. Olivia will have to face her father’s past. His family had been murdered and he was the only one left standing. That fed the rumor mill. Was he involved? Did he kill them himself?
We float from past to present and I loved Poppy as much as I loved spending time with Olivia.
I quickly became involved in Olivia’s story, watching the past unfold, wondering what was true and, even when the story was finished, was it the truth? I love an author that can keep me flipping pages, unable to put the book down, having to know, having to reach the end and have all the secrets exposed.
I love when I find a new author to love, keeping my eyes open for new books to come.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of legendary horror author Vincent Taylor, famous not only for his novels but for being the prime suspect in the brutal slaying of his siblings. On the brink of financial ruin, Olivia reluctantly agrees to ghostwrite her father’s last book, not realising she will be forced to reckon with the ghosts that live at the centre of her family.
Genre: Mystery, Psychological, Suspense, Thriller
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication: June 3, 2025 by Sourcebooks Landmark
ABOUT JULIE CLARK
Julie Clark is the New York Times bestselling author of The Ones We Choose and The Last Flight, which was also a #1 international bestseller and has been translated into more than twenty languages. She lives in Los Angeles with her family and a golden doodle with poor impulse control.
Lucid by Michael S Milano is a combination apocalyptic, dystopian and technothriller.
Antony Sartori is the star of the show. Since the death of his wife, things have changed for him. He began to question the regime, and that can be very dangerous, seeing they are watching…all the time. It will take him on a perilous journey.
I thought I would love Lucid, but it was hard for me to get into it. I don’t know if I was burnt out on reading or if the writing style didn’t work for me. The character didn’t speak to me. It did have its moments, there just wasn’t enough of them.
My thanks go out to Michael for the opportunity to read a copy of Lucid.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A mind-altering regime. Unity and loyalty dictated. Can one man resist the machine and rip away the veil to reveal the truth?
Seattle, 2084. Antony Sartori hides his grief. Struggling to find a sense of purpose after losing his wife to a deadly pandemic, the former engineer silently suffers while surviving on welfare payments. Out past curfew after a long night of drinking, the devoted citizen is detained, put on trial, and assaulted by the authority he once served.
Plagued by flashbacks that feel more real than the world around him, the fifty-four-year-old begins to question whether his mind or reality itself is unraveling. And though bombarded by reminders to leave the past behind and to live for his fellow man, the seeds of defiance take root in his heart.
With every move watched and judged, can Antony wake up before all is lost?
For over a decade, Lucid has consumed Michael S. Milano’s waking hours. Finally, he is an author. Michael earned his PhD from The Ohio State University. His articles have been published by the Mises Institute and the Libertarian Institute. Michael is a hammock enthusiast who enjoys the Madness of March and drinking wine. He lives somewhere in the observable universe.
WOW! I had high hopes going into I Am Jayvyn by Peter D Brown and he did not disappoint. His research and the ability to create a storyline that rivals any other Black & African American Historical Fiction novel is at the top of the list.
We start off in Africa. Jayvyn is twelve years old, looking forward to his right of passage ceremony coming up, when his village is raided by English slavers. The trek to the slave ship left many dead and there would be many more that would succumb to the ocean voyage. Jayvyn kept telling himself, just stay alive and, maybe, some day…
I Am Jayvyn is 509 pages of raw emotion. I laughed and I cried with the characters. The brutality was savage. I cannot understand why one human being thinks they are better than another. The slaves were treated like chattel. How much work can you get out of someone that is being beaten and starved?
Every time something good happened to the slaves, I waited for something horrid to follow. What an emotional roller coaster. I felt all the emotions, happiness and sadness, disgust and anger, sorrow and rage. I love that, no matter how much they tried to beat him down, Jayvyn held on. There were those around him that helped him grow into a man that persevered, learning life’s lessons.
I Am Jayvyn by Peter D Brown is an in your face, thought provoking novel. An historical novel that blends truth with fiction, showing the slaves ability to believe in something larger than themselves, seeing the good amongst the evil.
