Category Archives: 5 Star Reviews

Review – I’ll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong @KelleyArmstrong #netgalley #illbewaiting

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Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I’ll Be Waiting is one of the best Kelley Armstrong novels I have read in some time.

“I’ll Be Waiting”, were some of Anton’s last words. Nicola had thought their short time together would be because of her illness, Cystic Fibrosis. She cannot accept that he is gone, so she hops from one seance to another.

Don’t we all know, don’t go in the basement. Yet, she does.

I didn’t trust the right person and did trust the wrong person. That’s some great writing. Sucked me right in.

I love that Kelley Armstrong had my head spinning. I couldn’t figure out if Nicola was being played or if it was true. I do love a convoluted ghost story. One that I am not able to figure out for myself. I was fooled and when I found the truth, I loved the book all the more. It’s nice to be surprised. I couldn’t figure out who to trust and was sucked into the ghostly mystery.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

From New York Times Bestselling author Kelley Armstrong comes a spellbinding new tale of supernatural horror involving a haunted-house, seances, lost loved ones, and a sinister spirit out for blood…

Nicola Laughton never expected to see adulthood, being diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis as a child. Then medical advances let her live into her thirties and she met Anton, who taught her to dream of a future… together. Months after they married, Anton died in a horrible car, but lived long enough to utter five words to her, “I’ll be waiting for you.”

That final private moment became public when someone from the crash scene took it to the press—the terminally ill woman holding her dying husband as he promised to wait for her on the other side. Worse, that person claimed it wasn’t Anton who said the words but his ghost, hovering over his body.

Since their story went public, Nicola has been hounded by spiritualists promising closure. In the hopes of stopping her downward spiral, friends and family find a reputable medium—a professor of parapsychology. For the séance, they rent the Lake Erie beach house that Anton’s family once owned.

The medium barely has time to begin his work before things start happening. Locked doors mysteriously open. Clouds of insects engulf the house. Nicola hears footsteps and voices and the creak of an old dumbwaiter…in an empty shaft. Throughout it all she’s haunted by nightmares of her past. Because, unbeknownst to the others, this isn’t her first time contacting the dead. And Nicola isn’t her real name.

That’s when she finds the first body….

In this atmospheric, thrilling new ghost story, Kelley Armstrong’s full talents are on display to thrill, chill and leave the reader guessing how Nicola escapes with her life–if she can.

  • Genre: Ghosts, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Suspense, Thriller
  • 336 pages, Hardcover
  • Expected publication October 1, 2024 by St Martin’s Press

ABOUT KELLEY ARMSTRONG

Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong has been telling stories since before she could write. Her earliest written efforts were disastrous. If asked for a story about girls and dolls, hers would invariably feature undead girls and evil dolls, much to her teachers’ dismay. All efforts to make her produce “normal” stories failed.

Today, she continues to spin tales of ghosts and demons and werewolves, while safely locked away in her basement writing dungeon. She’s the author of the NYT-bestselling “Women of the Otherworld” paranormal suspense series and “Darkest Powers” young adult urban fantasy trilogy, as well as the Nadia Stafford crime series. Armstrong lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids and far too many pets.

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MY KELLEY ARMSTRONG REVIEWS

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Review – Poppy and Marigold by Meg Welch Dendler @MegWelchDendler

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

My first introduction to Meg Welch Dendler’s writing was when I met Bianca. She is one of those authors that quickly added to my must read list. I am excited to be back with Poppy And Marigold, two young girls that come from two totally different worlds.

Poppy is a twelve year old Blue. All her life she was taught that Blue is superior to all the other colors. When she meets Marigold, a tangerine colored girl and her family, her world is turned upside down. She found she isn’t superior in their world. In fact, she is the ignorant one. Her eyes are opened. How can she return and obey the 50 Rules governing her world after all she has learned? If she is found out, she will be sent to the Detention Center, but how can she go back and pretend nothing has happened?

When Red attacks them the answer presents itself.

Poppy And Marigold is written for ages six to eighteen, but it is so thought provoking, for me, that I think it is a book for all ages. Anything that gets my mind spinning is a good thing, and Poppy and Marigold did just that, in a fantastic and wonderful way. I think it sends a message in an easy to understand way. Just because we’re different doesn’t mean we’re better…or worse.

I can see how there can more books in the making, as we discover how the other colors live and how they are closer than Poppy could possibly know.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Blue citizens are absolutely superior to all others, especially ignorant, uncivilized Orange. Poppy has been taught this relentlessly for twelve years. But when she accidentally crosses the forbidden border and is befriended by Marigold—a tangerine-skinned girl—and her kind-but-quirky family, Poppy is forced to rethink everything. Questioning that Blue is Best or the rest of the 50 Rules governing Poppy’s world would get her sent to a dangerous Detention Center. Or worse. But how can she return to her blindly obedient, anti-Orange life now that she knows the truth?

