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: Psycho Devils by Jasmine Mas (Cruel Shifterverse Book 5)

Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance / Paranormal Romance

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Morally Grey MMCs, Deadly Trials, Hidden Identity, Tortured Hero, Groveling, Jealousy Chaos, Found Family

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶

Format: eBook

Series: Cruel Shifterverse Book 5

         Aran hates the devil kings. Especially Mallon….Mitch. She is still in disguise, but who knows how long that will last. Then there is Lothaire who knows only torture for his little crew of ungodly slayers. They must now battle in the Legionaire Games to determine who will lead the war. The one consolation? Sadie is there. 

    Book 5 picks up immediately where Book 4 left off. If you haven’t read 1-4 run, don’t walk, to Book 1 now. You won’t regret it. Where Sadie was mostly sunny Aran is all dark clouds and anger. She is and will always be my spirit animal….without the drugs. 

    We get plenty more John time in this book and it is kicked up a notch at the end of this book along with his big reveal. LOVED that! After John and his secret my favorite is Orien. 

    I loved the games and how brutal they were, utterly eclipsing the gladiator games in Book 2. I loved when the Devils realize what is actually making Aran sick and not that accursed slave tattoo Lothaire forced on her. 

    There is so much torture, pain, and chaos in this book and I loved every second of it. Sadie is still up to her normal tricks and it is driving the kings nuts at the mid point of this book. I literally thought they were going to kill her in their jealousy. 

    Hate what Mallon chose to do to Aran in this, but watching him choke and grovel when the big reveal happens made it worth it. Sort of.  

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

You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• Dark fantasy romance with real consequences
• Deadly competition arcs
• Morally grey kings who must grovel
• Jealous antiheroes losing control
• Tortured heroes and hidden truths
• Ongoing war plotlines
• Series that must be binge-read in order

Chaotic. Painful. Satisfying. And I need the next book immediately.

Books by this author: 

Psycho Shifter (Cruel Shifterverse Book 1)

Psycho Fae (Cruel Shifterverse Book 2)

Psycho Beasts (Cruel Shifterverse Book 3)

Psycho Academy (Cruel Shifterverse Book 4)

Psycho Gods (Cruel Shifterverse Book 6)

Bonds of Hercules (Villains of Lore Book 2)

Blood of Hercules (Villains of Lore Book 1)

Book Review: Fear Farm No Trespassers by S. J. Krandall

 Genre: Psychological Horror / Thriller

Tropes: Small Town Secrets, Unreliable Narrator, Disappearances, Serial Killer Threads, Short-Story Structure, High Tension

Spice Level: None

Format: Physical Copy (Signed Edition)

Series: Standalone

                Over the course of a year several people had gone missing from a section of deep country-side never to be heard from again. Rumors abound, but no one knows for sure what happened. A young woman obsessed with their fates begins to live them. Are they real or a figment of her imagination?

                I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. That book was signed and even had a cute little photo of the actual farmhouse the author based the stories around.

 I like this book if you think of it like a series of short stories around one area. If you try to connect each chapter into one overall story that is where it gets confusing. I read it and reread parts and I still don’t know how they are connected. Outside of the murder bit.

That isn’t to say the book is bad, far from it. We have a high tension read where you never know if anyone is going to survive. Just because a story is from that person’s perspective doesn’t mean they will make it. I loved that part, because we usually know someone will live till the end.

The book is well written as a series of short stories. Each chapter has a new instance set in the same general area with the same murderer. That person may or may not be alive, but the risk is still the same. The stories had a very Twilight Zone feel to them and I would absolutely read more by this author in the future.

This book is available on Amazon for $8.99 by clicking here.

You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• Psychological horror with an ambiguous edge
• Anthology-style storytelling
• Small town or rural thriller settings
• Stories where anyone can die
• Twilight Zone–inspired tension
• Atmospheric horror over gore

This is a strong, well-written collection that thrives on mood and unpredictability. I would absolutely read more from this author in the future.

Book Review: Crime Lord’s Captive by Mia Knight (Crime Lords Book 1)

 Genre: Dark Contemporary Romance / Mafia Romance

Tropes: Obsessed Antihero, Forced Proximity, Captive Romance, Exes to Lovers, Possessive MMC, Debt Leverage
Spice Level: 🌶🌶
Series: Crime Lords Book 1

                Lyla left her boyfriend 3 years ago and has been in hiding ever since. She moved, changed her name, and finally let down her guard enough to start dating a safe man. They just moved in together and it is his first out of town trip. Coming home the door is ajar only to find that her ex’s bodyguard is there to bring her back. Gavin will stop at nothing for her to be back at his side. Even if that means taking advantage of her father’s gambling debts.

