Book Review: The Debt Diary by Joshua Neal

Genre: Dystopian Fiction • Literary Fiction • Coming-of-Age

Tropes: Dystopian Britain, Illegal Immigrant MC, Survival Story, Homeless Protagonist, Found Family, Moral Dilemmas, Government Oppression, Near-Future Society, Bittersweet Ending

Spice Level: None

Format: Paperback 

Series: Standalone 

     Harry is a teenage illegal immigrant living in a near future dystopian Britain. The immigration laws have cracked down and those without citizenship papers are targets for scorn and abuse. For a young homeless man just trying to survive in the only home he's ever known this is difficult. And the prime minister's new rally isn't helping matters. When foot traffic and help starts getting more spaced Harry does the only thing he can think of: he heads to a known trafficker and offers to be a lookout for $20. This leaves Harry with a new dependent and more than his own future on the line. 

    I received a complimentary paperback of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.  

    The plot itself of this book is intense and leaves off on a bittersweet note. A young illegal immigrant living in a country that has declared war on his kind living in an abandoned roofless warehouse and not knowing where his next meal or water will come from. He tries to be as honorable as possible, keeping a diary of everything he has ever had to steal in order to survive. But, when that same diary starts adding entries of things he couldn't imagine stealing, Harry feels he is trapped by a fate not yet lived. He spends so much time hoping for a better life and just to live that the end hits different. I don't want to spoil it, but it was like it was all for nothing. 

    The author has a way with words that allows the reader to see in detail every single item around Harry at any given time, be it a helicopter whispering overhead, a man standing in a garden, a train pulling into a station, or the decorations in a square. We always know what is around our character as he just tries his best to survive. He makes some questionable decisions along the way, but he is 17 and none of us make great decisions at that age. 

    Although I was occasionally pulled out of the story by some of the phrasing I enjoyed the plot and hope for good things from this author in the future. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $1.23 by clicking here. 

⭐ You'll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• Near-future dystopian fiction
• Coming-of-age survival stories
• Social and political commentary
• Homeless protagonists
• Morally complex decisions
• Character-driven literary fiction
• Emotional, bittersweet endings
• Realistic dystopian settings
• Stories about hope in impossible circumstances
• Books that make you reflect after finishing

Book Review: Day of the Bluebirds by Tarin Elbert

Genre: Science Fiction • Techno-Thriller • Sci-Fi Thriller

Tropes: Self-Driving Cars, Cyberterrorism, Secret Society, Alien Intervention, Military Task Force, Star-Crossed Lovers, Political Conspiracy, First Contact, Multiple POVs

Spice Level: 🌶️

Format: Hardback

Series: Potential Series Starter

    The future promised safer roads. Self-driving vehicles were supposed to be unhackable. Perfect. Foolproof. Until someone proved otherwise. When a secret organization gains control of autonomous vehicles and turns them into assassination tools targeting world leaders, governments scramble to stop an invisible enemy. A multinational military task force is assembled, but after months of investigation they've uncovered little beyond whispers of someone known only as The Reacher.

    As if cyberterrorism wasn't enough, mysterious alien beings—communicating only through dreams and cryptic visions—appear determined to prevent humanity from destroying itself. The question is...why?

    I received a complimentary hardback copy of this book from the author.

    This is a fast-paced sci-fi thriller that took me a little while to settle into. The story opens with several seemingly unrelated events before gradually revealing how everything connects. Once those pieces begin falling into place, though, the book becomes incredibly engaging and difficult to put down.

    There are a lot of moving parts throughout the story, making this one of those books that's easiest to enjoy in longer reading sessions. I'm normally someone who reads in small chunks throughout the day, but I found myself needing to dedicate larger stretches of time so I wouldn't lose track of all the interconnected storylines. That's less of a criticism and more of a recommendation for the best reading experience.

