Tag Archives: 4 star review

Review – Homecoming Chaos by D W Brooks @pumpupyourbook

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Title: Homecoming Chaos

Author: D.W. Brooks

Publisher: The Reboot LLC

Publication Date: November 21, 2023

Pages: 448

Genre: Romantic Suspense/Contemporary/African American

MY REVIEW

Homecoming Chaos by D W Brooks was, all in all, a homecoming that kept me turning pages as the characters developed and the mystery unfolded.

“Can I buy you a drink?”

After a quick visual scan, Rachel couldn’t find anything wrong with him,; his only flaw was that he was there.

I was cracking up from the getgo…But it was all downhill from there for Rachel, and it opened the mystery.

In the middle of her first night home her mother wakes her at midnight. There is a murder at the lab the family owns and she wants Jamie there.

Jamie had run as far from home as you could get, avoiding her helicopter mother. Her Homecoming was sure to be Chaos. Her life seemed to invite chaos. She was determined to live her own life this time.

“…Your mother lives fro drama, your brother dates chaos whenever he can, your sister married into chaos, and you search it out. I should call you Trey Chaos.”

Detective Nick Marshall is on the case and Jamie revels in her ability to annoy him. I thought it was funny too.

As the mystery unfolds and I become more familiar with the characters, the pacing speeds up, the danger amps up, and I am eager to get all the answers before something else happens some of the characters I have come to care about.

I love that the Atlanta are was familiar to me. It’s always fun to visit a place I have been. I love the characters are not your run of the mill characters. They are African American from the wealthy suburbs of Buckhead.

Secrets from the past are revealed and romance flourishes. I feel there will be more to this story. Will this be a series? I do think it will be fun to spend more time with the family. 🙂

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

BOOK BLURB:

Jamie Scott’s life fell apart four years ago when she broke off her engagement, turned down a dream job, and went overseas to run away from her life. Now she’s back, but the reunion is not without problems. She arrives home just in time to attend the soiree her mother planned, but she’s not prepared for what she finds—a dead employee in the parking lot.

Detective Nick Marshall is assigned to the murder case at the forensics lab owned by Jamie’s family. He meets the headstrong Jamie, but he has a job to do. And his attraction to her… well, he’s a professional.

Jamie knows the stakes are high. She has to face the past and save her parents’ business while dealing with her family drama and an uncertain future. She also has to deal with Nick, who wants her out of the way of his investigation. But fate keeps throwing them in one another’s paths… and into chaos that they both want to avoid, but neither can seem to escape.

 

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Book Excerpt:

The sound of the flight attendant on the loudspeaker startled Jamison Jones Scott out of her light sleep. Despite having traveled frequently in her lifetime, she still couldn’t sleep comfortably on a plane. The seat location— first-class or economy—didn’t make a difference. The plane was nearing its destination, so the passengers needed to finish filling out their declaration cards. Jamie was returning to Atlanta to stay at her parents’ home with only the clothes on her back, a computer bag, the few items of clothing in her duffel, and a stethoscope. She had nothing to declare.

Her seatmate appeared to be sleeping through the announcements. Jamie was jealous. The four-year-old in front of her turned around and started babbling excitedly in French. She must have noticed that Jamie was finally awake. With her head still fuzzy from her nap, Jamie couldn’t completely follow the child’s rapid words, but the gist was that she wanted something from Jamie. Something about a playdate? Jamie smiled at the girl and hoped the girl’s mother would intervene. No such luck; she was asleep as well. The child eyeballed Jamie expectantly. Jamie realized she and the seatmate had started this situation by playing with the dark-haired child while they were over the ocean. Now, when she didn’t agree to the latest request, the little girl scrunched up her face to cry.

“Nous atterrissons bientôt. Elle ne peut pas aller avec vous,” Jamie’s seatmate answered, eyes still closed. “Mais vous pourriez être en mesure de visiter. Je suis sûr qu’elle tu aimerait garder les enfants.” He grinned.

Jamie gasped while the young girl clapped. This guy had just volunteered her as a babysitter!

“Je suis désolé, mais il se trompe. Je ne serai pas disponible,” Jamie stated. “Je parie qu’il a une surprise, pour toi.” The child looked at Jamie’s seatmate for her present and clapped again. This reply made him open his eyes.

“Qu’est-ce que c’est? Qu’est-ce que c’est?” the child asked. Startled, her pregnant mother woke up and turned around in her seat sheepishly.

I’m sorry, she mouthed. She made her eager daughter turn around in her seat and asked her to leave the other passengers alone. The girl was disappointed, but her mother handed her a shortbread, which made her forget the people behind her.

