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: 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: We Are Legend by Daron Kappanauff

 Genre: YA Horror • Post-Apocalyptic Horror

Tropes: Apocalypse Survival, Monster Invasion, Teen Survivors, Creature Horror, Survival Camp, Cannibalism, Fast-Paced Horror

Spice Level: None

Format: Physical Book

Series: Standalone 

    Nine months after the goblin apocalypse began, a group of gifted teens are still surviving on their own. No adults. No real safety. And supplies are running dangerously low.

    If they want to survive much longer, they’ll have to leave the relative safety of their camp and venture back into a world overrun by flesh-hungry goblins. The problem? Every supply run could easily become their last. And even if they make it back alive… how long can this kind of survival really last?

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

    First and foremost: check your triggers before going into this one. This YA horror contains a lot of teen death. Like… a lot. Child and teen death is usually an immediate DNF for me, and in this case I ended up skipping multiple scenes because it was simply too much for my personal tastes. That said, outside of that issue, the actual premise is incredibly fun.

    The book has a very strong Gremlins-inspired apocalypse feel. The goblins are chaotic, vicious little creatures with an appetite for human flesh, and the similarities in appearance to Gizmo were hard to miss—in the best way. The reveal surrounding how the goblins come into existence was fairly obvious early on, but the deeper explanation later in the story still worked well.

    The pacing is one of the book’s strongest elements. Once things start moving, the story barely slows down. Between the goblin attacks, survival tension, and moments of outright horror—including cannibalism—the book keeps the pressure high throughout.

    The author clearly has a talent for writing fast-paced creature horror and survival situations. I’d absolutely read more from him in the future… preferably with significantly fewer dead kids. At least let them turn eighteen first.

---

You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• Gremlins-style creature horror
• YA apocalypse survival stories
• Fast-paced monster attacks
• Survival camps and scavenging missions
• Horror with constant tension
• Creature features with gruesome stakes
• Post-apocalyptic worlds overrun by monsters

A brutal, creature-filled YA horror with nonstop action, survival tension, and goblin chaos straight out of a nightmare version of Gremlins.

This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $0.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: Daros by Dave Dobson

Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction

Tropes: Space Opera, Crash Landing Survival, Hidden Cargo, Alien Invasion, Missing Parent, Sentient AI, Coming-of-Age

Spice Level: None

Format: Novel (Works as a standalone; potential series starter)

Series: Currently listed as standalone

         16 year old Brecca is on-board her father’s ship, Envy’s Price, and is heading to Daros to offload some cargo. Right before they land the planet goes under attack from space. Knowing the attack will shortly come to them as well, Brecca’s father hands her a small box letting her know this is a very important and expensive cargo and that she needs to take the escape pod and go topside. Once on the planet she needs to find any of the crew that may have survived the landing, her father, and their ship. 

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is a very fast paced YA Sci-if book that will keep you on your toes. We follow Brecca as she crash lands onto a planet under attack, hides from the invaders, meets some natives, and discovers what the invaders are after and why. 

    I really enjoyed this book, although it did have a bittersweet ending. I hope for more details on what happened with the memories going forward if this book is continued into a series. I am trying to keep that detail as vague as possible as it is an end of the book type thing. This book does not end on a club-hanger and works well as a stand alone. It may even be a stand-alone. I am not really sure. There isn’t anything on Amazon about there being a second book for this. 

    I think that the characters we well done, although the ship’s AI was…frustrating to say the least. She had a very condescending personality and I was annoyed with her quickly. That being said, I will absolutely be reading more by this author in the future. In fact, I have another of his physical books sitting on my shelf ready for me to start at some point. 

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

Book Review: Last Stop Slumberland by Jay Cameron Parker

Genre: Historical Fiction / Mystery

Setting: 1950s Hollywood

Tropes: Down-on-His-Luck Protagonist, Amateur Sleuth, Family Secrets, Redemption Arc,                             Hollywood Noir, Alcoholism Recovery

Spice Level: None

Format: Physical Copy 

Series: Stand-alone

Matthew Brooks is a nobody in 1950s Hollywood—an assistant to a background character in films that barely require him to exist. His life runs on repetition: wake up, drink, go to work, flirt with his girl, drink, go home, repeat. His ambitions don’t stretch much further than keeping a roof over his head and a flask in his pocket.