  • Genre: Childrens, Science Fiction, Teen, Young Adult
  • 218 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication October 1, 2024 by Serenity Mountain Publishing

ABOUT MEG WELCH DENDLER

Meg Dendler has considered herself a writer since she was honored in a picture book contest in 5th grade. Beginning serious work as a freelancer in the ’90s while teaching elementary and middle school, Meg has over one hundred articles in print, including interviews with Kirk Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. She has won contests with her short stories and poetry, along with multiple awards for her best-selling Cats in the Mirror alien rescue cat children’s book series. “Bianca: The Brave Frail and Delicate Princess” was honored as Best Juvenile Book of 2018 by the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, and “Snickerdoodle’s Shenanigans” won that same honor in 2024. Now a retired teacher, Meg holds a BA in Journalism/Public Relations, an MA in Early Childhood Education, and has been teacher certified in three states. Meg is also an editor/proofreader for independent and self-publishing authors, with over 80 books completed since 2015.

Meg and her family live in NW Arkansas. Visit her at www.megdendler.com for more information about upcoming books and events and all of Meg’s social media links.

MY MEG DENDLER REVIEWS

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BLEW MY MIND – Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros @RebeccaYarros

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A #1 New York Times bestseller • TV series in development at MGM Amazon Studios with Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society • Amazon Best Books of the Year, #4 • Apple Best Books of the Year 2023 • Barnes & Noble Best Fantasy Book of 2023 • NPR “Books We Love” 2023 • Audible Best Books of 2023 • Hudson Book of the Year • Google Play Best Books of 2023 • Indigo Best Books of 2023 • Waterstones Book of the Year finalist • Goodreads Choice Award Winner • Newsweek Staffers’ Favorite Books of 2023 • Paste Magazine’s Best Books of 2023 (from Amazon)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Hold onto your seat, because Fourth Wing is sure to have you flying high.

Normally I am a patient person, but waiting for Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros had me checking my library app repeatedly. Now, that I have read it, I am checking every day for the second book in the series, Iron Flame, and am not being the least bit patient. I need it NOW.

At first I thought, “This is a great book and Book II would be the one to blow me away.” Due to the length of Fourth Wing, 650 pages, Rebecca had me overwhelmed with emotions. The characters jumped off the pages and the dragons had me flying high. I didn’t want to stop reading. Even though I am a fast reader, it took me a couple of days to read it.

I know they are working on a TV series, and I feel I will end up disappointed, because they’ll probably try and force me to buy an app to watch it. We shall see. I thing the Empryean series will be like Twilight and Lucifer. A series I will binge watch over and over again.

Romance, friendship, and battles…all will be tested.

If you are thinking of buying Fourth Wing, you might as well buy the whole series. Once you get attached to the characters, they won’t quit talking atcha.

Fourth Wing is amazing and sure to be one of my favorites of the year.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Star

GOODREADS BLURB

Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders…

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away…because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.

  • Genre: Dragons, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
  • 517 pages, Hardcover
  • First published May 2, 2023 by Piatkus
  • Series: Empyread, Book I

ABOUT REBECCA YARROS

Screenshot

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and coffee addict. She is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing, The Last Letter and The Things We Leave Unfinished. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. A mother of six, she is currently surviving the teenage years with all four of her hockey-playing sons.

Want to know about Rebecca’s next release? Check her out online at www.rebeccayarros.com.

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I fell in love with Lord Hades – Seduced by M C Frank @mcfrank_author

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MY REVIEW

I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT SEDUCED by M C Frank. The beautiful cover, because of the butterfly, makes me think of my mother. She loves butterflies. The title made me think there would be some hot lovin’, but the seduction was so much different than I thought it would be and I am always up for something different, when it works well. The blurb, I want to read anything about the Lord of Hell. It made me think of Lucifer, the TV series. It was the same….but different and I read until the early hours of the morning because I had to know how it would end.

The cruelty of Poppy’s hypocritical, vicar brother is beyond comprehension. He has browbeat Poppy to submission, to believing that she is undeserving…of anything good in her life.

I love the part about Poppy’s period. I don’t often read a novel where it goes into that much detail and Hades reaction was sweet.

I love when Poppy says, “You do realize that I am right here.” There was a time when she would never have commented, where she felt that anything she had to say was worthless.

It was fabulous watching all the characters grow and change, becoming more than they were before Poppy came into their lives and how they affected Poppy herself, allowing her to become the person she was meant to be.

Of course, if we have Hades, we need God to make an appearance, at least in thought.