Her seatmate smiled, opened his eyes, and said, “I could have given her the stuffed bear I bought. I have a daughter the same age.” He stretched gingerly. “I can’t wait to get home. I’ve been traveling for too long. What about you? Looking forward to getting home?”

Jamie thought about her return to Atlanta. She hadn’t been home in a while, so she wasn’t sure how she felt.

Revel in the chaos.

Revel in the chaos.

Revel in the chaos.

Jamie tried to live by this motto for most of her life because her life seemed to invite chaos. She learned to expect—and sometimes encourage—complications. As the plane taxied to a halt, she repeated her motto to herself. This phrase, tattooed on her right hip, particularly applied now.

The international terminal of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport had changed since she was last there. Her brother, Jonathan, would pick her up at the baggage claim—alone, she hoped, and not sporting a clingy girlfriend. Time to re-acclimate and re-establish family bonds. Dealing with an unknown woman in her face when she wanted to spend time quietly with her brother wasn’t at the top of her to-do list.

As she waited in line to get through passport control, she thought about how she got to this point—back in Atlanta after several years abroad. She had spent two of those years working with the non-profit organization Doctors Overseas. Jamie worked in several locations, including the Central African Republic. She had her reasons for joining the charitable organization; not all were altruistic, and she kept those to herself during her entrance interview. The horrors she witnessed overseas helped her put her personal chaos into perspective. She realized her issues were nothing compared to what people endured in other parts of the world. This realization allowed her to embrace her job and enjoy what she was doing, despite the frequent threats of bodily harm. To help maintain her sanity while overseas, she traveled a lot and spent six months in Italy working with a designer friend.

The agent summoning her snapped her out of her reverie. Handing over her passport, she said, “Nothing to declare. Coming back home for my mother’s birthday and Christmas.”

At the check-in counter, the inspector carefully examined her and her passport photo. Jamison understood the scrutiny. At the time of that picture, she had been at the height of her glamor phase with a history of modeling and a resulting, above-average concern about how she looked. In medical school, she often showed up at rounds with perfectly coiffed hair and more than a swipe of mascara and lip gloss.

But in Africa, those concerns fell away. Right now, Jamie was makeup-free, and a baseball cap covered her hair. She was still beautiful, but now it was a girl-next-door beauty. Jamie had high cheekbones, almond-shaped dark brown eyes, a straight nose, a square jawline, and her golden-brown skin was still smooth. She wasn’t stomping down runways anymore, as in her past life, because she had shifted her priorities.

Her mother would hate it.

“Welcome to Atlanta,” the inspector said as she stamped her passport. “Have a pleasant stay.”

About the Author

The author lives in Texas with her husband and children. She enjoys trying to stay in shape, sporadically cooking, reading (still), writing, and working on her blog. She is eternally grateful to the woman who donated a kidney to her over 5 years ago and continues to advocate for organ donation as much as she can.

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Dragon Shifter Island – Dragon Protected by Scarlett West @iamscarlettwest

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am excited to be back on Dragon Shifter Island, seeing I enjoyed my first visit so much in Dragon Craved. I mean, hunkalicious dragon shifters, a police officer eye witnessing a hit and run and being kidnapped by one of the hunkalicious dragon shifters…I can’t help but see sparks flying and plenty of laughter, seeing Scarlett West’s writing style weaves some fun amongst the danger.

This time, in Protected Dragon, it is Falcon’s turn to share his story. I do love a damaged character who can turn into a silvery, flying dragon. I envy Emma, when she gets the opportunity to take to the skies with Falcon.

There is so much more to the story than just a hit and run. Emma doesn’t know it yet, but she’s a draca, a human that shares dragon blood and able to become a mate of a full blooded dragon. They are so important to the clans, because dragons are dying out Draglings…how cute is that. I want to read about baby dragons.

The dialogue had me, at times, laughing out loud, so beware of reading in a public place.

Saaamokin’, fiery hot sex sets my reader on fire! I love that Emma didn’t jump right into the sack, even though she had met Falcon in the first book and was verrrry attracted to him.

Sarnai is Emma’s best friend, her only ‘family’ she has left. They bring her to Dragon Island to protect her, but she gets caught in the crossfire. I think we know who’s story is next. How about it Torin? Are you ready to tell your story?

I highly recommend anything written by Scarlett West. She writes of vampires, werewolves, and the fae bureau of investigation, sure to capture a fantasy lovers’ heart.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dragon Protected by Scarlett West.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Can they deny their attraction long enough to catch a criminal?