I highly recommend I Am Javyyn by Peter D Brown. It was everything I anticipated and more. This is Peter’s first book, but I now have him in my sights and look forward to reading more of his work.
Thank you, Peter, for the opportunity to read I Am Jayvyn. Well done.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
“I AM JAYVYN,” is a compelling work of historical fiction positioned to remind readers, at a critical time, of the key role that the enslaved played in the development of America and the systemic racism that still plagues the US today.
Cir. 1710: On a beautiful morning full of hope and promise, twelve-year-old Javyn’s world is suddenly shattered when English slavers raid his peaceful village. His father is killed, he is separated from his mother and little sister, and his home is left in flames. In a whirlwind of change, Jayvyn survives the horrors of the middle passage alone, landing in Barbados, where he endures two years of ‘seasoning’ on a sugar plantation. His adolescent development progresses under the tutelage of Andrew, a fellow enslaved African, in desperate circumstances he could never have imagined.
In time, Jayvyn is sold again and survives another harrowing ocean voyage to South Carolina, where he is auctioned off to the owner of a growing rice plantation. Jayvyn lives his life amongst a diverse cast of fellow enslaved in a world where love, hate, and cruelty coexist as families are formed and separated at the whim of masters who see the enslaved as nothing more than chattel property. Colonial history unfolds while this resilient community of enslaved Africans adapt to an ever-changing world of oppression and subjugation.
Over the course of his life, Jayvyn gains a healthy perspective on the virtues and flaws of humanity—even transcending the high threshold of forgiveness—leaving readers with abundant food for thought delivered in an appalling tale of pain and suffering, but also one of true faith and deliverance told through the clear lens of history.
Genre: Black & African American Historical Fiction
505 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 12, 2025, Independent
ABOUT PETER D BROWN
Peter D. Brown is a Maine-based author of historical fiction with a deep interest in social justice and a passion for preserving history. His writing relies on a deep commitment to historical accuracy while aiming to illuminate stories of the oppressed or misunderstood. Presented alongside proclivities typical of the human condition, he challenges his readers to confront uncomfortable truths and engage with the complexities of the human experience.
Retired now from formal enterprise, Peter lives in a quiet, pastoral township in Maine with his loving wife and two dogs, where he enjoys ample quietude and peace to gain inspiration, sort out his thoughts, and bring them to life.
Through his work, Peter hopes to promote thoughtful conversations about the enduring impact of history on contemporary society.
Tim Vee writes some interesting stories, and Above The Clouds had me intrigued. This unique apocalyptic/dystopian novel takes place deep underground, in long unused subway tunnels and sewers. No one knows what came before .
Everyone has their duties to perform, whether it’s raising the young, hunt or work to provide necessities. When their usefulness comes to and end, whether through injury or old age, they are sent to the surface to fend for themselves.
Dara and her sister, Squirt, are the main characters in Above The Clouds. Squirt is still young enough that she helps where she can and not much is expected of her. Dara is a hunter. She is expected to bring back from the hunt a dozen rats or three cats or a dog.
The world Tim Vee has created is bleak and dangerous. It is a world I haven’t visited before and I have read many apocalyptic and dystopian fiction novels. We go from the depths of the earth to the clouds in the sky, where Squirt will find a life she could never have envisioned. I like the twist from dark to light, from despair to hope. I was suitably creeped out and that is always a good thing. LOL
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
In a ruined, distant future of our world, filled with rain, gloom, and danger, Squirt and her sister Dara fight to survive as part of the underground clan, hunting meat to survive and clinging to the edges of existence. When Squirt encounters a mysterious figure above ground, her life is upended. Taken to a gleaming paradise above the clouds, she finds herself trapped in an idyllic prison, where everything seems perfect—but is danger hiding in plain sight? Does Charlotte, her enigmatic and gentle companion, hide secrets behind her perfect smile? Does Mrs Wallis, the tower’s cold matriarch, watch Squirt with a predator’s patience?