The only downside to the story was the ending, which had me urging Hades and Wilder to dig faster, seemed rushed and we don’t find out what happened to Nicholas. But, hey, that’s a story for another day.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Seduced by M C Frank.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOOREADS BLURB

Poppy and Lord Hades

Lord Hades owns a gaming hell that sprawls underneath the city of London like the underworld. It is no the Hell Club is notorious all over Europe. Peers and millionaires travel from Vienna and Paris to enjoy the Turkish baths or play cards with the great political leaders of other countries.

Money and power exchange hands nightly underneath the sparkling ballrooms and gentlemen’s clubs, and no one knows. Until Hades discovers a boy sent to spy on him. But the boy is not a boy.

And she will pay.

Seduced is a dark and sparkling romantic story inspired by Greek myths, folklore and fairytales, as well as by the glittering world and the roguish gentlemen of Regency London.

It might look like a quick, fun read, but don’t be this story is going to break your heart into a million pieces.

Information on this

Seduced, a dark Regency romance retelling of Hades and Persephone is part of the Retold fairytale retellings collection. It is the third of the three stories included in that book, but here you can read the story by itself. It is a shorter book and a standalone. It is being published separately due to popular demand.

If you prefer, you can find Seduced as well as two more dark fairytale retellings included in one volume Retold.

*Important This book has already been published as part of the A Regency Fairytale Retellings Collection (Rakes and Ruin) book. This is a separate sole book release of the same book that is included in that collection, with no changes.

  • Genre: Enemies to Lovers, Fiction, Retellings, Romance
  • 315 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published June 1, 2024
  • Series: Rakes and Ruin, #2

ABOUT M C FRANK

Welcome to the world of M.C. FRANK’s books, where characters aren’t going to have an easy time of it: They will find themselves in icy-cold dystopian worlds where kissing is forbidden (among other things), or in green forests ruled by evil Sheriffs. If they’re in Jane Austen’s England, they have to be running away from a traumatic childhood, or if they are in our contemporary world, they’re scared they’ll die before they have finished high school. That sort of thing.
Don’t worry, though, she knows we all need a little hope and joy in our lives, so there’s a good dose of those as well in everything she writes.
M.C. Frank (writer, reader, designer, physicist and teacher, to name a few) has been living in a world of stories ever since she can remember (that’s before she knew how to write). She started writing them down when she could no longer stand the characters in her head screaming at her to give them life, and while those first scribblings weren’t exactly good (nor were they books, although she insisted on calling them that), they were enough for her to discover her passion in life.
She got her university degree in physics a few years ago (yes, she’s like Sheldon, only a bit crazier!) and is now free to pursue her love of reading and writing, as well her free-lance job as editor-in-chief. She lives with her ‘dude’ in a home filled with candles, laptops and notebooks, where she rearranges her overflowing bookshelves every time she feels stressed.
Which is often, since (as you might have noticed) she doesn’t pick the easiest subjects for her novels.
Learn more about her and her New Adult, Young Adult, scifi, Greek mythology and historical novels at mcfrankauthor.com

Website: mcfrankauthor.com

Twitter: @mcfrank_author

Instagram: @mcfrank_author

Tumblr: @litlereddoll

Facebook Page: M.C. Frank

Goodreads: M.C. Frank

Youtube: M.C. Frank

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Corpse Whisperer: Torn by H R Boldwood @BoldwoodH @SDBookTours

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I’m sad to see the series end, but Allie Nighthawk deserves a little happiness.

H R Boldwood has included bits of Cincinnati history, so you know where to avoid when the zombies arise. LOL

All is a badass bitch, so beware when confronting her…about anything. I love her kickass and take names attitude. She rides a Harley, carries her trusty Ka Bar and Hawk,her custom 9mm along a backup Glock. She also carries a bag of Doritos. Even zombies love Doritos. To her zombie hunting is simple.

Step One: Lure deadhead

Step Two: Drop deadhead.

In Corpse Whisperer: Torn, Allie and Toussaint will have their final showdown.

Allie has a wild crowd hanging around her house, Nonnie her next door neighbor, Headbutt, her bitersniffing bulldog, her African Grey feather duster and a new addition to the bird family, Hyrum, the feather duster’s baby.

Allie will have some romantic moments and I, for one, think it’s about time. She deserves something good in her life every now and then.

I love everything H R Boldwood did to wrap up the series. We had some good people die and that is a necessary thing in a novel like Torn. Not everyone can get out of the zombified world unharmed. Allie kinda hits the lottery. Maybe she can afford a better snack than check flavored dog biscuits. She has some romance in her life and her nemesis is no more.

I laughed and cried. I sat on the edge of my seat with white knuckles and I leaned back in my seat, wiping the sweat off my brow. Or was that some zushi. LOL I will sure miss the Corpse Whisperer gang. I wish them luck in all their future endeavors. 🙂

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Corpse Whisperer: Torn by H R Boldwood.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“Just after sunrise, I jumped on my Harley and hurtled toward Templeman’s Funeral Home, packing Hawk, my custom 9mm, a backup Glock, and a seven-inch Ka-Bar knife—the standard-issue zombie-hunter’s tool kit. Not that I’m standard-issue, by any stretch. I was born with the ability to raise the dead. It’s a genetic thing. Don’t ask me how it works. I didn’t write the playbook. I’m just living the dream.”