Emma Getting kidnapped by a dragon shifter was not part of my job description. I needed to be investigating a crime, not spending time with one of my suspects, tempting though he may be.Too bad he’s determined to stay involved and protect me from the stalker I inadvertently acquired.

Falcon As a dragon clan enforcer, I will risk everything in the line of duty, except my mate.With my clan and job in jeopardy, I should walk away, but she incited an undeniable hunger in my dragon, one I should resist. But there’s a problem.Someone is hunting her, and I have to find out why… before it’s too late.

If you love broody alphas, sassy heroines, and hot paranormal romance with a heart, Dragon Protected is for you. Dragon Protected is a standalone in Dragon Shifter Island Series. The books can be read alone but best in order.

Grab this steamy dragon shifter romance that’s bound to pull your heartstrings.

  • Genre: Dragons, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural
  • 214 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published January 14, 2024 by Passion Press
  • Series: Dragon Shifter Island, #2

ABOUT SCARLETT WEST

Scarlett West

Scarlett West writes steamy, paranormal romance featuring sexy Fae. Deep characters and hot romance are her thing.

An avid reader and writer who will never stop dreaming, Scarlett has traveled to many countries and been on tons of adventures. She draws her stories from these places, life experiences, and her grand imagination.

Besides writing, she’s a hobby herbalist and a dancer. If she’s not by the computer typing these things up, she can be found in a forest, on a mountain, or by the ocean.

Scarlett West would like to thank her three F’s: Fans, Family, and Friends. Thank you forever for your support.

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Enemies To Lovers – Blood Champion by Kay Widow @KayWidow @booksirens

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Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

He calls me Lady Death. I am his weapon to wield as he pleases, sharpened like the fatal point of a wooden stake. In the ring, I am nothing but blood, bone, and fury.

I love the soft colors and sweet look of the cover for Blood Champion by Kay Widow. It hides the viciousness and savagery of the cage fights inside.

Monique feels a debt of gratitude to her master, Felix Fee, never questioning his demands. Because of her, his destiny as the heir to the Fee dynasty has never been questioned. He had saved her life, giving her everything she now has. But what exactly is that?

Now, he has given her a task that could end up costing her her life. She is not the only one given this task, and it will lead to changes she never could have anticipated. When she meets Noah, she is awakened to possibilities.

Noah, a werewolf, is in New York City, given the task to obtain the Book of Lilu from Lord Blackwood, the vampire hosting the games that Monique will participating in. I think we can all see what is on the horizon, but the journey will not be an easy one.

Noah is bold, determined, walking a very dangerous path by putting himself amongst the vampires, hiding behind cologne and the humans sprinkled throughout. He ends up playing a part in the fights that could be the end of him. He is not one to go down without a fight, but how can a werewolf survive being caged with a vampire, surrounded by other vampires.

The quotes below, at 20%, made me sit up and pay attention. The descriptions Kay Widow created are powerful and something I have not read before:

I hate crowded places. Most of my kind do…we remember just how much louder and brighter and more intense this world is now that we’re monsters. A simple breath of laughter becomes a shrieking whine to our ears, often accompanied by the stench of stomach bile or curdled coffee and cream. The muted glow from a chandelier becomes painfully blinding, overloading our senses with out mercy.

The never ending thirst hits at the peak of it all. Razor sharp claws raking down your throat. The ripping and shredding of your gums as you fight to keep your fangs at bay. That wild, primal part of you that seeks to satisfy those discomforts by orchestrating a bloodbath.

Amongst all the debauchery and violence, we do have our moments of lightness and laughter. I do like that the ‘love’ is not an immediate hop in the sack and, as Monique’s feelings for Noah develop, so does she. Possibilities….

Blood Champion is the third in the series, and, by far the best. Monique is a character that quickly became someone I couldn’t turn away from. She is challenged at every turn and I loved that she didn’t turn away from the hard questions, but opened herself up to the chance of a new life…and freedom. I want more.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

I’ve lived a warrior’s life defined by death, cage fights, and submission to my vampire master.So when commanded to infiltrate the underground fighting pits of Manhattan and retrieve a coveted tome, my mission takes priority.But that resolve is tested upon crossing paths with an infuriating werewolf who seeks the artifact for his own pack’s survival.Though we are sworn enemies, an electric attraction sparks between us that I find difficulty resisting.Noah’s defiant spirit and the thrilling risk of our affair make me feel alive in ways I’ve never experienced.Compelled into a shaky alliance by our common goal, we fight through sadistic opponents while confronting vampire lords at every turn.Both grappling between loyalty and our dangerous liaison that should not be.Dare I continue falling for a man from the enemy werewolf pack?Something or someone will break.Plunge into the seductive, gritty underworld of a vampire-shifter romance fused with lethal action today!

