Blood & Rebellion: A Fated Mate Vampire Romance by Kay Widow is the second book in the Academy Bluemoon series and is told from two points of view, the protagonists, Jane and Ryder. Blood & Rebellion is a teen and young adult series, so bear that in mind. That is probably why I rate the book a 3, but I still recommend meeting the characters and seeing the world through their eyes.
I can relate to Jane in several ways. I don’t wear makeup and I spend a lot of time alone. She makes me wonder and I love when a book has me looking inside myself. Is my perception of myself who I really am? How do others see me? Because others see Jane for so much more than she sees herself. She is a leader, and they will follow, as she mounts a coup against the King and Queen, her parents.
I love Chloe, a bad girl who attends the academy. Villains fascinate me and I rarely meet one I don’t like. (know what I mean) I ask the question, “Do we truly know anyone?” Do we know why they are the way they are? Do we ask how they came to be that way? Do we ask, are they hiding behind a mask?
Young adult novels, like Blood & Rebellion by Kay Widow do not always contain the fast paced action and depth of danger that I love so much, but I always love a good paranormal romance. If you do too, check out Kay Widow.
3 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
I’m fated for forbidden love and mortal danger at an academy for supernatural creatures.
My parents, the King and Queen, wear victorious expressions. But they need to learn that I have no intention of honoring the agreement. I attend a supernatural academy with others who share my interests. Others who have pledged their loyalty to the rebellion, Ready to fight for a world without an oppressive monarchy. Yet the sinister prophecy plays on repeat in my dreams, Dooming Ryder and I should we rule together. The weight of our destiny is a heaviness we silently accept. Something or someone has marked us for greatness, And there is no turning back. As we march toward imminent battle, We draw upon everything Academy Bluemoon has taught us.
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.
Olivia Boothe found me through Book Sirens and I cannot stress how happy I am that she approached me. Her Hell’s Angels series is MIND BLOWING! I can’t get enough of it!
I LOVED this book soooo much I am sitting here, trying to think of a quick hook to share with you to express how much I loved it. I looked for synonyms for excellent: very good, outstanding, magnificent, exceptional. and fantastic are only some of them…and they still don’t fit the bill.
Descension: Knights Of The Serphim by Olivia Boothe is the second book of the Hell’s Angel series. I gave the first book, Afterworld: Road To Redemption 5 stars. I did the same for Descension, but if there were more stars, I would have given them. This may be my favorite book of the year, but you do need to start with Book I. It will be so hard to not spoil anything for you, so I can only tell you my feelings as I read.
It’s five months later. As Jax and the others are out scavenging, thoughts of The Walking Dead enter my mind. They need gas for the next push to Sanctuary. They don’t even know if it exists, but it is their best hope. They have gotten too comfortable in the quiet town…
The demons that attack are constantly changing, as Olivia Boothe uses her creative imagination to bring forth the creatures from Hell. Angels battle angels. I love that Samael holds a prominent place in Descension. So much is easier to visualize because I have watched Lucifer.
The action was at a fast pace, never letting me catch my breath. The danger surrounds us, I mean them. The characters will put their lives on the line, repeatedly, never wanting to lose one of their ‘family’. The romantic scenes were sizzling hot…adults only please.
Want to know why Samael fell? Has God forsaken them? Who will survive?
At page 2223 on my ereader, when the beast is stalking Jax, the descriptive writing of the step by step stalking, painted such a vivid picture, it was imprinted on my mind. Another outstanding moment was at 2254 when…well, I can’t tell you. It would spoil such a fantastic part of the story that caught me so off guard.
Fuck this. Sometimes when you needed to get shit done, you’re better off doing it yourself. Tightening my ponytail…
It’s writing like this that adds those personal realistic touches, that makes me love this book so much. That, and Kate is such a badass warrior.
I was a woman…..And the cursed demons who took my family were going to hear my roar.
That is the last line and it has me salivating…wanting the next book. I HAVE TO KNOW. I sure hope Olivia is writing fast.
BUT, there is a bonus chapter. I do love that. It tells Samael’s story.