Allie Nighthawk faces a ghost from her past as she explores the fascinating and historic world of Cincinnati’s underground. When the Z-virus threatens world-wide contamination, it’s up to Allie to save the day. Is her magick strong enough to turn the tide? Or will doubt and inner demons stand in her way? And will those she loves survive?

  • Genre: Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, Supernatural, Zombies
  • 406 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published March 7, 2023 by Third Street Press
  • Series: Allie Nighthawk Mysteries, #3

ABOUT H R BOLDWOOD

H.R. Boldwood, author of the Corpse Whisperer series, countless short stories, and Imadjinn Award finalist, is a writer of horror and speculative fiction. In another incarnation, Boldwood is a Pushcart Prize nominee and winner of the 2009 Bilbo Award for creative writing by Thomas More College. Boldwood’s characters are often disreputable and not to be trusted. They are kicked to the curb at every conceivable opportunity when some poor unsuspecting publisher welcomes them with open arms. No responsibility is taken by this author for the dastardly and sometimes criminal acts committed by this ragtag group of miscreants.

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MY H R BOLDWOOD REVIEWS

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$20 GC – The Hospital by Leslie Wolfe @SDBookTours @LWNovels

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I should feel safe here. I don’t.


The Hospital

by Leslie Wolfe

Genre: Psychological Thriller 

MY REVIEW

MIND OFFICIALLY BLOWN!

I have read some Leslie Wolfe books and knew I was in for a good read, but I never anticipated how good. I should have begun sooner in the day, because I didn’t want to stop reading. I gave up in the wee hours of the morning, but picked it up to finish while drinking my coffee.

So many cringe worthy moments I can’t begin to describe them all. Just thinking about them to write this review has hair standing up on the back of my neck and shivers running up and down my spine. Is someone watching me?

Imagine being blind and paralyzed, totally at the mercy of those who ‘care’ for you.

Now, imagine, not all of them have your best interests at heart. I’m starting to get an ominous, horrifying feeling of someone orchestrating a sick game on her, but I have yet to figure out WTF is going on.

More than once I had to remember to pick my jaw up off the floor and close my mouth.

Hello movie people. The Hospital would make a great book to movie adaptation. The complex mystery and psychological torture she endures is sure to put the thrill in thriller.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Hospital by Leslie Wolfe.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars



I should feel safe here. I don’t.

I thought I had it all. The loving husband I married on a beach, sand between my toes. The career I fought for. The beautiful home tucked away between pines and mountains.

But my perfect life crumbled when my husband betrayed me. And then it started. Everywhere I went, someone was following me… But no one believed me. Were they right? Was I losing my mind?

Then, one day, I wake up with a searing pain in my head, and only the sound of sirens and distant conversations to pierce my confusion.

I’ve been attacked. I’m in the hospital.

It should be reassuring. But all I can think is: I’m trapped.

I must escape. But I know I can’t trust anyone, and I’ll do whatever it takes to save myself.

You will never see the twists coming in this jaw-on-the-floor gasp-out-loud rollercoaster from the no.1 bestselling author of The Surgeon. Fans of Freida McFadden, Lisa Jewell and Shari Lapena won’t be able to put it down!



See what readers are saying about The Hospital:


“OMG!!!!… Wow… insanely fast-paced, totally addictive… I binge read in one sitting… I was literally glued to my Kindle on the edge of my seat… So good!!!” Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow!!!… It kept me completely on the edge of my seat biting my nails… I could not put it down and ended up devouring it in one sitting of a few hours!! An absolutely addictive, compelling page turner that will keep you hooked from beginning to end!!” Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“So tense! Wow, now I can breathe normally… jaw-dropping, full of surprises and twists that kept me turning the pages so fast!… had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, I couldn’t put it down!… You need to read this book!” moneisreading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow wow wow!! I loved this book!! What a heart-pounder!!… thrilling!! Lots of action, suspense, drama with plenty of twists and turns!… I highly recommend reading this one!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This was a WILD RIDE!!!… I was trying to figure out who I could trust and my mind changed constantly. Loved the ending… a CANNOT PUT IT DOWN BOOK!!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wow, wow, wow!!! What a book!… kept me guessing until the end… extremely jam packed with twists. I couldn’t pull myself away from my kindle reading this. Fantastic.” Jessica’s Book Biz, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Had me captivated from beginning to end!… I couldn’t put this book down!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Superb… I couldn’t put it down, don’t give in to the temptation to turn pages without working through all the twists and turns!” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“So addictive… I was hooked and found it hard to stop for a break! So glad I did not have much planned for that day!!!!… WoW I want more!!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Superb… I didn’t want to put down. The twists and turns were spectacularly clever and I doubted everything I was thinking!” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“So intense… I had NO idea who did it, or what was going to happen next… This book taught me TRUST NO ONE… fantastic… I would absolutely recommend to a friend.” Reading with Mama East, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐



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Leslie Wolfe is a bestselling author whose novels break the mold of traditional thrillers. She creates unforgettable, brilliant, strong women heroes who deliver fast-paced, satisfying suspense, backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology.