  • Genre: Enemies to Lovers, Fairy Tales & Folklore, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Shapeshifters, Supernatural, Vampires, Werewolves
  • 242 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published December 26, 2023
  • The Bloodline Dagger Series, Book 3

ABOUT KAY WIDOW

Kay Widow is a paranormal romance author. She writes page-turning romances that readers consume faster than she can produce.
If you love spicy romances with protective and dominant alphas who fall for sassy curvy women, then you might just love Kay’s novels.
Kay lives in Kansas with her husband, Irish twins, and all her book boyfriends.

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Books About Books – The Book Of Doors by Gareth Brown @GarethJohnBrown

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

This is The Book Of Doors. Hold it in your hand, and any door is every door.

Cassie and Izzy worked together at Kellner Books for more than a year and they had become fast friends. Izzy cautioned Cassie about using The Book Of Doors indiscriminately. They don’t know what dangers could be involved. What can be used for good can also be used for bad.

Drummond Fox was The Librarian, but because of the dangers involved, he has hidden his library in the Shadows. Even he can no longer access it.

Each book endows the beholder with a special power. Of course, there are those who are book hunters that want to make money, others want power, and others want to protect the books from the world.

A motley group of friends face unspeakable dangers, some will die…sorta…

Where did the books come from? That was a surprise, but in hindsight I see it.

I love books about books, magic and danger, quirky people who come together in the most unlikely ways, and surprises that pop up as we travel through the doors pages.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

If you could open a door to anywhere, where would you go?

In New York City, bookseller Cassie Andrews is living an unassuming life when she is given a gift by a favourite customer. It’s a book – an unusual book, full of strange writing and mysterious drawings. And at the very front there is a handwritten message to Cassie, telling her that this is the Book of Doors, and that any door is every door .

What Cassie is about to discover is that the Book of Doors is a special book that bestows an extraordinary powers on whoever possesses it, and soon she and her best friend Izzy are exploring all that the Book of Doors can do, swept away from their quiet lives by the possibilities of travelling to anywhere they want.

But the Book of Doors is not the only magical book in the world. There are other books that can do wondrous and dreadful things when wielded by dangerous and ruthless individuals – individuals who crave what Cassie now possesses.

Suddenly Cassie and Izzy are confronted by violence and danger, and the only person who can help them is, it seems, Drummond Fox. He is a man fleeing his own demons – a man with his own secret library of magical books that he has hidden away in the shadows for safekeeping. Because there is a nameless evil out there that is hunting them all . . .

Because some doors should never be opened.

  • Genre: Action and Adventure, Books About Books, Fantasy, Fiction, Romance, Time Travel
  • 416 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication February 13, 2024 by Transworld Digital

ABOUT GARETH BROWN

Gareth Brown wanted to be a writer from a very young age, and he completed his first novel as a teenager. That novel wasn’t very good and he’s been working on his writing ever since. For the last twenty years he has worked in the UK Civil Service and the NHS while writing in his spare time.

When not working or writing, Gareth loves travelling, especially the whirlwind first few hours in a new city and long road trips through beautiful landscapes. He enjoys barbecues, patisseries, playing pool, and falling asleep in front of the television like an old man.

Gareth lives with his wife and two excitable Skye terriers near Edinburgh in Scotland.

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Recknor’s Paladin – Beginning Of Arrogance by Bryan Cole

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Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I can see where the title came from and it fits the book perfectly. Once, you meet Krell, you will know what I mean. He comes from no where, had nothing, but maybe that was Recknor’s plan. Recknor is the god of the seas and skies. Paladins are champions of the gods, but Recknor thinks they are nothing but trouble. If that is the case, why did he choose to raise a paladin?

A holy warrior going out to work his will on the world.

Krell is naive in the ways of the world. Deserted on a desert island after the first shipwreck, he had to learn to fend for himself. Olgar was on the dock when he was rescued the second time. Hmmm…is this all part of Recknor’s plan?

Krell is such a fascinating character. He does not see himself as a leader, though there are those that will follow him, does not seem himself as a lover, though there are those that would give themselves to him freely, only sees himself as himself. Others see him as arrogant, stubborn, prone to act without thinking, never shying from danger, but diving right into it. I loved when he got his first understanding of the difference between the haves and the have nots and his sense of justice is awakened.