Below, Dara hunts alone, trying to find meaning in her life and haunted by her sister’s disappearance while whispers of betrayal within the clan force her to choose between being a victim or fighting for her survival.
As the sisters’ paths converge, truths are exposed: immortality comes at a terrible price, and the ones they’ve trusted most may be their greatest enemies. Above the Clouds is a haunting tale of the fight for survival and identity, asking the question: What does it truly mean to be human?
Tim works in digital marketing in Toronto and is well-traveled, having visited over 80 countries. When he is not working or writing he likes to spend time with his family and German Shepherd – and to go cycling.
Tim has written ten books; The Secret Policemen and The Secret Service – both dystopian dark comedies; as well as seven science fiction novels – Extinction, Annabelle, Fission, The Children of the Third Reich, The Child of Mars, and The Children of Andaalwaald.
Tim has also written Magpie – a dark and intense journey into the world of international espionage and terrorism.
Tim mostly enjoys writing transgressive fiction – mainly about aliens and psychopaths.
Carolyn Arnold is a must read author for me, so I am super excited to share the first book in her new series, Save Her Life (Sandra Vos #1).
If it turned out to be nothing, she’d look the fool.
I wonder how often someone has thought of that when something bad is coming their way.
Sandra Vos is part of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group and the Crisis Negotiation Unit. When not in the field, she’s manhunting criminals. She keeps her family’s wealth a secret. She’s forty seven years old, not a youngster, and I kinda like that. When she is called into a hostage situation, it makes her a target. The villain wants her to suffer and will use her teenage daughter, Olivia, to force her cooperation.
Carolyn Arnold uses a Prologue to set the hook right out of the gate. That’s why I love prologues. I love stories that get my heart pounding, unable to put the book down and Save Her Life does that very well. And that ending…WOWZA…love it. I can hardly wait to see what Sandra Vos will have to deal with next.
I want to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Save Her Life by Carolyn Arnold.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
The tears fall down the girl’s pale face as she desperately tries to struggle free from the ties around her wrists. The only sound in the room other than her muffled cries is the ticking of a clock. Her mother has less than one hour to find her alive.
It’s been more than thirty years since Special Agent Sandra Vos’s twin brother was shot dead, an innocent victim caught in a kidnap gone wrong. It devastated Sandra’s family, but it made her who she is today, one of the FBI’s most successful negotiators.
After dropping her teenage daughter, Olivia, at school, Sandra is alerted to a potential hostage situation at her local grocery store and races to the scene. A man has pulled out a gun and is refusing to talk or let anyone out of the building until his demands are met. The fate of dozens of lives rests in Sandra’s hands.
But as Sandra starts to make a breakthrough with the hostage taker, she receives a call that makes her blood run cold. Someone has taken Olivia, and their demand will push Sandra to her absolute limit. If it’s not met within twenty-four hours, she will never see her daughter again.
Sandra knows she should step aside, letting her team take over, but she doesn’t trust anyone else to bring Olivia home alive. Breaking every rule in the book, Sandra is ready to go into her most personal negotiation yet. But how much will she have to sacrifice to save her daughter?
A totally gripping new series which will have you turning the pages long into the night. Perfect for fans of Kendra Elliot’s Mercy Kilpatrick series, Mary Stone and Elle Gray.