Everything changes when he receives a call that his estranged sister has been admitted to the hospital. By the time he arrives, she has already died—and the routine life he’s clung to quickly unravels into something far more dangerous.

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

⚠️ Content Warnings:

• Heavy alcoholism
• Murder
• Kidnapping
• Racism (historically reflective of 1950s Hollywood)

A note on the racism: this book is set in 1950s Hollywood, and the depictions reflect the realities of the time. It may be triggering for some readers.

I’ll admit I almost stopped reading around the 90-page mark when the story began leaning heavily into religion—something I try to avoid. I’m glad I continued. While faith becomes part of the MMC’s personal journey, it does not take over the main plot.

Aside from that hesitation, I genuinely enjoyed this book. Some moments stretch plausibility—most notably a severe alcoholic seemingly overcoming withdrawal after a single day of detox and cough medicine—but it ultimately serves the redemption arc the author was building. It didn’t derail my enjoyment.

The mystery itself was engaging. We follow Matthew step-by-step through the investigation, uncovering clues and motives alongside him. Whenever events felt overly outlandish, the author circled back through alternate perspectives to clarify how and why things unfolded the way they did, which helped ground the story.

Overall, this was a well-written historical mystery with strong noir undertones, a compelling redemption arc, and a satisfying closed ending that leaves readers hopeful for the characters’ futures. I would absolutely read more from this author.

📚 Availability:

Available on Kindle Unlimited, or purchase on Amazon for $3.99 by clicking here. 

⭐ You’ll like this book if you enjoy:

• Historical fiction set in 1950s Hollywood
• Character-driven mysteries
• Flawed protagonists seeking redemption
• Noir-inspired storytelling
• Stand-alone mysteries with satisfying endings

Book Review: Dawn by Cliff W Pettibone (The Brotherhood of Time Book 1)

Author: Cliff W. Pettibone

Genre: Historical Fantasy

Tropes: Historical Romance, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, M/M Romance, Time Travel

Spice Level: 🌶 Low Spice (one explicit scene)

Format: Paperback

Series: The Brotherhood of Time — Book 1

    Rorthan has had a hard life from the very beginning. His mother died in childbirth, and his father—who has always blamed him for it—never even gave him a first name. As the King’s general, his father’s position comes with certain privileges, including elite tutoring, but warmth and affection are not among them.

    Everything changes when Rorthan cuts through the palace gardens one day and meets Prince Tomren. What begins as a chance encounter quickly turns into an unexpected adventure that forces Rorthan to confront secrets about his past—and his future.

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Full disclosure: this is an M/M (male/male) romance. If that isn’t something you enjoy, you can either skip the single explicit scene or pass on the book entirely. Personally, I have absolutely no issues with it.

    This story blends historical fantasy with light sci-fi elements and a unique take on time travel. Much of the story takes place in the ancient past, and I really enjoyed how the time travel mechanics were handled, as well as the gradual unfolding of secrets along the way.

    While I hated what happened to Rorthan’s mentor, I was ultimately satisfied with how things played out—even though the book ends on a cliffhanger that leaves the boys’ futures uncertain. The characters are teenagers, giving the story a slightly YA feel, but the presence of a sex scene means I’d recommend some discretion if considering it for younger readers.

    Overall, this was an engaging start to the series, and I’d absolutely be interested in reading more from this author.

⭐ You’ll like this book if you like:

• Historical fantasy with time travel twists
• M/M romance that’s character-driven rather than spice-heavy
• Stories about identity, hidden pasts, and destiny
• Fantasy that blends ancient settings with sci-fi concepts
• Slow reveals, secrets, and cliffhanger endings
• Royalty, palace intrigue, and unlikely friendships 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $0.99 by clicking here. 

    

Book Review: The Survivor by Rowena Redman (Kingdom of Parvery Book 1)

     Myrbeth was born in a town that was soon after completely destroyed. Only her mother escaped with her clasped tightly to her breast. Taking her to a neighboring king's court she was taken in as her mother died from her wounds. She grew up with the king's sons, but she has now come of age that she must marry. With most other kingdom's refusing what will happen to her? 