Descension has all the good bits and pieces of novels I love. Add Supernatural, The Walking Dead and Lucifer together, do a little tweaking here and there, with Olivia Boothe laying her personal mark on it with her excellent writing and storytelling, and consider my MIND BLOWN!
I don’t think this review came close to telling you how much I love this story, this series. If fantasy, angels and demons, paranormal and supernatural, and apocalyptic, dystopian books are your jam, you gotta grab this series!!!!!!
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
WE BELIEVED THE APOCALYPSE WAS THE END. WE WERE DEAD WRONG. THE WAR FOR MANKIND HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.
Five months ago, we won the battle for New York City, but the streets are once again overrun with the Damned, the zombie-like creatures carrying the deadly virus meant to wipe-out the world’s population. Except this time, they have evolved. They are no longer the mindless husks left behind by the infection.
Hungry, depleted of resources, and believing Mikha’el and his legion of angelic warriors have forsaken us, Jax and I lead a group of survivors to Albany in search of The Sanctuary, a community that promises protection and the hope for a new future.
But things quickly tip south when our group is ambushed by a brand-new enemy, and Jax and I are once again thrust into the fight to save humanity.
We may have defeated three of the four Horsemen and delayed Samael’s escape from his fiery prison, but Beleth, the Horseman of Death and the Devil’s mightiest lieutenant, is still at large, and he’s amassing an army far more dangerous than anything we could have conceived.
With a bounty on my back and a cadre of holy assassins on my tail, Jax and I are running out of time. We must collect all four Creation Stones and close the Gates before Samael escapes Hell and completely rips open the veil between our worlds, obliterating what remains of Earth’s last survivors.
Get ready for another action packed ride full of thrills and steamy romance as Kate, Jax, and their canine companion, Hank, return in this post-apocalyptic tale.
*For audiences 18 years+ Please check author’s website for full list of CW/TW
Genre: Adult, Angels and Demons, Apocalyptic, Dark Romance, Dystopian, Fantasy, Paranormal, Supernatural
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 10, 2023
Series: Hell’s Angels, Book II
ABOUT OLIVIA BOOTHE
REAL LOVE AS IT IS. MESSY, COMPLICATED & SINFULLY ADDICTIVE.
Born in Colombia and raised in New Jersey since the age of eight, Olivia always dreamed of becoming a story teller.
If you enjoy deadly-hot romance novels with deep, layered plots, she’s your gal. Because it’s not just about the first kiss and the happily ever after, it’s about everything in between.
In addition to writing contemporary and paranormal romance, Olivia is currently working on an adult contemporary fantasy.
Fun Facts: When not locked away in her writing tower at the wee hours of the night, Olivia works a government 9-5 job and manages a house full of males (a husband, three sons, and a doggo named Hunter). On occasion, she summons her tribe for a night of wine and shenanigans. Dark chocolate is her kryptonite, she hates/loves to ugly cry during movies, and is a die-hard Bon Jovi fan.
Don’t forget to subscribe to her newsletter to receive exclusive news and updates such as book releases, giveaways, sales, events, sneak peeks and bonus material for upcoming projects.
Isn’t that a beautiful cover for Unleashed by Aria Glaski. It depicts the story inside to a T, and I love it when that happens. I feel the author does the book justice by representing it as it is. Unleashed is a bit on the dark side, so adult warnings apply.
We start with a map. I love maps, referring back to them as I travel through the pages.
I have been reading Aria Glaski for a while now (See my review links below) and she writes some great books BUT I will say, Unleashed seems outside her norm, and I was surprised at how quickly I became engrossed in the story. Unleashed is by far my favorite Aria Glazki book. AND, it’s a series. It could end here, but I am so very happy it doesn’t. Oh, yeah!
It starts with a one night stand…is there such a thing with a dragon? I doooon’t think so. Who can say no to that animal attraction?
I realize it is very difficult to come up with an original idea for an oft told tale, but Aria Glazki did it. I love that the main character, Tia, has been living as a human for hundreds of years to avoid the ritual. The ritual where her and her brother would fight to the death. She won’t do it. But, what if…
Azur was determined to find her and bring her back. It is a duty she must fulfill…
Seraphina is so much more than he bargained for and he is rethinking his position, but a cow does follow the herd and he makes a mistake. She is kidnapped out from under him.