What readers are saying about Carolyn Arnold:
“OH MY GOSH!… Had me reading late into the night… I was caught up in the story from the first page to the last… So addictive!” Shortbookthyme,
“I was not going to sleep until I finished this book. Wow!… The hits just kept coming, and I never saw most of them until they hit… You will not be able to put it down because you will have to know what happened… Keep[s] you glued to the pages as you race to the end.” Escapetobooks1503,
“Wonderful… I love this series… Fantastic… Kept me unable to put the book down… Fantastic… Gripping… Wonderful… Edge-of-your-seat thriller.” The Reading Café,
“I was absolutely obsessed with this book… Loved… Amazing.” Read_and_rescue,
“It kept me rapidly turning the pages… Gripping… It’s a must-read.” Goodreads reviewer,
“Had me totally hooked. I love this series.” Karen4013,
“Gripping… Page-turning… Nail-biting… This book is a must-read.” Goodreads reviewer,
Genre: Kidnapping, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 27, 2025 by Bookouture
ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD
CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.
Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.
She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.
The Hunting Trip by Katherine Villyard was a short read, and I had already read Immortal Gifts, so it couldn’t spoil anything for me. I did enjoy watching the Nazis that were hiding because of the war crimes they had committed get their comeuppance. Who doesn’t like seeing criminals get what they deserve, though I don’t think getting bitten happens that often. LOL
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Nazis. The Big Bad of the 20th century. But for Abraham and Ludwig, it’s personal. Ludwig had to flee Germany with Abraham in disguise.
Now it’s 1977. Abraham and Ludwig have heard that there are Nazis hiding from justice in South America. Perhaps they’ll even find the most notorious war criminal of all.
Vampires vs. Nazis. Contains spoilers for Immortal Gifts.
My parents met singing opera and started taking me to choir practice when I was six weeks old. I attended four elementary schools and four high schools before getting master’s degrees in art and library science. So naturally I work in IT, abusing SQL Server for fun and profit. When I’m not working or writing, I’m probably playing the Sims or spoiling cats. My greatest ambition is to rule the world.
If you’re looking for “Becoming,” you can find it here.
Proxima’s Gift by Marc Peter Keane caught my eye when I saw the cool cover and read the blurb. I love apocalyptic/dystopain novels and it even felt like there was a bit of the paranormal when I read about merging.
The solar event that wiped out most of the population and the Gift that was bestowed upon Proxima’s Children was intriguing and I was curious enough to settle in and read the entire book.
It’s a large book, at 587 pages, but that doesn’t intimidate me. I love when I can get the full story in one fell swoop. It kept me interested, but didn’t have me rapidly flipping pages. I didn’t feel that sense of urgency that makes a book exceptional, to me.
Just because a book doesn’t quite work for me, that doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
If you had the chance to merge empathetically with any living being — with all living beings at once — to experience the world from those other perspectives and thereby gain immense wisdom and power, would you do it?
What if it meant being banished by your community who would rightly fear you for that untold power? Would you do it then? In Proxima’s Gift, that is the choice facing Azami, a young woman struggling to find the limits of what is possible for her.
Three hundred years after an apocalyptic solar event, the story follows the Children of Proxima who live in a remote mountainous region of Japan. The same event that killed most of the global population, caused a new organ to grow within the bodies of Proxima’s Children, an organ that has given them a sixth sense: The sense of empathy. They call that sense the “glow,” and have found that it gives them the ability to be completely and intricately connected with each other and with the natural world they live in. The novel takes place over the course of a year, centering on a young woman named Azami who is unable to control her empathetic connections. In order not to be driven insane by this unfiltered onslaught of all the ‘living voices’ around her, she is trying to fully and completely dissolve herself into the natural world and, by doing so, become one of the all-seeing oracles who have overseen and protected the Children of Proxima for hundreds of years. If she cannot, she will be driven mad in the attempt and perish.
Genre: Science Fiction
587 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2025
ABOUT MARC PETER KEANE
Born and raised near New York City, I graduated from Cornell University’s department of landscape architecture before moving to Kyoto in the mid 1980s, which was then home for 18 years. At first I was a research fellow at Kyoto University, later worked as a landscape architect and writer, opening my own design office in downtown Kyoto (the first person in Japan to receive a working visa as a landscape architect).