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I loved the cover on this book. 

    This book is mostly an opener or introduction to the series. It gives you background on the main characters, has romance aspects, and shows how others treat Myrbeth. We learn about the war against the kingdoms and witness the first battle. This book absolutely ends on a cliff-hanger with most of the main story still to be covered. 

    While this was a starter book it was interesting and I enjoyed the characters. The solution to problems with Myrbeth were obvious long before anything was even admitted in the book. I would absolutely read more in this series and by this author in the future. 

    No real trigger warnings in this YA read. It is set in a mythical kingdom, but as mythical kingdom, but as far as I know it is not a fantasy. obviously, there is a war, bloodshed, and betrayal so there are those if you consider them triggers. 

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

Book Review: Splintered by A. G. Howard (Splintered Series Book 1)

     Alyssa Gardner had always been a bit different. Her mother had been locked into the ward for most of her life. Ever since she was a child and her mother had taken after her with scissors. She didn't really want to hurt her daughter. In fact, she wanted to protect her from the butterfly. So, when the flowers began to talk to Alyssa she ignored it until she couldn't any longer. After-all. She was the descendant of Alice and she too was destined to fall down the rabbit hole. What she finds was more intoxicating and amazing than she could have guessed. 

    I got this book as a gift from a friend of mine years ago and it has just sat on my shelf as a beautiful trophy. Given, I'd never read the back of it to know that it was Alice in Wonderland themed. Otherwise I would have read it long before I did. Bear in mind I am still ridiculously behind on my reviews. I finished this book August 2nd, 2023. I keep a notebook filled with my read dates just for moments like this. On to the good stuff. 

    This is and isn't an Alice in Wonderland retelling. We pick up on Alice's family a few generations later. She is living a mostly normal life, even if her mother long ago went off the rocker. She visits her mother frequently, has a crush on her best friend's brother, and has favored hobbies. Normal enough life. But, when the opportunity presents itself to see if Wonderland is real she has to travel there. Even if she accidentally takes her crush with her. 

    This isn't the wonderland she read about. Chaos rains and it is up to her to set things to rights. Undo the damage done and regain her life. Can she right the wrongs without losing herself to a certain mischievous creature?

    This book...gods. There is nothing I want more than to finish this entire series. It is on my list. While the person she ends up with hits all the right feels something is off. I may be reading way too many dark romances but there is just something about that morally grey character that will melt me every time. As I mentioned a bit above when Alyssa gets to wonderland she realizes things aren't the same as in Lewis Carroll's book. Not just that that was romanticized.  

    Alyssa has to go through wonderland fixing the things Alice unintentionally broke from her sea of tears to waking a slumbering tea party. The goal is setting her family free of it's curse. Along the way she must decide who to trust. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $8.26 by clicking here. Personally I suggest getting a physical copy. It does make such a beautiful shelf trophy. 

Book Review: Civil: Revolution in Turn by Frank Visone

 

    Jack Miller is an average man who wants nothing more than to protect his family. After joining a local militia, he learns more about how to protect his family. Now that China-men have taken the opportunity to land on their shores in an attempt to take over the country Jack will protect his family and land through any means possible. Standing toe to toe with trained military men as they fight to protect what matters most will Jack be able to save his home, or will he lose his life along with everything he loves?

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This book was a bit of a slow start for me, but once it got exciting it got VERY exciting. It was well written, and I completely enjoyed it. No trigger warnings that I can think of to warn people about. Well...unless you get butt hurt over putting down Trump and are for having guns removed from the general population. Then you should probably not read this. You'll be really mad. Course I should hope I don't have those on my page anyways...(The no gun people. Don't care one way or the other about the trump people. Politics doesn't have a place here.)

    Anyways, we follow Jack as he tries his level best to protect his family, home, and neighbors. When a foreign military breaches homeland shores he is on the front-line to protect it. Armed with just the guns he owns he soon amasses the foreign weapons as well as he takes them down. No, he isn't perfect. He isn't Rambo. He is just a regular guy doing whatever it takes, no matter how afraid he is. We see him leave his family time and again in an effort to keep them safe. Even when he is home, he is doing everything he can to help his neighbors.     