There are many laughs to be had at his expense over his arrogance and stubborness. I laughed right along with the characters, of which they all played a pivotal role in Krell’s life.

“You think we can survive?”

“Of course he does. His arrogance makes it impossible for him to see any other outcome.”

:”I am here to be Recknor’s sword, to keep his followers alive, and to slaughter his enemies”

We have monstrous beings, ocotpus bats, sea devils, orcs, halflings, fey, magical talents, and a battle to be won. The sea devils made me think of the blob with teeth and claws. We even have a dragon named Fortis, who has bonded with Krell. Can you imagine a tiny dragon curling up in your lap conveying his feelings of happiness to be with you to you? He is only ten inches tall right now, but what will happen when he is full grown? He brings treats, like a cat, to Krell’s doorstep. How cute is that?

I have visions running through my mind of what is to come from their bonding and the ongoing story and I can hardly wait to get to the next chapter in their lives. I see so much coming and I am going to love watching Krell grow into the man Olgar and Recknor believed he would become. Krell is a fabulously written character that grows and develops along with the story. He has come to realize he can make his own family, choosing and meeting those who will come to lay their life down for him as he would for them. So many varied, high strung, strong personalities.

Krell’s story is far from over and I look forward to seeing him again in Futility Of Defense by Bryan Cole.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Paladins are nothing but trouble. Stories about paladins are everywhere, noble warriors riding magic steeds into battle against terrible foes. Champions of their gods. Heroes to everyone, except those who already have everything. Paladins are notorious for upsetting the balance of power, to the detriment of any who don’t worship their deity.

So when Krell is called to service by the capricious god of the seas and skies, ReckNor, those with wealth and power can’t help but be concerned. ReckNor hasn’t called a paladin in years, and his nature is ever-changing and erratic. The fact that Krell is also an uneducated nobody with a stubborn streak as wide as the sea turns their concerns into fear.

All of which matters less than the threat clawing its way from the waves, ready to turn the ocean red with spilled blood…

  • Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, High Fantasy
  • 435 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published June 29, 2022 by TellWell Talent
  • Series: Beginning Of Arrogance, Book I

ABOUT BRYAN COLE

Bryan Cole is a long time fan of the fantasy and science fiction genres, having grown up reading and watching everything he could find in those domains. He has had a long career in the enterprise software space, delivering countless presentations and technical sessions to customers all over the world.

His love for stories about heroes, villains, magic, and dragons has never dimmed, and in 2022 published his first book is Beginning of Arrogance which is a story about what it means to be a paladin in a world where the gods are manifestly real.

Bryan is a complete optimist on the outside, believing that anyone can accomplish any task they set themselves to. He’d suggest that he’s a great example, since his first published book came out of nowhere to all of his friends and family!

It was a strange journey that led him to writing, but decades of building business presentations gave him a surprising amount of practice in crafting words and conveying emotion (an often overlooked aspect of selling), and he finally made the time in 2022 to take the hundreds of pages of random notes, stories, and adventure ideas he had and committed them to the page.

“Being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t scared. Being brave means you are scared, really scared, badly scared, and you do the right thing anyway.”

― Neil Gaiman, Coraline

Pick up a pen (or sit down in front of your keyboard) and write! Everyone has a story and you never know what you can create if you don’t try!

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Victorian Gothic Romance – Creeping Fate by Michael B Chikondi @M_B_Chikondi

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Amazon / Kindle Unlimited / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Michael B Chikondi has a distinct writing style that I find intriguing. It is not in your face, but subtle, eerie and creepy, such as in Creeping Fate. A Victorian gothic romance is an accurate description. It is 1847 London. Cecilia Everett’s family is gone and she is a wealthy woman. It is time to be wed, but there are no men in sight. I felt I knew where this was going pretty quickly, but Spencer Black and John Oliver kept the mystery alive. I wasn’t sure who was the good guy and who was the bad guy, but sometimes…well, I know what I want to say, but I feel that will give it away, so mum’s the word. You’ll have to read Creeping Fate by Michael B Chikondi to find out for yourself what becomes of Cecilia.

“:…choose a man who loves you more than you love him. Such a man won’t let you down.”

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Cecilia Everett, still grieving the loss of her family, and struggling under the weight of societal obligations, knows she must start to build a life for herself. Under the guidance of her indomitable Aunt Euphemia, she turns her attention towards the prospect of marriage. Its London, 1847, and even an heiress like Cecilia cant escape the pressure to find a husband. Two candidates soon capture her attention; the respectable, but difficult, Spencer Black, and the notorious playboy, John Oliver. As she begins to fear her mind is unraveling, might it be, her financial situation is more alluring than she is?