Leslie released the first novel, Executive, in October 2011. Since then, she has written many more, continuing to break down barriers of traditional thrillers. Her style of fast-paced suspense, backed up by extensive background research in technology and psychology, has made Leslie one of the most read authors in the genre.

Reminiscent of the television drama Criminal Minds, her series of books featuring the fierce and relentless FBI Agent Tess Winnett would be of great interest to readers of James Patterson, Melinda Leigh, and David Baldacci crime thrillers. Fans of Kendra Elliot and Robert Dugoni suspenseful mysteries would love the Las Vegas Crime series, featuring the tension-filled relationship between Baxter and Holt. Finally, her Alex Hoffmann series of political and espionage action adventure will enthrall readers of Tom Clancy, Brad Thor, and Lee Child.


Leslie enjoys engaging with readers every day and would love to hear from you. Become an insider: gain early access to previews of Leslie’s new novels.


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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!


$20 Amazon giftcard


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AMAZING Story Of Savage Mayhem by Sue Coletta @SueColetta1

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

OMG! I am blown away. Sue Coletta has taken ecothrillers and vigilante justice to a new level. Every time I think she can’t surpass herself, she goes and writes an excellent story such as Savage Mayhem. I know my words will not be able to express how much I enjoyed the book, but I will do my best.

Let’s start with the cast of characters. We have Mayhem,an Apache Warrior and serial killer. Then, we have Shawnee, a cat burglar and his partner. They will stop at nothing to protect those who cannot protect themselves from the Killzme Corporation…and this time it is the American Buffalo. Just a little note…I had seen a documentary on TV about the American Buffalo and I mentioned it to Sue. She was already writing about it in Savage Mayhem.

We have their feathered friends, Poe, who has a sibling rivalry going on with Shawnee. We have White Crow, who is the spirit animal of Mayhem’s wife. Sue has introduced a new crow, Odin, who has become enamored with White Crow. She makes them seem so real and they have their part to play in the battle. There are moments of sadness and laughter.

I have wondered, in the last couple of books, if there could be a romance between Mayhem and Shawnee. Savage Mayhem had some smokin’ hot moments and I loved it…and that’s all I’m saying about that.

I do want to say that it is best to read the series from the beginning. Mayhem and Shawnee are very different people. I love that Sue Coletta turned them into ecowarriors, determined to put the poaching KillzMe Corporation out of business, one villain at a time. She seamlessly weaves Indian folklore and tradition with danger and death.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Savage Mayhem by Sue Coletta.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Amidst the wild and unforgiving landscapes of Yellowstone Park, join Mayhem, a fearless Apache warrior and champion of the Natural World, and his partner and protégé, Shawnee, as they race against the clock to protect an American Buffalo herd from the ruthless Killzme Corporation.With a massive bounty on their heads and an army of killers on their trail, Mayhem and Shawnee must use all their cunning and survival skills to outsmart their enemies. They will risk it all to preserve the sacred lineage of the Innocent Ones.

There is no line Shawnee and Mayhem won’t cross.

Even murder.

As the danger intensifies and the clock winds down, will they be able to save the herd? Or will this be the mission that finally breaks them?

  • Genre: EcoThriller, Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Vigilante Justice
  • 514 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published April 11, 2024 by Crow Talons Publishing
  • Series: The Mayhem Series #9

ABOUT SUE COLETTA

Sue Coletta

Sue Coletta is an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as one of the “Top 100 Crime Blogs on the Net” (Murder Blog sits at #5) for four years in a row. And recently, she appeared on an Emmy award-winning true crime show.

Sue also blogs at the Kill Zone, a multi-award-winning writing blog, and writes two serial killer thriller series (Tirgearr Publishing) and narrative nonfiction/true crime for Globe Pequot, trade division of Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group.

For readers, she has the Crime Lover’s Lounge, where members will be the first to know about free giveaways, contests, and have inside access to deleted scenes (if available). As an added bonus, members get to play in the lounge. Your secret code will unlock the virtual door.

BONUS: When you join Sue’s community you’ll receive two free killer reads!

Sue lives in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire with her husband, and begins each by feeding all the wildlife in her yard. Her favorite “pets” are a murder of crows who live free but come when called by name.