Things are not as she imagined in Azhidar Zher…and neither is her brother.
I thought it was interesting that Aria Glazki pointed out a similarity to us humans. There is a double standard, one set of rules for males and another for females. Guess who makes out the best?
Sexual tension permeates the pages and I devour the words as Azur devours Seraphina.
Sure, many things are familiar, but Aria Glazki did an amazing job bringing a fresh look into the life of dragons. It’s not all lollipops and rainbows, but it’s not all war and killing either. We always have time for some romance, right?
Aria Glazki shares her thoughts at the end of the book :
…never intended for it to become Fantasy…..I wanted to play around with dragons…Alas, such is the life of a “pantser” – the story goes where it wants…
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Unleashed, Defiant Dragons, Book I, by Aria Glazki.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A one-night stand with the sexy new dragon in town could force her into a fight to the death. Still, worth it?
Tia’s been hiding among the humans for hundreds of years, evading her so-called birthright. But when a hot new dragon arrives in her city, she doesn’t run fast enough. The pull to be with her own kind is just too strong. Too bad the newcomer is determined to drag her back for the ritual she escaped.
Did she say “ritual”? Make that “fight to the death.”
Azar never dreamed he’d be the one to find her: the spoiled, selfish royal who doomed all the dragons. Only it turns out the Zubir’s sister is nothing like he was told. She’s fierce, shrewd, and stunning, and she throws everything he believes into question.
The one thing Azar knows without a doubt? Bringing her home is dragonkind’s only hope.
— Unleashed is a sizzling dragon shifter romance featuring a strong heroine fighting magic and politics to save a species that wants her dead. Then there’s her one-night-stand-turned-hostage, igniting all sorts of sparks she can’t ignore. Too bad even a dragon can end up burned.
Genre:
336 pages, ebook
Expected publication September 27, 2023 by Anika Press
ABOUT ARIA GLAZKI
Aria Glazki’s first kiss technically came from a bear cub. Though no fairytale transformation followed, she still believes magic can happen when the right people come together—if they don’t get in their own way, that is. So now Aria writes heartfelt romances about relatable people overcoming real-world obstacles to build love that lasts.
I grabbed Sketching Rebellion by Felicia Ketcheson not realizing it was going to be a series. It seems like most of the books I read any more are series. It’s okay, as long as I get to find out the final result, beginning to end, but that doesn’t always happen. Anyways I did enjoy Sketching Rebellion. I was on a binge of apocalyptic/dystopian reading and got a little click happy, grabbing willy nilly.
Sketching Rebellion’s target audience is teen and young adult. I do enjoy a good coming of age story and Breel was a fascinating character. Normally, I like a little more brutality and depth of despair in my apocalyptic reading, but the blurb states that Breel is seventeen years old, so that is a clue for the target group.
As usual, those in power wield a heavy sword to keep everyone in line, using the threat of execution for the slightest infraction, like sketching/drawing, when she is forbidden to do so. How far can you push someone, no matter the age, before they push back? And what happens when they do?
One of the scariest things is…there is no punishment for those who report other citizens. In fact, they are rewarded for it. Who can you trust? You can never be sure what is going on in someone’s mind. Family turning in family, friends turning in friends, coworkers…Instead of ‘lock her up’, it’s take her out.
Some of the most unlikely people will be those who support taking action against the regime. Some will fall, and the ending….I was saddened, afraid for the ones who chose to reshape their world into something better. BUT, that is for another day. I am hooked and I look forward to finding out what comes next. I rated Sketching Rebellion with the target audience in mind.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Sketching Rebellion by Felicia Ketcheson.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Conformity is mandatory. But seventeen-year-old artist Breel rebels anyway.
In the city of Lexum, personal choice is nonexistent, and defiance is severely punished. Breel is alone in seeing the injustices in her world. Isolated due to her beliefs and haunted by the disappearance of her uncle, she finds solace in the forbidden act of drawing. Creating art is a rebellion against an oppressive regime that stifles self-expression.