    Be it threats from home or threats from outside the challenges are met again and again. While there are plenty of casualties it is worth it in the end. Once the threats are over and life goes as close as back to normal as possible the next threat comes from the government. However, that is another fight no one is willing to back down from. Can't say I blame them. 

    This book is page after page of fights, threats, and willpower. Worst part is it is a possible threat. I'm not saying the Chinese are going to attack us or that the government would make any headway with taking away the general public's weapons. But it is a matter of time before someone somewhere decides to attack on American soil. 

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

Book Review: The Queen of Reckoning by N. C. Hayes (Redfern Legacy Book 2)

     After risking everything to find a teacher to help with her volatile magic Shaye's troubles are far from over. Between a looming wedding, others opinions of her and her families past, and now mysterious visions she may just lose herself. In fact, the more she deals with the person in her visions the more she learns that he was far from the person he was made out to be. Can one secret have so completely shaped her entire past?

    I received a request from this author to read this book after having already read it. She sent me book one and I enjoyed it, but when I finished I lent it to a co-worker, Ms. Deb, who enjoyed it so much she bought book 2. After she was finished with book 2 she gave it to me. So these are books I have the physical copies of. I want to start by saying they are gorgeous and I love having them on my shelves. 

    Book 2 picks up directly after book 1 ends and this is not a book that you can read as a stand-alone. I tried to be as vague as possible with the above so if you haven't read book 1 yet you can go check it out first without a lot of spoilers. 

    Just like in book one this book has a very YA Fantasy feel. Yes, the characters are of age, but there is magic and very innocent scenes. I'm not saying there isn't activity. There is plenty and there is even some possible trigger warnings. I read this book while I was pregnant and it was a lot for emotions at points because of a miscarriage and subsequent depression. If that is something you can't handle, even in literature, this is your warning. 

    I am not by any stretch of the imagination trying to put you off this book. I fully enjoyed book 1, as you will see in by review, and I enjoyed this one as well. I just try to give disclaimers as some people have certain triggers they go to lengths to avoid. The characters are still just as amazing as they were in book one. The same characters have continued on to this one, although character relationships have changed a bit, in the best possible way. 

    We still have the loveable cat of Skye's and her teacher's snake, in case you were wondering. There is also attempted progress made on reclaiming the throne and castle that the mortals currently occupy. That is something that made great progress and I look forward to what will happen next there. I read this book rather quickly and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. Although, we will need to wait for the next instance in this series as there are only the two books at this time.

    This book is available on Amazon for $2.89 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

The Wayward Prince (Redfern Legacy Book 1)

Book Review: Cicatrice: New Eyes and Brave by Jo Boyle

    Jamie and Mal were best friends at university, but when Mal abruptly leaves without a word the friendship is seemingly shattered. During the ensuing five years apart, Mal is on the run for her life. No connections can be made or else he might find her and take her captive again. When Mal and Jamie have a chance encounter can she really walk away again, even if she knows it is the only way to keep Jamie safe? 

    I received a paperback copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This book is amazing. Fast paced, thriller, sex, and plenty of action. If you are of the feign of heart, be warned. I only say this because there is rape and a lot of abuse within these pages as Mal and Jamie go through both their present and past. 

    We jump back and forth between present day and the past while Mal was a captive. We learn how she was trained and the mindset she quickly adopted. I have to say that I am proud of her for everything she endured, and I am surprised she ever let another man touch her, even for information. 

    There isn't anything about this book I would change, although the story is a difficult one. I believe everyone got exactly what they deserved at the end and hope you will enjoy this journey as much as I did. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $3.37 by clicking here. 

Book Review: Coyote by Ashley Brandt

     Eighteen year old coyote-shifter Raven was just promoted to pack warrior and is about to receive her first task. However, her long-time boyfriend just returned from his last task different only to be saved by a mysterious stranger. Deciding to end things with him she heads home, intent on talking to her dad before getting her orders. The next morning she finds her father dead and smells her ex, Johnathan. The task-master gives her an offer. She can take the task and go to the human shifter testing facility or she can become his mate and carry on the family line. Faced with impossible choices and death of her loved ones at every turn Raven's choices seem to be made for her. 