My design work consists mostly of gardens — private residences, company grounds, and temple gardens — although I have also designed a park in Tokushima and historic district in Nagano. My designs reflect my background, blending Eastern and Western aesthetics and philosophies.
As a writer my work is mostly non-fiction about Japanese gardens and literary fiction on subjects related to gardens, nature and the human condition.
My artwork is all related in one way or another to gardens and nature. Ceramics, bontei tray gardens, and large-scale installations are some of the ways that has been expressed.
I am also a researcher and educator. I taught in the Department of Environmental Design at the Kyoto University of Arts and Design, as well as Cornell University, and am presently a fellow at the Research Center for Japanese Garden Art, Kyoto. I have lectured extensively throughout the United States, England, and Japan.
Hi Donna, It is wonderful having you on fundinmental today.
How Real-Life Inspiration Influenced Writing a Book
I never knew my Great Uncle Elmer, but he lived on in stories my mom told me—and the dozen or more large-framed photos he took that I inherited. He was an avid photographer and organic gardener back in the mid-20th century before organic was mainstream. His articles and photos were even in Organic Gardening magazine.
And in 1968 when he was in his 60s, Uncle Elmer solo thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail from April to October—hiking 2,200+ miles from Georgia to Maine. He even got invited to visit the White House by President Johnson for his adventures but refused to leave the trail to attend. His wife would drop food packages at designated spots along the way, but he mostly ate seeds and berries.
Uncle Elmer at the start of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, April, 1968
After his 6-month trek in the wild, Uncle Elmer stopped at my parents’ house in New York on his way home and when my mom asked what he wanted to eat he heartily replied, “Fried chicken!” Then he slept on the floor in the guest room as he was so used to sleeping on the ground.
Uncle Elmer alone in the wide-open spaces of New Hampshire
On his thru-hike, an October snowstorm prevented Uncle Elmer from climbing Mount Katahdin in Maine and reaching the end of the trail at this mighty peak. But he returned the next year to Maine and completed the final five miles of the trail up the mountain.
Uncle Elmer carefully crossing a Vermont pond
A hiking lover myself, Uncle Elmer was my inspiration behind featuring adventures on the Appalachian Trail and Mount Katahdin in Loon Cove Summer, my next middle-grade novel being released on May 6th. His real-life scenarios played a role with a death-defying adventure in Loon Cove Summer. I wish I could be brave enough to solo through-hike like him.
Thanks so much for sharing the wonderful guest post, Donna.
Donna Galanti is a talented author that can write fabulous stories that appeal to all ages. Her latest, Loon Cove Summer comes out at the perfect time of year. She draws from real life stories and experiences to make Sarah Richardson’s story feel authentic.
Thirteen year old Sarah Richardson has not been on the lake since her mother’s death. She is determined to turn her life around. She will return to the lake and save the loons. She loves volunteering at the wild bird rehabilitation center.
Sarah becomes friends with Theor and his mother, Maggie, when she comes to study the loons. When Maggie becomes too close to Sarah’s father, her emotion run amok. Then, she finds that the campground she has loved may have to be sold.
She wanted her father to be happy, but she felt Maggie was a threat. Would she lose her father to her? Or would her life become fuller with the addition of Maggie in their lives?
As Sarah struggles to face the challenges in front of her, she will be forced to grow and accept the things she cannot control. She will come to terms with her grief.
I like that Sarah uses her mother’s diary for inspiration.
I love stories that weave fact and fiction together as seamlessly as Donna Galanti has and I love how she uses her own love of the environment to supply us with food for thought. Loon Cove Summer is an adventure that had my emotions mixing with Sarah’s as she grows and develops into a fully fleshed out character.