    One of my favorite aspects was the aliens themselves. Rather than the typical humanoid extraterrestrials, they're portrayed as glowing spheres of light that communicate through dreams and fragmented messages. It gave the first-contact element a unique, almost ethereal feeling that fit the story surprisingly well.

    I also really enjoyed how the romance developed. The star-crossed lovers storyline blended naturally into the larger conspiracy, and it was satisfying watching all the seemingly separate plot threads weave together by the end. It's fascinating to think these two characters never would have crossed paths without all of the outside interference—and yet they clearly end up better together because of it.

    The ending wraps up the main conflict well while still leaving readers with plenty of new questions during the final pages. It definitely feels like there's room for this world to continue if the author decides to revisit it, and I'd happily read another installment.

    One thing worth mentioning is that there is some romance and spice sprinkled throughout the novel. The scenes aren't especially explicit, but they are open door, which isn't something I see very often in sci-fi thrillers, so it was a pleasant surprise.

    Overall, this was an entertaining blend of science fiction, political conspiracy, technology, and romance that kept me curious to see how everything would eventually connect.

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $3.99 by clicking here. 

⭐ You'll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• Techno-thrillers with AI and futuristic technology
• Self-driving cars and cyberterrorism
• Political conspiracies
• Alien first-contact stories
• Military task force investigations
• Multiple interconnected storylines
• Star-crossed romance
• Fast-paced sci-fi mysteries
• Near-future speculative fiction
• Books that leave you thinking after the final page

A smart, action-packed sci-fi thriller that combines futuristic technology, political intrigue, alien intervention, and romance into a story that's both thought-provoking and entertaining. I'd absolutely read more if this world continues.

Book Review: Lilac by B. B. Reid

Genre: Contemporary Romance • Reverse Harem/Why Choose • Rockstar Romance

Tropes: Reverse Harem/Why Choose, Rockstar Romance, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Band Romance, New Girl in the Band, Enemies to Lovers, Betrayal, MM Romance, Sword Crossing, Open Door Romance, MMFM Romance

Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Format: eBook

Series: Standalone

     Braxton Fawn has synesthesia and has used this to channel her love into music into her own style. This resulted in becoming the new forth for the world's most popular pop band following the untimely death of their co-star. Everyone believes that she is the luckiest girl alive to be with these music gods...except Braxton. They are intolerable, intoxicating, and off limits. Can she survive the tour or will she lose herself in the process to one...or all of them? 

    I found this book on Tiktok and added it to my seemingly never-ending TBR. It was a long book at 556 pages, but it is more than worth it. We get to meet each one of the characters, get to know and become attached to them, be betrayed by them more than once, and end on the perfect note. I loved every bit of this book from page 1 where Brax squirmed while looking at a video of the guys on the tv in the waiting room until the epilogue. 

    My favorite of the guys was Jericho, although his betrayal is the one that hurt Brax the deepest. Initially I wanted it to be Loren since he was the one who was gone on her first, but it didn't end up being that way. Something about the quiet ones. Houston was great and the broody bastard, but he just wasn't my favorite. In case you haven't realized, this was a very open door reverse harem/why choose. There is sword crossing. Which makes this one of my top reads for the year so far. 

    Now for the trigger warnings because this book is fun. Bullying, betrayal, cheating (technically), power play, primal play, kidnapping, abuse, referenced grooming, and a lot of very wonderful open door scenes that include MM action. If they aren't your cup of tea then this book won't be for you. 

    Now, for those of us that love trigger warnings you'll love this book. It combines all my favorite things: RH in a contemporary romance setting, enemies to lovers, and superstar romance. It is done in a great way that wraps up everything in the story and leaves you missing the characters, while happy for their resolution. 

