Friday, June 27, 2025

Book Review: 12,775 Days by Samantha Parish


     Emily Lucy Wallace has had the "perfect" life. Her father died at a young age, but she always had her grandmother. Until she died while Emily was off at school. Her mother tried, but she lost a part of herself when her husband died. Emily didn't hold it against her, not really. She went on to marry a man with a good paying job who liked her to stay at home with their perfect daughter, Rachel. Except, Emily has been having dreams her entire life about being a girl named Lucy who has a drug addiction and Emily's perfect husband isn't so perfect with her not so perfect best friend. When Emily is hit in a car crash her glimpses into Lucy's life may have just become a permanent transfer. 

    This book was an impulse download and I almost didn't read it. I don't read addiction books since I had to deal with it too often growing up as the child of someone always high. Still, I gave it a shot since it was possible it wasn't about addiction. While it has addiction in it, it isn't overwhelming and didn't detract from the story. The author was able to stick to the struggles both Emily and Lucy were going through and display Lucy's issues without it being an overwhelming focal point. 

    I feel the author did a great job of keeping things within the realm of believability with each girl's life as long as you suspend belief on the multiple lives and glimpses into each things. Emily's life was plausible as was Lucy's and you were able to understand and relate to each girl as the story played out. I love everything that happened to Emily's husband and "best friend", but I don't want to give anything away. Just know if you are petty you will enjoy that part as well. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $5.99 by clicking here

Book Review: The Keeper's Runes by Lyra Forger (The Originals of Grimm Academy Book 0)


     Nikky has always been an outcast. She has a habit of finding trouble and has never been one to back down. So, when she finally snapped, breaking a law, the last thing she expected was to be taken to the most prestigious house within the academy. Vampires, Fae, and shifters abound, but she is without runes and without power. What chance does she have against these people? But, there is something in the forbidden corridor that is calling to her. 

    This book was an impulse purchase found on one of my book pages or another. I genuinely don't know which one or when it happened, but I flicked through my owned books on my kindle and stopped on this one. It is a YA fantasy book that has the potential to turn spicy. There is a male with a claim, but there hasn't been any outright sexual acts so far. Either way is fine with me, but some people like the warning. 

    This is a prequal to a series that I haven't read so I don't know how important it is to start with this book versus book one. I will say that this book is absolutely packed with important information that I am not sure how a series would be able to start without. It shows how three characters meet and relationships are developed of both friendship and more. It shows how powers are gained as well as a dip into one of the character's pasts. These things may be addressed in book one, but I am not sure. 

    The story has a bit of mystery to it starting with what is in the forbidden wing to who is keeping the hidden item hidden, what the item is, and who is killing students. The author does a great job of casting blame around to keep who is behind things a secret, but I was able to guess correctly, which pleases me. I am curious how this series will turn out since the book, obviously, end with a lot of strings. 

    This book is available for FREE on Amazon by clicking here

Book Review: With You at Last by KM Ryan (Forget Me Not Book 3)


     Kate and John were best friends with benefits until they weren't. He ghosted her 10 years ago, but running into her at the grocery store has him convinced not to let him out of his life again so easily. Coming back to her home he soon discovers a secret that could shorten their time together, permanently. Is he willing to fight at her side this time? 

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have read quite a few books by this author and I have always enjoyed them. The author does a great job of hitting on difficult subjects while still giving the characters dealing with these very real issues a chance at love. I completely enjoyed the book, but it took me a while to get through it. Absolutely nothing against the author or the book, I just happened to receive it directly after my grandfather died of cancer and this book really had me in my feels. 

    This is a contemporary romance with a real issue that so many people face on the daily. I actually just lost a very good friend of mine this week to breast cancer. Not the cancer in this book, but it is something a lot of people consider taboo or don't write them a happily ever after when the chances of that aren't always the longest. 

    The book is a sweet, fast read, and completely believable. I will say that I haven't read the first two books in this series, but they don't seem inter-connected or like they have to be read in any particular order. I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything by not happening to have started with book 1. 

    The reasons behind them walking away before was also believable. It was a lack of communication and John being an idiot. Got to love it. But, it wasn't anything over-done. It is something we have all been guilty of at one point in time or another. Not what happened per-say, but the not communicating something well enough with someone we care for and things going wrong as a result. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it for $2.99 by clicking here

Books by this author: 

The Reunion (What If Book 1)

The Meeting (What If Book 2)

The Encounter (What If Book 3)

The Confrontation (What If Book 4)

Save Me (In the Moment Book 1)

Book Review: The Tigress by Anna Mocikat (Behind Blue Eyes Book 5)


     Metatron was given an impossible choice. Send Nephilim into an enemy country with the leader of the wasps on her own or lose all the plans they have built over the years. Making the choice for him Nephilim travels to Asia and meets with The Tigress. She must prove her abilities and learn about herself along the way. 

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Before you read any further in this review please note. This is book 5 in a series that is in no way stand-alone. If you have not read books 1-4 please skip down to the links at the bottom of this page and start with book 1 in BBE. There will be spoilers in this review if you haven't read anything in this series. 

    As with every one of the other Anna Mocikat books I have read, which have been all of them, I loved this book. There is action and adventure. We still get to jump perspectives from all of our favorite characters from the other books, but the primary focus is on Nephilim and The Tigress. We get to learn more about Nephilim's mother in this book as well as how Jake is doing. Jake is still my favorite and I am forever hoping for good things for the man. 

    I love the trust and plan that is being set into motion between the wasps and angels. For the entire series they have been the enemy and now we get more of an idea into what is going on beyond the corporation's politics. Then there is The Tigress. She is amazing and surprising. I don't want to give too much away, but she was a worthy opponent and I look forward to how Nephilim handles the task she has been given by her. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $5.99 by clicking here

Books by this author: 

Behind Blue Eyes (Behind Blue Eyes Book 1)

Fallen Angel (Behind Blue Eyes Book 2)

War Games (Behind Blue Eyes Book 3) 

Last Stand (Behind Blue Eyes Book 4)

Shadow City (Shadow City Book 1)

Dark City (Shadow City Book 2)

Level 1 (Cyber Squad Book 1)

Level 2 (Cyber Squad Book 2)

Level 3 (Cyber Squad Book 3)

Nephilim Volume 1 (Nephilim Prequal Volume 1)

Nephilim Volume 2 (Nephilim Prequal Volume 2)

Nephilim Volume 3 (Nephilim Prequal Volume 3)

Space Punks (Space Punks Book 1)

Nightengale's Song (Space Punks Book 2)

Neon Nights (Neon Nights Book 1)

Neon Dreams (Neon Nights Book 2)