4 Stars
SYNOPSIS
Thirteen-year-old Sarah Richardson is determined that her life will finally get unstuck this summer. She just knows it. Her to-do list? Brave the lake again. Save the loons. Stop missing Mom. Her one bright spot: volunteering at the local wild bird rehabilitation center. The summer looks even brighter when Sarah meets Theo, the boy staying at her family’s Maine lakeside campground who cares about protecting the loons just like she does. But when Sarah’s family may have to move, she adds a new to-do item: save their home. And when she suspects Dad is dating Theo’s aunt, the naturalist helping research environmental dangers to the loons, Sarah is caught in a new world of grief. With the looming reality of losing her dad, her home, and the loons, Sarah must make a big statement to take control of her life. Capturing inspiration from her late mother’s Appalachian Trail hiking journal, she boldly plans a solo wild adventure. But as her challenges mount, she wonders if her courage will earn her the voice she seeks—or if she’s made a reckless choice that just might claim her life.
Praise for Loon Cove Summer: “A warm-hearted novel that balances profound loss with humor and hope.” – Kate Allen, author of The Line Tender
“As sparkling, refreshing, and mysterious as a Maine lake in summertime.” – Cathy Carr, author of 365 Days to Alaska
“An original and fun read from start to finish … unreservedly recommended.” – Midwest Book Review
“A page-turning read set in the wilds of Maine.” – Paul Greci, author of Surviving Bear Island
“The cast of unforgettable characters and tender relationships stays with you.” – Jessica Rinker, author of The Dare Sisters
LOON COVE SUMMER EXCERPT
Theo slowed the canoe as the sun burned the fog away. We glided into Lambert Cove, a favorite place for kids to hang out. A forgotten dock jutted out around the turn. Some pine trees dotted the island. The old Lambert house stood there, its weathered boards fading more each year. The front shell was all that remained after a fire. I’d reminded Theo of the fire again, but too late now.
We eased the canoe onto the sandy beach. The wind picked up and water lapped up against the canoe. We sat in the warm sun for a long moment.
Theo rubbed his nose. “Wanna talk?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then let’s explore.” He grabbed his bag and stepped out, pulling me with him.
We pulled the canoe up farther onto the sand. Just offshore sat two massive boulder, the Gunks, names for the twin, giant flat-topped rocks that kids spent time together on. Set ten feet or so off the beach in the water, they were each wide enough to hold several people. A cool spot to hang out from spring to fall, with great views of the lake. Remnants of campfires were strewn across the small beach, blackened logs sunk in ash. Theo clicked photo after photo of the Lambert house, taking off through the overgrown trail leading up to it. Charred timbers stood among the trees. They didn’t seem to bother him.
“What is this place?” he said.
“Jeremy Lambert built it for his wife over one hundred years ago.”
His camera clicked faster. Something new to photograph that was disappearing.
“What happened to it?” He stood back for a wider shot.
“I heard they had kids who didn’t like the lake. So, when his wife died, Jeremy left it to nobody.”
Theo lowered his camera. “This Lambert guy didn’t want anyone to have it who didn’t love it like he did.”
“I guess so.”
He ran a hand over the sagging porch railing, peering through the front door, still guarding the blackened remains.
I looked up at the now cloudless blue sky, the sun bright in my eyes. “It burned down one night when a bunch of kids lit a fire in the old fireplace. It went up like a torch, some town people said. You could see it all the way to our beach. It happened before we moved here.” I kicked an old crunched-up beer can. “Can you imagine seeing that?” The moment it came out, I wanted to suck the words back in.
Theo lowered his camera. “I can. Wood burns fast.”
“Sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay.” He slid his camera away and headed back for the tiny beach, setting his bag down and tossing off his shirt in one swift movement. Scars crisscrossed up and down his back, pain and healing painted on him. I stood, clasped in the shadows of an ancient pine, moved by his sharing this and all the words we left unspoken. His loss. Mine.
He strode in, shivering as waves rippling around him. He pushed through the water and hauled himself up on the iron stairs built into the Gunks. Sitting on top, he leaned back on his elbows and peered up at the sun, water drops glimmering along his curls and shoulders.