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

⭐ You'll Love This Book If You Enjoy:
• Reverse Harem/Why Choose romances
• Rockstar and celebrity romances
• MM relationships and sword crossing
• Found family dynamics
• Enemies-to-lovers tension
• Forced proximity and touring together
• Emotional angst and betrayals
• Morally messy relationships
• Very spicy, open-door romance
• Big personalities and addictive character dynamics

Book Review: Alpha Heat by Deva Long (Sons of Thunder MC Book 1)

Genre: Paranormal Romance • Shifter Romance 

Tropes: Fated Mates, Protective MMC, Kidnapping, Instant Attraction, Strong-Willed Heroine, Rescue Romance, Cliffhanger Ending, Series Starter

Spice Level: 🌶️

Format: eBook

Series: "Book" 1 / Must Continue to Find the Story

    Grace Dawson heads to the beach to do some advertising for a local surf shop that sponsors the business she runs with her best friend. Afterward, she decides to relax with a glass of wine and a float in the water. A little wine and some…self-care later, she accidentally falls asleep. She wakes up in a cage. Just when she's convinced she's doomed, two mysterious men arrive and rescue her. Now she has to give her statement to the police…from a handsome stranger's hotel room. And somehow, her life just became far more complicated.

    This was a freebie I picked up at some point and promptly buried beneath the other ten thousand books on my Kindle until now.

    For only seventy pages, this packs in quite a bit. We get a paranormal shifter romance featuring two strong-willed MCs, an intriguing kidnapping mystery, and plenty of chemistry and tension right from the start.

    The premise immediately hooked me. Waking up in a cage is certainly one way to get a story moving, and I was curious to see where things were headed. The interactions between the characters were fun, and there was enough danger and intrigue to keep me reading straight through. That said, this feels much more like an extended introduction than a complete story.

    The book essentially introduces the couple, establishes their origin story, and then ends right as things are getting interesting. Since it's only around seventy pages, I can't say much more without spoiling everything, but don't expect many answers by the final page.

    Unfortunately, I'm not usually a fan of stories broken into multiple short installments. I prefer getting a more complete story in each book, so while I enjoyed my time with this one, I don't know that I'll actively seek out the rest of the series. Still, the foundation is there. The premise is strong, the tension works, and the characters have enough chemistry that I can absolutely see why other readers would continue on.

    This book is available for free on Amazon by clicking here. 

⭐ You'll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• Paranormal shifter romances
• Why Choose/Reverse Harem setups
• Fated mates
• Protective, possessive MMCs
• Kidnapping and rescue scenarios
• Fast-paced novella romances
• High tension and instant chemistry
• Strong-willed heroines
• Stories that end on a cliffhanger
• Quick reads with intriguing premises

A short but entertaining paranormal romance that delivers danger, chemistry, and shifter intrigue—just be prepared for it to end right when the story really starts getting good.

Book Review: Tall Boy Sun by Neal Holtschulte

Genre: Science Fiction • Space Opera • Character-Driven Sci-Fi

Tropes: Redemption Arc, Middle-Aged Hero, Space Pirates, Found Family, Family Drama, Hidden Conspiracy, Off-World Adventure, Reluctant Hero, Second Chances

Spice Level: None

Format: Audiobook & Physical Book

Series: Works as a Standalone with Series Potential

    Sol has spent most of his life trying not to become his father. He may have a questionable employment history, a tendency to drink too much, and a habit of making spectacularly bad decisions, but at least he never abandoned his children. Even after his divorce, he was a parent constantly trying to spend more time with them—not less. Then he gets fired from yet another job after pulling a reckless stunt that could have cost a coworker their life.

    While tinkering with the piles of scrap cluttering his living room, Sol discovers an old holodisk containing footage from one of the leaders of the rebellion that ended twenty years ago. Unsure if it's authentic, he turns to a childhood friend who now works for the government. His friend insists it's fake. But, the events that follows leaves a lot more questions. 

    I received a complimentary copy of this book in both audiobook and physical formats from the author.