When a glimmer of hope emerges in the form of a resistance group, Breel faces a decision. Will she risk execution to join their fight for a society which would celebrate rather than condemn her artistic skills? Or will she continue hiding her non-conformity?
The outcome of her choice will not only define her own fate but may also set in motion a revolution that could reshape her world forever.
2022 Killer Nashville Claymore Award finalist (Juvenile/YA) .
Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Science Fiction, Suspense, Technothriller, Thriller, Young Adult [ Previously published as Intercludae.]
320 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2023
ABOUT FELICIA KETCHESON
Felicia Ketcheson is the author of Intercludae, which was a 2022 Killer Nashville Claymore Award finalist (Juvenile/YA category). At age seven, she wrote her first book about a dog, cat, and bee. Four years later, she randomly started writing a short novel, catapulting her into the world of series writing. When she’s not devising ways to destroy the lives of her fictional characters, she works as a medical researcher and database developer. Database developing is a passion she simultaneously loves and hates. She lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada.
I love my vampires and really wanted to love Blood & Fang by Kay Widow. It took me a while to get into the book, though there was never any doubt that I would finish it. It felt too young adult for me, ya know what I mean, except for the smoking hot sex? BUT, by the time I was finished, I found myself eager to read Book II and find out if they claim the throne and how it comes about.
Things happen at a fast past. They have super hot sex before they even know each other, but we do live in a free society where one night stands are quite common, so I try to overlook it most of the time. Princess Jane is not shy and is quite rebellious. It seems, if someone says don’t do that, she will. She has felt no love from her parents, so maybe she seeks it out wherever she can find it.
Princess Jane is half human, half werewolf. Her lover, Ryder, is all vampire. Opposites attract is a true statement for these lovers, and they complement each other, him reining her in and she giving him strength to step outside his comfort zone. They could make a great team, when they work out the kinks in their relationship.
Princess Jane has some loyal friends that look past her issues, because she is a good person who sometimes does bad (?) things. It was interesting to watch her grow and learn from her mistakes, but I am hoping Book II will let her shine.
Chloe Jamieson is a thorn in her side and I wonder what her story is and will stop at nothing to earn the throne.
Princess Jane’s parent’s rule of their kingdom is for their own benefit and Jane disagrees with it. Many of the discriminatory laws are aimed at the poor. Can she do a better job, if she reclaims, what she considers, her rightful place? I think she’s got a lot of growing up to do, but she is on the right track.
The beginning seemed loosely written to me and gained momentum as I went along. Maybe Blood & Fang is more of a set up for Book II. I do love my vampires, so I am always game to see what an author does with them and I have enjoyed other books by Kay Widow, so I hope to be here for the finale.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Blood & Fang by Kay Widow.
3 Stars
AMAZON SYNOPSIS
The moon goddess rarely favors vampires as mates, but to reclaim my throne, I have no choice.
I was exiled from my home, Golden Grove, by my parents.
Leaving me stuck at Academy Bluemoon.
I’m determined to return and rule with the help of my werewolf side.
And nothing will stand in my way.
Especially gorgeous vampires with crooked smiles.
I’m only half-wolf, but fate decides my mate.
We both enrolled this year, and I don’t know his story yet.
Except for the ancient prophecy binding us.
Our personalities are so different.
I’m rebel-esque, and he’s a goody two shoes.
Yet those hazel eyes light my internal fire.
And all prophecies have a dark side.
Malevolent sirens, selfish rulers, and an unclear fate face us,
While my people depend on me to restore the kingdom.
A rebellion must occur.
We must claim what belongs to us.
The throne.
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.
I love the awesome cover for Fault by Lumen Reese. It told me everything I needed to know. I love creature features and eagerly cracked open my ereader to begin.
And begin we did. An earthquake that sunk part of the California coast gave the creature its freedom. It reveled in it.
Lucille Bennet is in Montana for work when it hits. Her children are lost, but she refuses to leave them for the creature to eat. She proceeds to build a submarine and enters the quarantine zone to retrieve their bodies. Things sure didn’t go the way I thought and I love it.