I inched toward the beach, staying in the shadows as he shimmered on the rock. A sailboat skimmed waves in the far distance. An osprey soared overhead, searching the deep blue for his next meal. Waves rolled into shore from a speedboat that passed a moment ago. I breathed in the fresh scent of Nikuwoss Lake as I’d done a thousand times.
I’d breathed it in with tears flying, overlooking Loon Cove.
I’d breathed it in with six breaths a minute then four then two, then none.
I’d breathed it in with laughter before death came to our house.
“Come on in, Wes,” Theo called, peering over at me.
I went for it and plunged in, fully clothed.
ABOUT DONNA GALANTI
Donna Galanti is the author of two middle-grade book series, Unicorn Island and Joshua and the Lightning Road, and the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy for adults. She has lived in fun locations including England, her family-owned campground in New Hampshire, and in Hawaii where she served as a U.S. Navy photographer. Donna is an avid outdoor adventurer and nature lover. She volunteers for the Old-Growth Forest Network and the National Audubon Society. When Donna’s not wandering the woods seeking magic and wonder, you can usually find her biking or kayaking. For more information on her books, school visits, and events, visit her at: www.donnagalanti.com.
I was eager to get my hands on the second book in The Bloodstone Legacy, Atonement, by V E Huntley. I love vampires and walking on the dark side. There is plenty of violence and brutality, but also some hot and steamy romance.
Atonement takes place in a dystopian future where the vampires rule and humans are slaves. There are lots of triggers, so if you are squeamish, Atonement may not be for you.
I love characters that are put to the test. Characters that have to fight for what they want, and Aden and Ellie fit the bill. They not only have to fight others, but they also have to face their own personal demons. There will be a price to pay, but there are some light hearted moments where we can enjoy a laugh that will help us make it through the dark times.
I am loving The Bloodstone Legacy series by V E Huntley. It has everything I desire in a vampire novel, blood and guts along with some love and steamy romance. Atonement moved at a fast pace, keeping me lost in the story, eager to know how it would end, but not wanting to get there too soon. No worries there. We have a cliffhanger.
I hope you are writing fast V.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
MY PENANCE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH
The second installment of the The BloodStone Legacy—a dark, seductive paranormal romance about destiny and the prices we pay for love powerful enough to transcend both death and time.
Three centuries of guilt. Two souls reunited. One chance to defy fate.
After spending three hundred years drowning in guilt for murdering his wife on their wedding night, Aden has found the impossible—her soul, reborn in Ellie—a woman who awakens both his deepest love and darkest fears. Their reunion is everything he’s dreamed of, a chance to atone for their tragic past. But some happy endings come with a price.
As Aden and Ellie lose themselves in their newfound passion, they awaken more than just forgotten memories. Ellie’s own demons push her to confront the tragedy that tore them apart, while sinister forces gather in the shadows, determined to destroy their hard-won happiness.
Aden will burn the vampire world to the ground to keep Ellie safe. But with every ancient law he breaks and every powerful enemy he makes, the price of protecting her rises.
Aden thought nothing could be worse than killing the woman he loved. He’s about to learn how wrong he was.
Set in a dystopian future where vampires rule and humans are slaves, against a backdrop of danger and political intrigue, Aden and Ellie’s love will either transform their blood-soaked world—or burn it to ash.
Perfect for fans of J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, Sarah J. Maas’s Crescent City, Scarlett St. Clair’s Adrian X Isolde, Karina Halle’s The Dracula Duet, and readers who crave their romance dark, passionate, and unforgettable with brooding anti-heroes paired with resilient heroines.
Atonement is Book 2 of a trilogy. It ends on a cliffhanger but Book 3 will have the HEA you’re waiting for.
This book is a dark paranormal romance. Be mindful of the trigger warnings:
Graphic violence
Sexual situations
Non-consent (not between MMC and FMC)
Blood Play
Knife Play
Rape
Adult language – the word “fuck” is used a lot
Scenes and references of physical and/or sexual abuse/assault that some readers may find triggering.