    I really enjoyed the audiobook version of this story. The narrator did an excellent job conveying emotions, and I never struggled to tell who was speaking. But the real strength of this book is its characters. Sol is not instantly lovable. In fact, he's kind of a mess. He's a middle-aged man full of unrealized dreams who firmly believes he would have been a legendary pilot during the war…if he hadn't been ten years old when it ended. He drinks too much, makes poor decisions, and has damaged relationships with nearly everyone around him.

    At the beginning, I didn't necessarily feel sorry for him. He created many of his own problems. But watching his growth throughout the story was incredibly rewarding. As the story progresses, we see him confront the effects of his father's abandonment, deal with the consequences of alcoholism, and slowly begin taking responsibility for his choices. His redemption arc felt genuine because it wasn't easy or immediate. He stumbles, backslides, and struggles, which made his growth feel earned by the end.

    This is a fast-paced space opera with plenty of moving parts, including conspiracies, gunfights, family drama, and an intriguing mystery surrounding the holodisk. Despite everything happening, the story never felt overwhelming and kept me invested from beginning to end.

    Trigger Warnings: Parental abandonment, alcoholism, withdrawal symptoms (DTs), abuse, kidnapping, and gun violence.

    The ending doesn't leave off on a major cliffhanger, but it does leave one particular storyline—especially concerning Sol's sister—just open enough that another book could easily happen. And honestly? I would happily return to this universe.

    This book is available on Amazon for $5.99 by clicking here. 

⭐ You'll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• Character-driven space operas
• Redemption arcs and flawed protagonists
• Middle-aged main characters
• Space pirates and off-world adventures
• Family drama and second chances
• Government conspiracies and hidden secrets
• Sci-fi with emotional depth
• Fast-paced adventures with strong character growth
• Stories about broken people learning to do better
• Audiobooks with excellent narration

    A fun, emotional space adventure that blends conspiracies, family relationships, and a wonderfully messy protagonist into a satisfying sci-fi read with plenty of heart and room for future adventures.

Books by this author: 

Crew of Exiles 

Book Review: A Fading Crown of Glory by Andrzej Gieralt

Genre: Epic Fantasy • Political Fantasy • High Fantasy

Tropes: Reluctant King, Sibling Rivalry, Political Intrigue, Betrayal, Succession Crisis, Magic, Religious Conflict, War & Conquest, Morally Gray Characters, Bittersweet Ending

Spice Level: None

Format: ARC / eBook

Series: Possible Series Starter

 

                After the fall of the Assigner and the battle with the Tratkeans where his father falls in battle Prince Adacos is crowned King of Eracians. It was a title always thought would go to his sister, Szerfalia, but with her disobeying his father to circumvent the official heir naming he changed the laws shortly before his untimely death. Adacos never wanted to become King, but with this new power he wants only to convert the Tratkean pagans to the Eracian religion and help them achieve peace in their afterlives free from the Void. Szerfalia and her new fiancée, Taralos, have other plans. Believing the crown should have been theirs, for various reasons, they will stop at nothing to see the usurper dethroned.

                I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the author.

                This is an exciting and fast paced fantasy book filled with magic, betrayal, political ambition, and a lot of religion mixed in. We know I’m not a fan of religion, but while the characters in this book were much like Christians trying to force their religion down another providence’s throats, I am happy to report that it failed as spectacularly as it always does. There is a reason “live and let live” is the best way to be when it comes to religion. So, with that in mind, I don’t count this as a detractor. Also, while it was a large part of the book, it was usually happening in the background with minor instances of it coming to the fore.

                The writing is great and easy to understand in every aspect except for the occasional time transitions. It isn’t a big thing and does not detract from the story. Something is going on in one time and when that scene ends the author wants to jump into the future, past the slow bits in the story of relative peace, and to the next plot point. Efficient, but the segway was sometimes confusing. Sometimes it would take until halfway through the first 10 paragraphs to know how much time had passed and that we were no longer at the previous event.