  • Genre: Fiction, Gothic, Romance, Victorian
  • 109 pages, Paperback
  • Published June 4, 2023

ABOUT MICHAEL B CHIKONDI (from Amazon)

Michael B. Chikondi is not to be trusted, but the creature agrees to a meeting in its burrow. We enter with trepidation, given that the thing has no doorbell. As we crawl through the narrow tunnel, gored out by its own teeth, by the texture, we hear what can only be described as a hacking cough.

“Can we approach?” we call.

“No soliciting.” the voice returns.

“You sent for us; you told us to ask you questions. You know, for promotional reasons.”

“Ask.” the dread voice responds.

“Alright, who are you?” we try.

“A creature of mist and shadow, half-mad, I used to go out, I did, and know those…humans. Not now, not since…the pen.”

“You found a pen? That’s why you became a writer?” we ask, now terrified, trying to gauge how fast we can leave the burrow. The photographer has already left us, chewing off his own watch, caught on a tree root.

“Yes, but now…I hunger…”

We are not proud; we turn tail and flee, before it can leave its den. We aren’t paid enough to get a full bio. We can only pray someone buys its books, so that the thing never comes out on its own.

Ed. What the hell is this? This isn’t what we requested. Just some nonsense and an artist’s rendition of what one of my people saw before he contracted rabies? Eh, whatever. Plenty more writers in the sea.

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Library Borrow Review – Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben @HarlanCoben

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MY REVIEW

The vibrant red cover for Fool Me Once by Harlan Corben jumps off the shelf, but I have been a fan of Corben’s long before I started blogging, so, when I saw there would be a Netflix series, I had to grab it from the library. I was not disappointed.

Maya’s husband is murdered, but the waters are murky and the mystery is convoluted. Harlan Coben really had me going, but when the mystery was solved and the ending smacked me in the face, I was left speechless. Way to go, Harlan!!!!!!!

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Former special ops pilot Maya, home from the war, sees an unthinkable image captured by her nanny cam while she is at work: her two-year-old daughter playing with Maya’s husband, Joe—who had been brutally murdered two weeks earlier. The provocative question at the heart of the mystery: Can you believe everything you see with your own eyes, even when you desperately want to? To find the answer, Maya must finally come to terms with deep secrets and deceit in her own past before she can face the unbelievable truth about her husband—and herself.

  • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
  • 392 pages, Kindle Edition
  • First published March 22, 2016 by Dutton

ABOUT HARLAN COBEN

Harlan Coben is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s leading storytellers. His suspense novels are published in forty-five languages and have been number one bestsellers in more than a dozen countries with seventy-five million books in print worldwide.

His books have earned the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony Awards, and many have been developed into Netflix Original Drama series, including his adaptations of The Stranger, The Innocent, Gone for Good and The Woods. His most recent adaptation for Netflix, Stay Close, premiered on December 31, 2021 and stars Cush Jumbo, James Nesbitt, and Richard Armitage.

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Post Apocalyptic Adventure – Farewll To Dust And Sun by John M Broadhead @JohnMBroadhead

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MY REVIEW

Our people don’t know what else to do, so we dig.

Right out of the gate we meet the haves and the have nots. Could you imagine living underground? You get up in the morning and dig until you go to bed at night, barely enough food and water to keep you alive. I worked for General Motors and used to think, if I die, they are going to step right over me, or on me, and continue working. Morbid, huh? I feel that is Coal’s future, if he doesn’t follow his instincts.

He wants to save the people of Dirthome, and what an appropriate name it is. Nothing to see for miles but desert. John M Broadhead’s descriptions are spot on, considering he knows them so well, being raised in rural New Mexico.

The Outliers want what they have, mounting attack after attack, bodies falling on both sides. But, the biggest threat that so many refuse to even think about is the darkness coming. The sun will go down and not return. So many continue their day to day lives, refusing to make a decision to leave the only home they have ever known. There will be no food. No water. They cannot survive. A religious leader uses their fear to keep them under control.

Coal heads out with Slate, searching for a new home. He never anticipates what will happen when he sees birds for the first time, meets the sea, and the Stacca, a violent and dangerous people.

We travel from the present to the past and back to the present. Part One set the hook, Part Two gave me Coal’s adventurous history, bringing us to Part Three, where decisions will be forced, whether the people want to follow him or not. He never wanted to be a leader, just wanted to save his people, especially the governor’s wife, who he loves.