Genre: fantasy, fiction
431 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 5, 2025
Series: The Bloodstone Legacy: Atonement, #2
ABOUT V E HUNTLEY
V.E. Huntley is a retired producer who has spent her life telling stories in one way or another. Just ask her cats. They had to endure a lifetime of her endlessly reciting entire dialogue scenes to them, even though all they desperately wanted to do was nap.
Her childhood fear of Dracula was so intense that she couldn’t sleep without the lights on and her mother guarding her bedroom door. Over time, this fear evolved into a lifelong obsession with the dark and twisted world of vampires and the concept of immortality. So, after more than two decades in the film and television industry, she ultimately chose to pursue her true passion—writing dark and sexy paranormal romance.
Besides writing, her hobbies include reading, watching movies, traveling, and keeping her husband busy with an endless honey-do list.
I had a feeling about the Untish Series and as soon as I read the first book, Fangs Of Fate, I fell in love with the characters, both good and bad. Daughter Of Destiny picks up where Fangs Of Fate left off, so the series does need to be read in order.
“Sounds like I may be a badass.”
The story is told from multiple points of view. Tate is definitely a badass and she grows to know it, as do others. She is part vampire, part dragon and part fae. With a combination like that, I foresee great things in her future. I love that she has a handicap and she does not let it hold her back.
I am not surprised that there is a prophecy. A lost heir will be found and she will restore balance. Of course, I know who that lost heir is, but that does not take away from the steps we have to take to discover it.
The characters gain more depth and come into their own as the story progresses. We have some great villains…and I do love my villains. There is one in particular that I have my eye on. I wonder if he can, or will, redeem himself. He sure does go through hell.
The romance is a bit steamy. but it does not take away from the story.
The battle is good against evil. It gets very dark, and I do love walking on the dark side. The battles are vicious and many will fall. The world Rebecca Parcha has created is rich in detail. There is another cliffhanger, but I am hooked, so I will be eagerly waiting for the next book.
There is so much I want to tell you, but I won’t. You will need to find out for yourself. If you love fantasy, dragons, vampires and fae, this is a must read.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
“Fourth wing but with vampires!”
“It’s a unique fantasy world, that has vampire and dragons as I’ve never seen in any other fantasy series. The FMC and MMC are just… chef’s kiss! I need more Tate and Aether like I need air!”
“Absolutely phenomenal! The ending was so shocking and beautifully done. Can not wait for the next one to find out what happens! Definitely a must read!” — Tate Aaralyn is more than just a vampire, she is a Untish dragon shifter. Aether Brychan isn’t just a charming embodiment of violence, he’s intricately connected to her. Together, they must untangle the web of lies and half-truths, and learn to trust one another while being hunted by their very own.
Love has never tasted so good or cost so much.
Chance Dale is awakening—leadership is corrupt, evil stalks on taloned limbs, and his very cells are altering with newfound power. As he wrestles with the lure of magic, he must also uphold his vow to protect his country and the values he holds true to himself. Morality has never been so damned murky, and only he can determine which way his inner compass points.
A storm is coming, and only one will remain.
Until blood burns…
ABOUT REBECCA PARCHA
I love all things fiction, specifically, fantasy. Add a little romance, or sometimes a whole heap, and you’ll find my specialty: romantasy. As an avid reader and devourer of all things Fae, dragon, and magical, my work (as you may have guessed) is centered in that world. I love a strong female protagonist who defies the patriarchy while learning to love and trust.
I am one of the lucky ones; I married my high school sweetheart and am a mother of two adorable, rambunctious boys. As a Colorado native, I love the sunshine and crisp air while enjoying the outdoors with my guys…have I mentioned I’m outnumbered?
Stories have always held me captive—they are the air I breathe. It is my purest pleasure to share with you the tales that have been burning in my heart. To see a full list of my works, please visit my website at https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51397939.Rebecca_Parcha