Learn more about Sue and her books at: https://suecoletta.com

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MY REVIEWS FOR SUE COLETTA

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A Must Read Political Fantasy – An End To Kings (A King Without A Crown) by Ryan Shuette @RyanMarcS

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love to read books that I can relate to real current events and An End To Kings by Ryan Schuette does that in a fantastical way. He includes things like political upheaval, civil liberty and climate change. Ryan Schuette’s master storytelling makes this an epic fantasy you won’t want to miss and I am excited to pick up where we left off in A Seat For The Rabble.

I love the illustrations. Illustrations always add something extra for me.

Political intrigue arises around every turn. No one can be trusted and some of the betrayals broke my heart for the characters that it happened to. One sticks out in a big way…

Sara is one of my favorite characters and her tragic life breaks my heart. She is a good person and too young for the horrors brought to her life. She is a child, struggling, facing things beyond her years. I have feared for her since I met her, especially when she lost the one person she could count on.

Zur had been kidnapped and Lorana was determined to find him. I thought there might be more to him than we see in the beginning. The same goes for Sara and the Mad Lady. I feel they will play a prominent role in what is to come for the Kingdom. What that role will be is yet to be determined.

Eden, what the hell?

Anyway, let’s get into the conflict that rages, as the rebels unite to get their Seat, but how can you band together when you can’t get along? When people are pushed into a corner with nothing to lose, they will fight back.

Because the king died without naming his successor.Jason must prove his right to wear the crown for the Kingdom of Loran and will have to face the Kingstrials. I love that the king’s daughter, Lorana was ruling the kingdom, though no one ever acknowledged it. After all, they cannot have a Queen as a leader…can they? For now, she is tasked with keeping the wolves at bay until a king is crowned.

The battles are savage, a brutal and bloody slaughter. The betrayals and cowardice allow tragic injustices to occur and more than one leaves me speechless. Ryan Schuette’s ability to pump up my emotions to a point where I want to throw my ereader against the wall makes me hesitate, putting the book down to pull myself together, then picking it up again….because I HAVE to know what happens next. On and on I read, wondering who will live and who will die.

An End To Kings by Ryan Schuette is intense. It has everything you can possibly want in an epic fantasy. And that ending, I can hardly wait to see what will become of my favorite characters in the next book. It is sure to be an amazing adventure.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of An End To Kings by Ryan Schuette.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In the highly anticipated conclusion to A Seat for the Rabble, former NPR reporter Ryan Schuette returns to Odma, a richly detailed world not unlike our own. Riven by social injustice, wealth inequality, and ancient magic, the Kingdom of Loran stands on the brink of war . . . and the bastard prince, Jason Warchild, means to save it.

With an army of Cloudlanders at his back, Jason marches to the Kingstrials, where he must kill his rivals—including his zealot uncle, Shaddon—to claim his father’s crown and return peasants to power. But winning this deadly game will take more than martial skill and an army. If he fails to win all three Trials, he’ll need the fractious Worthy Assembly to crown him directly—or he’ll lose the kingdom, along with his head.

As class anger festers, Jason’s allies find themselves embattled. At the capital, Princess Lorana Eddenhold navigates her realm’s troubled politics to stamp out plots against her half-brother, even as she dreads Prieslenne Edenia’s return. In the west, Rathos Robswell risks his life to persuade the Loyal Company’s firebrands to cease their infighting and see the bastard prince—along with the dream of a just realm—through a crucible of swords, dragons, and griffons.

Only supernatural forces seem to see all ends. Accompanied by a sorcerer, Zuran races against time to confront the real evil . . . the one exploiting chaos in a kingless land.

Praise for A Seat for the Rabble and An End to Kings

“From its electric first pages, Schuette’s epic adult fantasy debut grips with a rich, tense, multi-perspective story of a kingdom in unrest. . . . A journalist, [he] writes crisp, compelling scenes that demonstrate an understanding of power, conflicted loyalties, and the ways that history—both ancient and recent, true and made up—powers contemporary conflicts.” —BookLife by Publishers Weekly (Grade: A)

“Schuette’s extensive world is an enticing one. Religion, class systems, and past events play large parts in the conflict. . . . Griffins fly; swords cleave; and the unsuspecting are sometimes slaughtered. . . . Yet the fighting and feuding are matched in such a way to keep the intriguing plot moving swiftly. The competing interests make for a curious, highly detailed, engrossing fantasy.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Masterful storytelling and epic worldbuilding make this a must-read for fans of political fantasy. Ryan Schuette weaves a complex world of political intrigue, class conflict, and the pursuit of power in this enthralling epic fantasy.” —ALEXANDRIA DUCKSWORTH, Independent Book Review