Farewll To Dust And Sun by John M Broadhead was a different kind of apocalyptic/ dystopian read and I am always on the lookout for someone to take one of my favorite genres and tweak it. Once I started, I couldn’t stop and will be eagerly awaiting the next Slow World Tale. How about it John? I hope you are writing fast. 🙂

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4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

His scorched desert world is doomed. To save his people, first he’ll need to fight them.

Loyalty and love will be tested and treacherous alliances made, but is it too late to ensure their survival?

Coal is a tenacious and headstrong young laborer who lives in the harsh wasteland of Dirthome, a brutal and unforgiving place where relentless violence and apathy are commonplace. As the sun prepares to set for the first time in generations, he hatches a daring plan – to persuade his people to abandon their desert abode before darkness and cold consume the world.

But driven by a complex love for the governor’s wife and accompanied by a mysterious warrior woman, Coal must navigate dangerous partnerships and confront his own fatal weaknesses. In this sweeping and gritty western-themed fantasy, traditions are shattered, flawed characters clash and civilizations collide in pursuit of uncertain salvation.

“Farewell To Dust And Sun” is the thrilling first installment in the “Slow World Tales” series of post-apocalyptic adventure fantasy books. If you like coming-of-age, survival fantasy books set in a barren and grim future, this book is for you!

  • Genre: Action and Adventure, Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction
  • 557 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published November 7, 2023 by John M Broadhead

ABOUT JOHN M BROADHEAD

“I just want to make things that people can nerd out on. There’s nothing in life more joyful than nerding out over something.”

I am excited to share my newly completed novel “Farewell To Dust And Sun.” Fitting nicely into the apocalyptic genre, this is a fast-paced adventure story set in an unforgiving desert, a quest to save the world that eschews fantasy tropes and focuses on the characters, their hopes, failures and crises. 

Heading toward publication on November 7th, this will be my second self-published novel, but the first in which I believe I truly found my voice. I believe it to be a “millennial” story through and through, expressing the angst in the hearts of a generation stuck between a bleak past and a bleak future. 

Among other projects I am in fact working on the sequel in what I hope to eventually craft into a trilogy of “Slow World Tales.” My writing credentials include my previous novel “Talking Man,” along with a novella, a children’s book, and a novelty picture book. I have been recognized with numerous awards for my poetry and screenwriting, and my academic background in English Literature provides me with a deep understanding of the craft. Additionally I am a filmmaker, runner, thru-hiker, and Tolkien nerd. 

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Review – Vicious Scars by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor @GiveMeBooksPR

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Title: Vicious Scars
Series: Prey Security: Bravo Team #1
Author: Jane Blythe
Genre: Military Romantic Suspense
Tropes: Forced Proximity/Private Security
Release Date: January 9, 2024

MY REVIEW

I usually read Jane Blythe’s series in a progressive order, but this time I stepped ahead. I couldn’t help myself. I feel her books can be read as stand alones. The characters appear throughout the books, but each book highlights a couple. Vicious Scars tells Tallulah Russell and Gabriel “Tank” Dawson’s story.

Jane sets the hook early, creating a need to know from the opening pages. An intruder. It wasn’t what I expected, and I love that. Jane is very good at throwing twists and turns throughout her books. There are two story lines in Vicious Scars and we will only learn the results of one, Tallulah and Gabriel’s story.

A kidnapping of a woman in Witness Protection. What? Why would Prey Security feel the need to save someone who has been given a new identity and is being hidden by the U S Marshalls? Well, I’ll tell you. There’s a rat and they are there to, not only save her, but catch the man who has put a million dollar bounty on her head.

At 6%:

Instead of trying to brute force her way out of his hold by thrashing about, which would have been impossible, she immediately put her hand between his legs, grabbed his crotch, and twisted.

Yeah, Jane may love her damsels in distress, but she does not leave them defenseless.

Tallulah carries the sins of her father and has been in foster care since she was three years old. Because of her desire to help those in need, she has put a price on her head. Just once, she would love to have something good in her life. She doesn’t know it yet, but her kidnapper is the man that fits the bill.

We have some light moments, having me nodding my head and smiling. Even in times of darkness, there is light.

Some steamy moments heated up my ereader, but Tallulah and Tank deserve something good in their lives. Even though I knew Jane Blythe would supply it, the road to their happy ever after was not an easy one. Bullets flew, bodies fell, and suspense mounted as we came to the heart pounding conclusion.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

BLURB

No good deed goes unpunished.