She is rescued by a ship called the Last Chance. A ship of criminals and rejects. It is dangerous, not just for her, but anyone that takes on the job. It is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. They go to the most dangerous place, where the creature is, searching for oil. Yeah, keep drilling and maybe you’ll find another creature. Only one of three workers will survive the mission.
I am not going to share a ton of details, because the blurb stayed nondescriptive. The parts of the book share a separate character and their point of view. We have some romance and a few laughs. She wins over the crew by cooking good food and with a little help from those she makes friends with.
Fault by Lumen Reese unraveled like a B movie, and I devour them like the creature devoured anything that got in its way. Fault seems to be a bit different, not just a creature feature, but scifi and a bit of time travel?
The beginning was action packed and set the hook. The middle introduces us to the cast of characters and life aboard the Baton Rouge. The end is tense and thought provoking. All in all a very satisfying read.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of Fault by Lumen Reese.
4 Stars
GOODREADS REVIEW
A grieving mother. A monster. A ship crewed by the damned.
The Thing swam out of the magma in the Earth’s core and clawed its way up through the San Andreas Fault on the night that a chunk of the California coast sank into the Pacific. Millions died, including the two children of Lucille ‘Ceely’ Bennett, an accomplished engineer stranded in rural Montana when the cataclysm occurred. Ceely builds a submarine, complete with mechanical arms and a set of harpoons -the biggest on the market- with the intention of going down among the ruins of Los Angeles to collect her daughters’ bodies. A mother’s love -and fury- drive her to hunt the creature across oceans and decades in this story of grief and revenge.
List: Fantasy, Horror, Queer, Science Fiction
396 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 24, 2023
ABOUT REESE LUMEN
Writer of diverse science fiction, fantasy and horror from Michigan. I failed many math classes in high school to write first drafts of the books I’ve published. It was worth it. I think that a story should be entertaining, but should handle important social and class issues in order to be an accurate portrayal of our world. I value honest resolution over shock-value, and happy endings wherever possible, especially for my LGBT characters. You can find me on Twitter @ZoominLumen Or follow me on Goodreads for sales and announcements.
FAULT is a SCIENCE FICTION/HORROR novel. (Out August 24, 2023! Available in ebook and paperback.)
THE BRIDE HUNT OF ELK MOUNTAIN is a SPECULATIVE/SCIENCE FICTION novel. (Out now! Available in ebook and paperback.)
MONSTER MIDWIFE is a FANTASY/HORROR novel. (Out now! Available as an ebook.)
TRIAL OF THE LOVEBIRD BUTCHER is an URBAN FANTASY/THRILLER novel. (Out now! Available in ebook and paperback.)
CLAIRE GOT HERSELF IN TROUBLE is a YA/NEW ADULT CONTEMPORARY novel. A portion of all proceeds go to Planned Parenthood. (Out now! Available in ebook and paperback.)
MONARCH FALLS is a SCI-FI MYSTERY novel. (1st in the FOUR QUARTERS OF IMAGINATION TRILOGY) (Out now! Available as an ebook.)
THE UNDESIRABLES is a WWII THRILLER. (Out now! Available as an ebook.)
ROMANI and ROMANI: AMBASSADORS were the first two parts of a trilogy that I started when I was seventeen. At the time, I intended to bring awareness to an underrepresented and much maligned group, in a story about how the privileged in our society have a moral responsibility to help the less fortunate. I have since decided that I did not have the right to be telling that story, and have unpublished both books.
My introduction to Kay Widow’s writing was Bloody Billionaire’s Baby. After reading it, I was looking for some more vampires and when I saw Blood Inheritance on Book Sirens, I snapped it up.
I think of Blood Inheritance as a vampiric twist of Pretty Woman. Ezra is looking for a human to help him die and in return she will receive his fortune. He is done with ‘living’. He chose Lydia Francesca DeSilva.
Someone good and pure. Young and healthy. Ambitious but not self serving. Intelligent, but not pretentious. It’s a lot to ask of someone, but I have high hopes this time.