“If you like getting marooned in a book, so far removed from real life that there’s no need for rescue, then A Seat for the Rabble was made for you! . . . [It’s] a sumptuous feast for the mind.” —NICKY FLOWERS, Indies Today (Rating: ★★★★★)

“[A]n unputdownable story. . . .” —SHERRY FUNDIN, fundinmental.com

  • Genre: Dragons, Fantasy, Fiction, Mythical Creatures, Sword and Sorcery
  • 554 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published June 9, 2024
  • Series: A King Without A Crown, Book II

ABOUT RYAN SHUETTE (from his website)

Schuette: Pronounced SHOO-tee

Hi there. I’m a writer, editor, illustrator, and resume consultant with past lives in politics, foreign aid, nonprofit management, and the lingerie industry. I’m also a reporter who’s written for National Public Radio, Al Jazeera America, and numerous other media outlets. In 2015, PBS’s NOVA recognized a feature of mine for NPR as one of its top 10 stories in science education that year.

Fun facts about me: I’ve met three presidents (including the one in the photo), written a novel, and lived and worked for a year in Uganda as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar. While in Uganda, I freelanced as a reporter, bounced around several countries, and got malaria a few times (wouldn’t recommend it). I also took a short course in international law at the University of Oxford.

I’ve started and run both a nonprofit and company, and just recently decided to make good on a few life goals by writing an original fantasy fiction novel and drawing cartoons professionally. I’ve lived and worked in Washington, D.C., and hold a master’s in journalism and public affairs from American University.

Life is short, so make sure you spend it doing something you love. Bonus points if it improves our species.

Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Threads: schuette.ryan

MY RYAN SCHUETTE REVIEWS

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National Parks Thriller – Leave No Trace by A J Landau @jondland

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Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Leave No Trace (National Parks Thriller, #1) is a collaboration between Jon Land and Jeff Ayers. I am excited to be on the adventure, traveling coast to coast to sniff out the danger.

The headers for each short chapter include snippets of the history of the National Parks. I love the combination of fact and fiction.

First stop on our adventure…Danny and his family are visiting the Statue of Liberty. He is very observant and notices something is not right. Before he can say or do anything, there is an explosion. The Prologue set the hook and I am looking forward to hanging out at the National Parks, even under such trying circumstances.

Agent Michael Walker of the National Park Service is on the case and he’ll be working with Gina Delgado of the FBI. I love diverse characters. Michael has a prosthetic foot. Gina is the youngest FBI ASAC and a Latina woman to boot.

A young boy walks up to Michael and asks, “Have you seen my parents?” He becomes the most important witness because of the vital information he has. Does it put a target on his back? What do you think?

The more they investigate, the deeper, more terrifying the conspiracy grows. No one or no thing can be one hundred per cent protected. Michael and Gina will be mobile, putting out fires and defusing catastrophic bombs.

Jeremiah is out for revenge after his family’s home was taken by the Park Service.From coast to coast, no national treasure is safe from those that want to tear them down, not caring how many innocent lives they take with them. A conspiracy surrounds the investigation and reaches within the government. What is their agenda?

I’m getting a terrible feeling. Hold on to you ASS people! Knowing Jon Land, I was waiting for the danger and suspense to ramp up. I was moseying along before thinking these rogue military terrorists were not alone, but now…I quit taking notes because from here on out, mum’s the word.

I felt jaw dropping suspense, anger and rage, and outright shock at the depths people go to and the reasons for it..I don’t know who to trust.

Opposing forces will, eventually,collide. Who will be left standing? The addition of Danny appearing here and there, is a touch that I love. I feel there is a warning here. The government might want to rethink the selling of any old military equipment, bases, etc.

Explosive. Too real! I can let my mind go there.

The shifting points of view, can be a tool for creating suspense and a need to know, or a detriment, slowing down and interrupting the pace and tempo. For me, it was the former.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In a daring, brutal act of terrorism, an explosion rocks and topples the Statue of Liberty. Special Agent Michael Walker of the National Park Service is awakened by his boss with that news and sent to New York as the agent-in-charge. Not long after he lands, he learns two things – one that Gina Delgado of the FBI has been placed in charge of the investigation as the lead of the Joint Terrorism Task Force and two, that threats of a second terrorism attack are already being called into the media. While barred from the meetings of the Joint Task Force for his lack of security clearance, Walker finds a young boy among the survivors with a critical piece of information – a video linking the attackers to the assault.

As a radical domestic terrorist group, led by a shadowy figure known only as Jebediah, threatens further attacks against America’s cultural symbols, powerful forces within the government are misleading the investigation to further their own radical agenda.