Tallulah Russel knows she’s made a mistake. Unfortunately it’s too late to do anything about it. Snatched from her home and held prisoner in a cabin by a man whose behavior grows more confusing by the minute, she has two choices. She can escape the second she gets an opportunity, or she can put her trust in her kidnapper when he tells her he’s the only thing standing between her and certain death.

Gabriel “Tank” Dawson didn’t want this job. Now when his team needs him, he wants to be there for them, but this case has been ranked as high priority. Falling for the target shouldn’t be an option. But he can’t seem to help himself. Every second he spends with Tallulah he grows more captivated by her. Too bad the second she learns he’s been lying to her from the beginning she’ll hate him.

What should have been a simple plan goes to hell and its Tallulah who will end up paying the price.







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COMING SOON


Releasing February 13

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AUTHOR BIO


USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes Prey Security, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!


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Library Book – Killers Of The Flower Moon by David Grann @DavidGrann

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MY REVIEW

I was appalled when I saw the promotion for the film Killer Of The Flower Moon. I immediately went to my library app and put a hold on the book. I got access to it a lot faster than I thought and immediately began reading.

In May, taller plants creep over tinier blooms, stealing their light and water. The small flowers become buried under the ground and that is why the Osage refer to May as the time of the flower killing moon.

It was in May of 1921 when Mollie Burkhart began to suspect evil was afoot. She was right. The conspiracy was so widespread, the Osage never stood a chance.

It always amazes me when I come across such a brutal injustice in our history…that I knew nothing about. Shouldn’t this be part of the history we are taught in school? I mean, the conspiracy was so wide and tragic, it helped lead to the creation of the FBI. Of course, that creates a monster of its own. We all know the saying:

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

In the 1920s, the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma had the richest people per capita in the world. Greedy, power hungry individuals flock to the area like flies on s***. Racism is rampant and the Osage people were looked at as less than human.

I cannot begin to imagine their despair and sense of hopelessness, that no one would come to their aid. Not just to keep the white people from stealing their riches, but to keep them from being MURDERED. The people of the town turn a blind eye to the tragedy taking place right before them. We can see history repeat itself, over and over again, so I don’t know why I am so surprised. After all, if discrimination, racism, and inequality can exist as overtly as it does in the 21st century, it seems it would be even easier to perpetrate such violence in the 1920s.

I will be adding more of his work to my reading list. In fact, I just put a hold on The Wager.

The depth of David Grann’s research is displayed at the end of the book, where he has included all the materials, paper and human, he drew information from.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Goodreads Choice Award

A twisting, haunting true-life murder mystery about one of the most monstrous crimes in American history
 
In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe.

Then, one by one, they began to be killed off. One Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, watched as her family was murdered. Her older sister was shot. Her mother was then slowly poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more Osage began to die under mysterious circumstances.

In this last remnant of the Wild West—where oilmen like J. P. Getty made their fortunes and where desperadoes such as Al Spencer, “the Phantom Terror,” roamed – virtually anyone who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered. As the death toll surpassed more than twenty-four Osage, the newly created F.B.I. took up the case, in what became one of the organization’s first major homicide investigations. But the bureau was then notoriously corrupt and initially bungled the case. Eventually the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to try unravel the mystery. White put together an undercover team, including one of the only Native American agents in the bureau. They infiltrated the region, struggling to adopt the latest modern techniques of detection. Together with the Osage they began to expose one of the most sinister conspiracies in American history.

In Killers of the Flower Moon, David Grann revisits a shocking series of crimes in which dozens of people were murdered in cold blood. The book is a masterpiece of narrative nonfiction, as each step in the investigation reveals a series of sinister secrets and reversals. But more than that, it is a searing indictment of the callousness and prejudice toward Native Americans that allowed the murderers to operate with impunity for so long. Killers of the Flower Moon is utterly riveting, but also emotionally devastating.

  • Genre: American History, Biography, Conspiracy, Historical Nonfiction, History, Mystery, Native American, Nonfiction, True Crime
  • This edition:
  • Format: 354 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published: April 18, 2017 by Doubleday

ABOUT DAVID GRANN (from Amazon)

DAVID GRANN is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and a staff writer at The New Yorker magazine. He is the author of the critically acclaimed books “The Wager,” “The Lost City of Z,” and “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which was a finalist for the National Book Award. He is also the author of “The White Darkness” and the collection “The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession.” His book “Killers of the Flower Moon” was recently adapted into a film directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert De Niro. Several of his other stories, including “The Lost City of Z” and “Old Man and the Gun,” have also been adapted into major motion pictures. His investigative reporting and storytelling have garnered several honors, including a George Polk Award and an Edgar Allan Poe Award.

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