The description is spot on. She is a twenty one year old virgin with some fabulous friends. She is everything he is looking for and more.
In this 210 page story, Kay Widow has packed a lot. The romance is slow burning. Her sweetness and openness got me wrapped up in the romance. I had moments of sadness and moments of happiness. Will she be able to give him a reason for living?
I have more I would like to share, but I feel less is more. I think we know where the story will go, but it is the wonderful journey that makes me want to read more of Kay Widow’s work.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Blood Inheritance by Kay Widow.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Being immortal is overrated.
So I found the perfect wife to inherit my fortune.
The Bloodline Dagger will give me my peace, but only humans can wield it.
Luckily my mate, who radiates sunshine from every pore, has agreed to help.
But tasting her blood was a mistake—tasting all of her was a mistake.
And denying myself is unbearable, knowing these are my last days alive.
She asked for three months to convince me to change my mind,
I’m being cruel, giving her hope.
But the Nocturn legacy is at stake–I should have pumped the brakes.
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.
I want to thank Book Sirens and Bandwagon Press for the opportunity to read an early copy of Transcendent, a Science Fiction Novella. The cover does the story justice and fits the plot.
Transcendent by Jay Antani is up for preorder at a price of $2.99 and will be released on 6.6.23.
I love when an author can take less and give me more, and that is what Jay Antani has done with his novella, Transcendent.
On earth, Troy was a doctor, but on the Transcendent, he was a jack of all trades. It was his chance to be a part of the next group to settle on Prosperity. Would he regret it when a catastrophic accident kills everyone but him…and the pod people? LOL
I immediately thought of The 100, when Jay Antani described them hibernating, because interstellar flight took so many years. And, that is how he found himself on his own, trying to save his own life…and Tara’s, when he finds her outside her pod, the only other person to survive when the power went out.
A message from an unidentifiable source gave him hope and he would use the lander to try and reach them.
As the story and characters developed into an unputdownable moment, the pacing picked up and I couldn’t stop reading. I had to know if they would survive and who was trying to help them. It has a sad ending, but I felt it was appropriate. Jay Antani wanted to give me an exciting experience and he accomplished that with ‘flying’ colors.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Transcendent by Jay Antani.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Thirty trillion miles from Earth, plying the gulf between our solar system and the new human cities on the planet Prosperity, the colony ship Transcendent suffers a disaster that disables its engines and kills every member of its crew—all except one.
Panicked, medic Troy Hartman finds his approaching certain death vying with the sheer will to survive as he scrambles to revive the drifting ship. With the help of OTTO, the ship’s AI, Troy sets out to repair the damage, hotwire the engines, and establish communication with anyone out in the dark and forbidding void.
And as all hope seems to be fading, a mysterious lifeline appears—a signal from an unknown source, prompting Troy to redouble his last-ditch effort at making contact and changing course. Especially when he realizes that he may not be the last living human on board, after all.
117 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 6, 2023 by Bandwagon Press
ABOUT JAY ANTANI
Jay Antani is a lifelong lover of stories, both the personal and the fantastic. He came to writing by way of film studies, commercial illustration, and film journalism. After receiving his MFA from USC, Jay published “The Leaving of Things” (Lake Union, 2014), an award-winning coming-of-age saga about finding one’s voice in a world of clashing and competing cultures. “Edge of Light” is a total departure, a YA sci-fi adventure set against the backdrop of war, environmental collapse, and a possible alien pandemic. As a fan of alien invasion stories, adventurous journeys, and conspiratorial thrillers, “Edge of Light” packs in everything Jay loves about the sci-fi genre while continuing his exploration of such themes as friendship, loyalty, and courage amidst the call of destiny. Connect with Jay at jayantani.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Connect with Jay at jayantani.com
Kate Warne’s Sister Is Missing by J A Schneider was a big departure from the other novels of hers that I have read. At first it threw me off. The writing felt dry, textbooklike. BUT, the more I read, the more I got lost in the characters and their circumstances.