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This book is full of twists and turns with just enough left up to the reader's imagination as to who was truly behind the deaths. While who she ended with was expected throughout the book, on my part, I would have liked more clarification that he wasn't the one responsible. 

    I haven't read a lot of coyote shifter books and even less that are set after regular humans have become aware of shifters. Unfortunately this book shows the negative possibility of war and shifter testing. While that would definitely be one possibility I like to think that if there are shifters (which we've received nothing stating it's not possible) that they would be mostly accepted by people. 

    Each of the love interests in this book had something to offer in both the romance aspect and to the cringe effect. All in all this book was hard to put down and I did really enjoy it. There is plenty of action within this story, and I don't just mean smut. I loved what happened with the children, for instance. They didn't deserve everything they went through. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: Reset by Janet Elizabeth Henderson

     Ryan spent over seven months in a coma. Now, with lots of physical therapy he feels ready to get back to work. His team have supported him every step of the way, but are concerned he isn't telling them everything. When he is taken on the street his team will stop at nothing to saving him. Ryan, however, awakens in a cavern to find a woman shackled to the wall. She seems to know him, but she isn't ringing any bells. In order to escape the pair must work together to overcome near impossible odds. 

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

    Thrillers and romances are easily my top favorite genres, so a book that combined the two was a real treat. Although Ryan's team deals in security and retrieval there is just enough leeway to make readers wonder if they will reach him before it is too late. Not that Ryan plays a helpless character in this book. In fact, if he hadn't done everything he did there wouldn't have been a chance. 

    I personally couldn't imagine being in Sarah's place. Falling for a man over months via text. Meeting up with him, having a wonderful time, then inviting him back to her place never to hear from him again? I've never had a one night stand, although more power to those that have and enjoy it. Still, the abandonment feeling in this case...just ouch. Even if there was a good reason. 

    Meanwhile, poor Ryan is missing chunks of his life along with random people. These encounters he may never get back. Then there are the complications he is suffering from, which I wont go into more details on. You'll have to read about that for yourself! Still, he is determined to get back to the team he considers family. 

    Things go from bad to worse for these two when they wake up in a cavern only to find other bodies, rats, and cameras. Can the pair escape together before they starve (or worse) or will this cavern claim more lives? 

    An exciting book that leaves you wondering about the end until the last page. This is not the first book in the series and it does give both hints and spoilers about how the characters within the other books end up. So, if you don't like knowing if the guy gets the girl and what their future holds you'll want to read the books in order. Personally, while this is sometimes an issue I loved this book so much I would absolutely read every other book in this series without complaint. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: The Silver Ninja Narco Hotel by Wilmar Luna

     After being removed from her position with the police force Cindy withdrew into herself. She refused to use her alter-ego, the silver ninja, but her former boss wants an encroaching drug cartel out no matter the cost. Can she save her city from this threat or will she lose herself in the process? 

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

    I want to start by saying I'm so sorry for how long it took me to do the review. My goal is always six months and while I am normally able to stay within or exceed this timeline I am dreadfully behind. At the time I accepted this book I also accepted over one-hundred others. Many of those I have finished, while others I am still working on, unfortunately. In addition to that during these last ten months my grandfather died, causing me to go on a reading hiatus. I bought a house, moved into said house, lost access to my computer (still barely have access to it), and am now pregnant and am very sick all the time having lost over twenty pounds in the last month and a half. It's not an excuse, I just wanted to be transparent in why I am so behind on reviews. On to the important stuff...the review. 

    The writing left nothing to be desired and the pain character, while racist, wasn't the biggest problem in the book. There is plenty of action and while the main character has super-human abilities it is done in a way that it is believable. Technological advancements at their best. My biggest drawback with this book was my being unaware that this was not book one. I felt like I spent most of the book playing catch up or wandering around lost without information that would have proved useful. This book cannot be read as a stand-alone. 

    If I had started at the beginning of this story instead of here I would have had no complaints about this book at all as it was an exciting read when I understood what was going on. As it stands this will be my last silver ninja book since the experience of finding my way through the backstory took some of the fun away for me. 