  • Genre: Action and Adventure, Conspiracy, Mystery, Suspense, Terrorism,Thriller
  • 352 pages, Hardcover
  • Expected publication February 27, 2024 by Minotaur Books
  • Series: National Parks Thriller, #1

ABOUT JON LAND

Jon Land

Jon Land is the award-winning, critically acclaimed author of 36 books, including the bestselling Caitlin Strong Texas Ranger series that includes Strong Enough to Die, Strong Justice, Strong at the Break, Strong Vengeance and, most recently, Strong Rain Falling. The Tenth Circle marks the second return engagement of his longtime series hero Blaine McCracken on the heels of last year’s Pandora’s Temple which was nominated for a Thriller Award and received the 2013 International Book Award for Best Adventure Thriller. Jon’s first nonfiction book, Betrayal, meanwhile, was named Best True Crime Book of 2012 by Suspense Magazine and won a 2012 International Book Award for Best True Crime Book. He is currently working on Strong Darkness, the next entry in the Caitlin Strong to be published in September of 2014. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from Brown University, where he continues to maintain a strong volunteer presence, in 1979.

Stalk Jon:  Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook 

MY JON LAND REVIEWS

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Fight Or Flight – The Price Of Rebellion by Michael C Bland @mcblandwriter

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

It all began in the year 2030, when a virus rendered more than a billion people blind. Genetic engineering brought sight back to the people, but a price will be paid. I love when an author fills in the highlights from the previous book, so if The Price Of Rebellion is your first book by Michael C Bland, you will not be lost, though I definitely recommend beginning with The Price Of Safety.

Dray Quintero is labelled an enemy of the state. He created something he thought would benefit mankind, but we all know how things can be twisted and corrupted.

The core group of characters, Dray, Raven, Jex and Senn, have come to feel like family to me, but the peripheral characters are vital to the story. The all have their part to play.

There is so much action, so many tragic moments, that I couldn’t stop reading. The technology is truly frightening and makes me wonder…could this be our future? Genetic engineering, robotics, the environment, and the need for power. Looking at current events, we all know how power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

We end the book by finding out what happened to Talia…who was the most tragic part of the first book, for me. She was a child genius, with the courage to put herself in the line of fire. I was heartbroken when she died and the quote below gives you a hint as to why she was such a favorite character of mine. She is in fourth grade:

“Your daughter argued with the teacher,” the principal announced.

“She was pandering to me,” Talia said.

“Do you even now what that word means?: the man asked.

Talia looked up at me with her big brown eyes, “My god. It’s an epidemic.”

Her dad may have needed to hold in his laughter, but not me.

OMG!!!!!!! What a cliffhanger ending. I don’t know whether to congratulate Michael or throw my ereader through the wall!!!!!!! He tells me the wait for this book was because of the pandemic and he thinks it created an even darker book. Okay, I want to thank him for that, because the things he puts his characters through are tragic and inspiring at the same time. He, also, tells me the twists and turns, and horrors and sorrows, will be worth it in the end. I am counting on it.

I can’t think of anything I would change, other than to make it one book and give it to me all at once. That would make one gigantic book and I would be lost for days.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Price Of Rebellion by Michael C Bland.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

BEST SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL OF THE YEAR – Indies Today (2022)
BRONZE MEDAL – SCIENCE FICTION – Readers’ Favorite (2023)
MEDALIST – DYSTOPIAN FICTION – The BookFest (3rd place, Fall, 2023)

 
It’s 2047. Secrets have been revealed. And Washington wants revenge.
 
Dray Quintero learned an ugly truth: the leaders in D.C. are fake. They’ve stolen the identities of those elected to Congress and are determined to stay in power, using his own technology against him and the rest of the population.
 
After revealing the dangers of their mandated implants to his fellow citizens, and calling on everyone to rise up, Dray joins the already-underway rebellion. But his joining is as much to free the U.S. as it is to avenge his daughter’s death. Before he can strike, The Agency attacks with devastating consequences. Dray and the other survivors are forced to run as Agents hunt them.
 
Then Dray makes a discovery that could change the nation.
 
As he and the rebels prepare a bold offensive, his wife, Mina, broadcasts a preposterous claim. He’s forced to choose between the rebellion and a desperate hope. Between family and country.
 
What he does will change everything.
 
The Price of Rebellion is the action-packed second installment of The Price Of series from multiple-award-winning author Michael C Bland.

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Genetic Engineering, Science Fiction
  • 388 pages, Paperback
  • Published May 16, 2023
  • Series: The Price Of Trilogy, #2

ABOUT MICHAEL C BLAND

Michael C Bland is a founding member and the secretary of BookPod, an invitation-only, online group of professional writers. He pens the monthly BookPod newsletter where he celebrates the success of their members, which include award-winning writers, film makers, journalists, and bestselling authors.

His novel, The Price of Safety, was chosen as a Finalist of the 2020 Indie Book Awards for both Science Fiction and Thriller, and is the first in a planned trilogy.

Michael currently lives in Denver with his wife Janelle and their dog Nobu.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

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