Kate Warne’s Sister Is Missing is historical fiction at its finest. We have fiction woven into facts seamlessly. The events take place during 1861. Think of your history. the Civil War had just broken out. There were those who wanted Lincoln dead. Kate Warne did her part to try and save him, but we all know, eventually, he was killed.
Kate Warne was the first female detective with the Pinkertons, thanks to Alan Pinkerton’s ability to judge a person’s character and see that she would be able to go places and learn things because people would overlook a woman. No one would suspect her of being a detective.
Kate and Saskia’s brother and sister in law are quite the pieces of work. When Saskia goes missing, my eyes are on them. Kate, Saskia and their brother shared ownership of the home they lived in.
Opium, in the form of laudanum was the be all, cure all. History repeats itself in drug addiction and abuse of dangerous substances.
Kate’s friends, Buck and Hattie, are also her partners. Will there be a love interest for Kate? The Flower Girl, a girl with a heart so big she put her life on the line for another. She may not be a star in the book, put she shone brightly regardless. I love when peripheral characters take center stage. That is some good character development that makes me want more.
I would have loved to get to know Saskia better. She was sweet, innocent, adventurous, artistic…Will she be found in time? Is it already too late?
The descriptive writing brought to life the horror, the smells, the danger…my anger and disgust, my wonder and delight, my curiosity and desire to know more. The characters grew on me the more time I spent with them. The mystery kept me guessing and the villains, because there are plenty to go around, filled me with revulsion. What a great word, revulsion. Just saying it conveys how poorly I felt about them, especially a certain someone, who, at this time, will be left nameless.
I appreciate a book that has me going on a hunt, surfing the web, searching for more answers on my own. I love that we ended on a high note, with love and inspiration.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Kate Warne’s Sister Is Missing by J A Schneider.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
April 1861, New York City. Civil War has just broken out. Kate Warne, first female detective and a Pinkerton, returns to find that her beloved sister, Saskia, has gone missing. Where to turn? Who to suspect?
Danger surrounds Kate. Secessionists’ fury has followed her since she thwarted their recent attempt to assassinate Lincoln in Baltimore. New York City is also a powder keg, with most elites and even the city’s mayor violently pro-South. Or could Kate’s possibly pro-South relatives have anything to do with Saskie’s disappearance?
Buck Hackett, a handsome fellow Pinkerton, teams up to help but also yearns for Kate. She resists loving him, fearing more heartache after the loss of her husband. Instead, she and her frequent partner Hattie Lawton – whose family Pinkerton helped escape to Canada via the Underground Railroad – plunge headlong into the dangers of 1861 NYC: from the theater scene to scenes of squalor and vast wealth – then through the raging opium epidemic and the secret tunnels of Chinatown. To find her sister, Kate braves every danger, knowing that every second counts.
ABOUT J A SCHNEIDER
Wheaton College, Norton MA (French Lit Major, Minor in Spanish & squeezed in Russian.) Sorbonne, Jr. Year in Paris
Exchange student in the Soviet Union, where I got arrested for spreading anti-Soviet propaganda – ha! Caught with friends laughing at their pea-green-colored drinking water; that was the offense; four of us arrested. Let go after a day, guess they decided we weren’t worth an international incident. Then weeks later I landed in a Soviet hospital because I fell down a ravine during a student hike in the Caucasus mountains near Sochi. It wasn’t bad. Docs in Sochi were nice…
Former writer at Newsweek Magazine. Author of the 6-book EMBRYO medical thriller series; the 4-book Detective Kerri Blasco Police/Psychological Thrillers FEAR DREAMS, HER LAST BREATH, WATCHING YOU, & SHOELESS CHILD.
Also 5 standalone thrillers: INTO THE DARK, GIRL WATCHING YOU, WHAT YOU’VE DONE, CRY TO ME, & THE WIFE LIST. Also the U.S. Civil War thriller, KATE WARNE’S SISTER IS MISSING. (She was America’s first female detective and a Pinkerton. The story takes place in NYC – a pro-South hotbed – at the outbreak of the Civil War.)