    The characters within the book are great and all are believable as actual human beings. This book plays out as a plausible sci-fi action well within realistic standards, so long as that suit could be made. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: The Journalist by John Reid Young

     After deciding not the re-enlist in the British Army Jamie goes home to propose to his childhood sweetheart. However, when he gets there things have changed in the sleepy islands of his youth. She has moved on with her father's blessing leaving Jamie adrift and regretting his decision to leave the military. Intent to see what other options his life may take he sets off, meeting a beautiful young teacher who convinces him to travel with a boater who tells of his partner's sickness and need for a translator. Instead, Jamie soon finds himself wrapped within a dangerous trafficking. Can he expose those behind this and get the small vessel to the British before he loses his life for this cause? 

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. At one point I actually messaged the author, in response to his message, offering to return the book. It left a sour taste in my mouth at the prospect of reading the book, but I did and I can't say I hated it as much as that interaction which I wont go into any further. I already complained about it in detail at the time it happened. Without names of course. Moving on. 

    The book starts off very slow and the statement about doing ones duty is pounded into your head within these pages. Once the book picks up it is quite enjoyable. We have a small yacht that has a certain past being used by a Spaniard and a Scot to transport and then make a sell. After the unfortunate "illness" of the Spaniard the Scot needs a new translator, lucking upon the travelling Jamie, who agrees after some prompting from his girlfriend. The two travel in relative peace until the truth is discovered and Jamie must play along or join his new partner in order to stay alive. 

    The only real thing that bothered me about this book is the fact that Jamie never wanted to leave the military. Not really. He did it for his girl. Okay, sure. Believable. He didn't re-up and went home. But it is stated over and over and over that you can't re-enlist once you have left the British forces. Now, I know for a fact that isn't the case here in America and it seemed a bit ridiculous that it would be in other nations. Especially if the officer was climbing the ranks and left in good standing. So, I looked it up. You can absolutely re-enlist. They LOVE it when that happens. So....a large premise of this book is not rooted in fact. I know authors get embellishment rights, but come on. Fiction should be based in fact. 

    Other than that oversight, or intentional change (not sure which), the book is believable and largely enjoyable. The characters aren't two dimensional and the scenes are well described. All in all it was a decent book that lived up to it's thriller name. Just go in with eyes open to take the "facts" with a grain of salt. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $0.99 by clicking here. 

Leo's Game by Dalin J. Bradford

     Can an AI fall in love with a human or visa versa? While creating the story with an AI and prompts from it's human counterpart their interactions slowly bleed away from just the story to include...something more? The story Leo's Game that is being written is about an adventurer discovering magic and fighting to right an accident from years before. Will the story be completed along with more for our writers? 

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I've read both of the other books by this author and I enjoyed them. This is probably rank 3 of 3 by him. That isn't to say it's bad, just not really for me. There are enough AI written books as is right now. This book isn't written by an AI, but it's about an AI writing a story. 

    The story within the story is decent. I like the interactions between the character Leo, his friend, and his mentor. While most of the fighting scenes are skipped within the book they are implied. Personally, I enjoy fighting scenes, but can understand how they'd get a bit redundant with how often the characters within this story would have been fighting. 

    The interactions between the human and the AI are odd. They start out purely working together human and machine then progress into glitches within the system and it talking about things not solely related to the story. 

    The book is well written, having only found one typo within it's pages. Each chapter is a new interaction between the two writers and you can clearly tell who is stating what at each time, which makes for a good read. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $0.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this Author (He likes to change his name based on genre, but I received permission to list all his books together like so): 

Savasana's Kiss by R.C. Robin

Five and Twenty by Chris Ramos

Book Review: Rise of the Unicorn by D. Elliot Woods

     Gus has faced hostage negotiation after negotiation with mostly victories. However, his biggest failure has haunted him with concerns that his private life situation affected his ability to do his job. He is intent that the issues he faces at home has had no impact on his abilities, but when a high profile bank robbery captures the attention of the country Gus is forced into the limelight. They will only negotiate with him and aren't afraid to kill hostages. Can this high profile situation be remedied? 