                There is a lot to love in this story. I loved how Adacos’s actions slowly snuck up on him till he realized everywhere that he had gone wrong. The author does an amazing job of keeping just enough things going on that the story feels action-packed without being busy. The ending was bitter-sweet but left open where that the story could continue on and it seems like it will. I do wish we found out a bit more about Taralos’ family at the end since I genuinely don’t know what happened there. I am trying to keep that point vague, because I don’t want to give away the ending to a very good fantasy read.

                I was a bit surprised that although there are Beast-men and magic in this world it is still largely similar to our own. Sure, the characters rode Elk into battle and for traveling instead of horses, but it surprised me that we weren’t riding some fantastical beast. This made the book have a more real-world aspect while still remaining firmly in the fantasy sect. I would absolutely read more by this author in the future and hope for the best for the future of Eracia.

⭐ You'll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• Epic fantasy with political intrigue
• Reluctant rulers and succession crises
• Sibling rivalries and family betrayal
• Magic woven into realistic worlds
• Religious conflict and moral dilemmas
• Character-driven fantasy
• War and kingdom-building
• Multiple intertwining plotlines
• Bittersweet endings
• Fantasy worlds with room for future stories

I will update this review with a link for purchase when it becomes available. 

Book Review: Icebreaker by Steven William Hannah The Interloper Trilogy Book 1)

 Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction • Cosmic Horror • Dystopian Fiction

Tropes: Mysterious Phenomenon, Found Family Crew, End of the World, Forbidden Research, Shared Dreams, Survival Journey, Religious Conflict, Slow-Build Mystery, Expedition Story

Spice Level: None

Format: eBook

Series: The Interloper Trilogy Book 1 

    Bear has spent his entire life in Forgehead. Since the Cataclysm, that isn't unusual. Most people stay where they are born, rarely venturing beyond the safety of their communities. Even if Bear had the opportunity to leave, he isn't sure he would. His research is here. Illegal research.

    As one of the few people studying the mysterious phenomenon devastating the world, Bear knows more than most about what happens when it arrives. First come the dreams. Then comes the madness. People caught without their sensory blockers succumb to its influence, abandoning food, water, and reason as they obsessively carve strange runes into every available surface until death finally claims them. 

    When Bear's friend Callum, head of Forestry, sends him with the Crawler crew to warn Union City that the phenomenon is moving toward them, the mission should be simple. Except the Dreamers have already disabled the radio towers. Now they're heading into danger blind, carrying a warning that may already be too late.

    I received a complimentary physical copy of this book from the author.

    As someone who loves post-apocalyptic fiction, this book immediately checked a lot of boxes for me. It combines survival, mystery, horror, and science fiction into a world that feels both fascinating and deeply unsettling.

    One of my favorite aspects of the story is how little certainty exists about the apocalypse itself. The characters know the phenomenon is real, but nobody truly understands it. Depending on who you ask, it might be Gaia, Hell, divine judgment, or something else entirely. That uncertainty creates a constant sense of tension throughout the story.

    The shared dream sequences and the madness that follows were especially creepy. Watching people slowly lose themselves to an unseen force was far more disturbing than any traditional monster could have been. The idea of entire communities living in fear of dreams and visions adds an eerie atmosphere that lingers long after you stop reading.

    The world-building was another standout. Rather than focusing solely on survival, the story explores how different groups and belief systems have adapted to life after the Cataclysm. I particularly enjoyed seeing various religions attempt to explain the phenomenon through their own perspectives. Whether they viewed it as a scientific mystery, a spiritual event, or something far darker, those differing viewpoints added depth to the world.

    Dusty ended up being one of the most intriguing characters for me. The more we learn about him, the more questions arise. His abilities, his history, and even something as simple as his age remain largely unexplained by the end of the book. Every answer seems to create two new mysteries.

    There are definitely a lot of unanswered questions when the story ends, but in this case that felt intentional rather than frustrating. The mystery surrounding the phenomenon remains one of the driving forces of the narrative, and I found myself wanting more information right alongside the characters.