The great cover for Cry To Me by J A Schneider immediately drew me in. I love suspense thrillers. Add a hurricane, blizzard, or any kind of weather or storm to the scenario and it steps things up. I love the characters trapped and in danger.
Little Miss Cry To Me, Kim Bell, cannot say no to anyone and finds herself overloaded with obligations. Things become worse. At a celebration in their home, she finds her brother in law and sister, with a gun in her hand, dead in his office. The police think she murdered Wyatt, then killed herself. It isn’t possible. Her sister hates guns.
David, Wyatt’s brother is at her side, pulling her away. Kim is a true crime writer and a quick thinker. Something doesn’t seem right to her, so she quickly pulls out her phone and snaps a few photos. Her first experience with murder was her own father’s, which was never solved. Her mother became an alcoholic. Kim and Liddy became each other’s world.
Liddy was the fun sister, the creative one, the peacemaker. Wyatt is was a tech CEO guru. Winnie is one of Liddy’s best friends. She seems VERY helpful and makes me suspicious. (I am not paranoid. I know people are out to get me. LOL) Zoe Martin is another of Liddy’s best friends. Many times things are not as they seem, so I immediately begin to try and figure out who is the villain. Is it one of the ‘ladies’ or one of their husbands?
Police Officer Miller…bitch is pissing me off. Her dismissive attitude and quick assumptions lead me to believe that, if she didn’t have a partner looking for the real answers, the investigation could have ended with Kim found guilty in Liddy and Wyatt’s death.
I read LOTS of mysteries, suspense and thriller stories. It’s important to me that the mystery stays muddled. I love red herrings, twist and turns, and danger dogging the characters footsteps. Early on it becomes obvious the characters are keeping secrets. I may need my own murder board to focus in on the culprit and that’s a good thing. No easy answers here.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Cry To Me by J A Schneider.
4 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Liddy Bell shot her husband – or did she? In the middle of a party she’s giving with her guests just feet away? Liddy’s sister Kim, a true crime writer, struggles to prove her sister innocent.
Wyatt Bell was a powerful tech CEO; the party was to celebrate the purchase and restoration of his and Liddy’s 1920s mansion. No one heard the shots that killed him and wounded Liddy. The band was loud and guests were scattered. When the police declare the crime a failed murder-suicide attempt and Liddy as their suspect, her sister Kim is devastated and insists it’s a setup. Wyatt’s handsome brother David and Liddy’s closest friends try to help Kim investigate…but questions arise. Could Liddy have only pretended to be happy, snapped, and shot her husband? Above all, Kim’s worst anguish is wondering if she ever really knew her sister…
With a hurricane approaching, the police put their investigation on hold, and those closest find themselves all under one roof. Relationships unravel, and Kim thinks, “This is terrifying. We’re all five of us in this house. At night in a hurricane with no power…and a terrible feeling of menace. I can’t shake it.”
ABOUT J A SCHNEIDER
Wheaton College, Norton MA (French Lit Major, Minor in Spanish & squeezed in Russian.) Sorbonne, Jr. Year in Paris
Exchange student in the Soviet Union, where I got arrested for spreading anti-Soviet propaganda – ha! Caught with friends laughing at their pea-green-colored drinking water; that was the offense; four of us arrested. Let go after a day, guess they decided we weren’t worth an international incident. Then weeks later I landed in a Soviet hospital because I fell down a ravine during a student hike in the Caucasus mountains near Sochi. It wasn’t bad. Docs in Sochi were nice…
Former writer at Newsweek Magazine. Author of the 6-book EMBRYO medical thriller series; the 4-book Detective Kerri Blasco Police/Psychological Thrillers FEAR DREAMS, HER LAST BREATH, WATCHING YOU, & SHOELESS CHILD.
Also 5 standalone thrillers: INTO THE DARK, GIRL WATCHING YOU, WHAT YOU’VE DONE, CRY TO ME, & THE WIFE LIST. Also the U.S. Civil War thriller, KATE WARNE’S SISTER IS MISSING. (She was America’s first female detective and a Pinkerton. The story takes place in NYC – a pro-South hotbed – at the outbreak of the Civil War.)
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