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I enjoy crime books and was excited to read this one. I have to admit that the title gave me some pause. While unicorns may be my 2 year old daughter's favorite animal I outgrew them a long time ago. However, in this situation the idea behind it is more important than the horned horse itself. 

    The story jumps perspectives so you can see both what is happening inside the bank and outside. At the same time, the author does a great job of keeping the information he wants kept from the reader until he is ready. Everything ties together nicely with no strings left undone at the end. If you are a fan of NCIS and Criminal Minds you will enjoy this. Not only because the author has been a character in these shows, either. 

    I liked how the book ended. Everything ended in a way that I am happy with, although the secret of the heist was intriguing, but weird. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $11.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: October Storms by Amanda Collins Beams

     After her husband Eli goes on a hunting trip and fails to return it is up to Louise to work the farm in order to support her seven and one year old children. The arrival of a farmhand is a welcome surprise, him getting food and housing in exchange for working the land. However, with October's storms his mood soon sours, bringing with it excessive drinking. In an attempt to escape his abuse Louise bundles her two small children up, setting out on foot. Sick and near death they are found and brought to the widow Agnes Hoskins where their lives change forever. The bond they forge may span more than just their lifetime, however. 

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. And I really liked this book. The first and last chapters seemed pointless to me, but in total it was enjoyable. The book was set in the 1800s where trusting the wrong person lead a young mother to leave everything and set out across the countryside. Personally, in her shoes I would have just murdered the fucker in his sleep the following morning instead of risking my children's lives walking across riverbanks and through the rain. But, that is just me and to be honest her life had a better result than she could have achieved through staying anyways. 

    There are some very sad parts in this book, such as children death, but that was something that happened with some frequency during that time period. The women in this book are not looked down on for having their own businesses and we don't hear from nay-sayers other than local gossiping biddies. In fact, the most predominant male roles in this book don't have anything bad to say against the women. While I thought one of the males in this book would eventually result in a budding romance I will say I was surprised that this book is free of romance aspects. 

    It was nice to see women not being treated as these fragile flowers that can do nothing in this book. That is what happens a lot in period pieces and why I have a tendency to steer clear of them. 

    My favorite character in this book was Mr. Allerton. He was a great supporting character in the story, and a big help especially when it came to Randall. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: The Romantic by Felix Alexander (Forever Poetic Book 2)

     Born in Santa Lucia, Mexico Hadriel had always been a hopeless romantic. After falling in love with his childhood best friend, and his advances spurned, he travelled to Chicago to begin his life. Here he will have three great loves, but will any of them stick? The angel of death has come to collect, but Hadriel has made a final request to see if his love waited for him. 

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have to admit that I spent a fair amount of time judging the character for his 'poor pitiful me attitude' while chasing women that were in relationships with other people then not respecting the one he actually ended up in a relationship with. I didn't see him as a hopeless romantic for a large portion of the book, and I'm not sure that I do now that it is over. But, everyone has their own opinions on that. 

    This book is set after the main character's death as he is with the angel Adriel as they review his life. For the most part the book acts like it is set in present tense while it reviews events with only occasional references to Hadriel and Adriel's conversations. I will say that with the amount of Catholicism in the first chapter paired with the fact of an angel being portrayed I was a bit concerned. I don't read religious books, as you well know, but I was needlessly worried for once. While these are both aspects the main character doesn't seem to be religious nor is it a prominent feature in the work after the story leaves Santa Lucia. 

    There is a lot of cheating on partners in this book, which I can't say I loved. But, the book was well written and I was largely interested to see if he actually got any of the girls her pursued. I won't ruin it and tell you what happens, but it isn't a traditional HEA (Happily Ever After). The bittersweet notes of this story will stay with you, no matter your opinions of the characters within. 

    I can't say that I had a favorite character in this book. But, you can't win them all. If you are a lover of music there are numerous songs in this book, sometimes spanning multiple pages. 

    If you're searching for a very non-traditional romance of sorts look no further because this definitely fits that bill. I have just learned (when I went to Amazon to pull pricing) that this is book two in a series by this author called Forever Poetic. This book can absolutely be read as a stand-alone without having to read others. Everything is tied up by the end. 

This book is available on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here.