    I did worry a little about Bear's relentless pursuit of answers. His determination makes sense, but it also feels like the kind of obsession that could create major problems for the crew later in the series. Whether that's a strength or a flaw remains to be seen.

    The ending leaves plenty of room for future books while still delivering an engaging first installment. I walked away with far more questions than answers, but I was invested enough to want those answers.

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy a copy on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here. 

⭐ You'll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• Post-apocalyptic science fiction
• Cosmic horror and creeping dread
• Shared dream mysteries
• End-of-the-world survival stories
• Complex world-building
• Religious and philosophical themes
• Slow-burn mysteries
• Found family expedition crews
• Unexplained supernatural phenomena
• Books that leave you theorizing afterward

Book Review: Carl’s Doomsday Scenerio by Matt Dinniman (Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 2)

Genre: LitRPG • Science Fiction • Dark Comedy • Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy

Tropes: Dungeon Crawl, AI Game Master, Talking Animal Companion, Found Family, Survival Game, Leveling System, Quest-Based Adventure, Dark Humor, Apocalypse

Spice Level: None

Format: Audiobook

Series: Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 2

    Carl and Donut survived the first two floors of the dungeon. Barely. They even managed to rescue most of the nursing home residents along the way, which is honestly more impressive than some of the boss fights. Now they've reached the third floor, where crawlers must choose their race, gain new abilities, and begin carving out their place in the dungeon hierarchy. This is where Carl and Donut stop being just another pair of survivors and start becoming legends.

    The third floor introduces a massive sky-fowl city filled with quests, factions, side missions, and enough chaos to keep even the most experienced crawlers busy. Mordecai warns them repeatedly to avoid the quests and focus on leveling, but when has Carl's life ever gone according to plan? Before long they're tangled up with a half-niad royal, a circus full of possessed animals, a town-saving mission, and a series of increasingly ridiculous situations where failure could mean Donut's death. 

    I don't think it's possible for me to be objective about Dungeon Crawler Carl anymore. This series has become a permanent fixture in my personality and I regret absolutely nothing. By this point, the world-building really starts to expand. The dungeon feels larger, stranger, and more alive than ever before. We learn more about Borant, the viewers, and the bizarre economy that keeps the crawl running. Every floor somehow manages to feel completely different while still maintaining the same chaotic energy that made me fall in love with the series in the first place.

    One of my favorite aspects of this installment was seeing Carl and Donut truly establish themselves as major players. They're no longer simply reacting to whatever the dungeon throws at them—they're beginning to influence events themselves, whether anyone likes it or not. We also get significantly more Mongo in this book, which is always a win. He's finally grown into his full dinosaur glory and, while he's still very much a child with selective hearing, Donut has become a much more capable dinosaur parent. Their interactions remain some of the funniest moments in the series.

    The humor continues to be absolutely unmatched. The AI remains weirdly obsessed with Carl's feet, Mordecai is perpetually exhausted by everyone's existence, and Donut somehow manages to be both hilarious and infuriating in equal measure. At the same time, the emotional moments hit harder than ever. There were several reveals throughout this book that added depth to the larger story, including finally learning the truth about Ferdinand. Some long-running mysteries begin paying off, while others are only becoming more intriguing.

    And then there's that ending. I won't spoil it, but let's just say Carl acquires something that has all the potential to become an absolute disaster later. Knowing Carl, it almost certainly will. I am both excited and terrified to see what happens next.

    The audiobook continues to be phenomenal. At this point, Jeff Hays doesn't just narrate these characters—he is these characters. I genuinely cannot imagine experiencing this series any other way.

⭐ You'll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• LitRPG adventures
• Dark humor and absurd situations
• Talking animal companions
• Dungeon crawls with unique mechanics
• Explosive action and boss fights
• Found family dynamics
• AI characters with questionable motives
• Quest-heavy fantasy adventures
• Apocalypse survival stories
• Books that balance comedy and emotional moments

This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 1)