                I have so many mixed feelings about this book. I love dark romance. Murder people. Commit all the crimes in the world. But you don’t hurt the FMC and you definitely don’t cheat. It’s why we have book boyfriends. If we wanted real world assholes we wouldn’t be in our books. We start out by finding out she had a problem with his mafia murders. So far so good. She will get over it. Then when he gets her back he blacks her eye and beats the shit out of her. Are you kidding me?! Then we find out that the way she found out about his murder escapades was because she was confronting him about having an orgy at a club with other women?!

                But, I kept reading. Maybe there was a redemption arc. It definitely seemed that way for a minute. His father threatened him. He chilled out. He began doting on her and treating her right. Then his best friend died and everything goes to hell. I hate him. I don’t want to read any more in this cliff-hanger book because I just can’t with the MMC. I loved Lyla. I loved Gavin’s father. I loved Lyla’s cousin. But Gavin? He can kick dirt.

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

🖤 You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• Very dark mafia romance
• Possessive, obsessive antiheroes
• Captive/forced return storylines
• Emotional turmoil and high angst
• Cliffhangers that leave you reeling
• MMCs who don’t soften easily

If you’re looking for a dark romance where the hero doesn’t clean up nicely and the redemption is anything but guaranteed, this might be your kind of chaos.

Book Review: The Easter Hunt by Kitty Thomas (Brian and Mina's Holiday Hits Book 1)

Genre: Dark Romance / Psychological Thriller

Tropes: Stockholm Syndrome, Captive Romance, Revenge Plot, Morally Gray MMC, Basement Captivity, Trauma Bond

Spice Level: Low–Medium (1 explicit scene; tension-driven rather than spice-heavy)

Format: Novella / Short Novel

Series: Brian and Mina's Holiday Hits

     I have been in the basement with the monster for so long that the outside world is more of a concept. Now my monster has been taken by my worst nightmare. I must play his game to find him. I should be scared after everything he put me through, but I’m not. Now, it’s my turn for revenge. 

    Mina has been with Brian for quite some time now. He is the only one that makes her feel safe after the abuse she went through. She keeps to his basement in the Pleasure House and never leaves the grounds. Can’t in fact with her bindings that keep her safe. But when Brian’s newest job for the house leaves him missing she is the only one who is worried. 

    When a letter arrives telling her to follow the clues to find her man or leave him to die she will find him all right. And make sure this nightmare from her past never haunts her again. 

    This is not my first Kitty Thomas book. She seems to have a thing for Stockholm Syndrome in her books. When I read Comfort Food I didn’t get the draw, but now that is a book I truly enjoy and still think of fondly. I really need to go back and re-read it now that I like the darker reads. 

    This is a quick read, but no less exciting. There is only 1 sex scene, so there wasn’t a lot of spice. You won’t miss it though with a fast paced and exciting plot leading up to a bloody and satisfying ending. I look forward to more by this author in the future and can’t wait to find out all the details about Brian and Mira as it hints they get a larger book.

🖤 You’ll love this book if you enjoy:

• Dark romance with morally gray (or morally black) characters
• Captive/captor dynamics and psychological tension
• Stockholm Syndrome–style relationships
• Trauma bonds and twisted devotion
• Revenge arcs with a violent edge
• Plot-driven dark romance with limited spice
• Short, intense reads you can devour in one sitting

If you’re drawn to dark psychological romance that explores obsession, captivity, and the blurred line between monster and protector, this one delivers a sharp, fast, and haunting experience.

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

Books by this Author: 

Comfort Food 

Book Review: Black Friday by James Kaine

Author: James Kaine

Genre: Horror

Tropes: Survival Horror, Battle Royale, Deadly Game, Isolated Setting, Snuff Film, Dark Web, Countdown Clock

Spice Level: No Spice

Format: eBook

Series: Stand-alone

    After Thanksgiving ends, every shopaholic’s favorite holiday looms—and for a select group of desperate people, it becomes a nightmare. Each receives a mysterious, hand-delivered invitation instructing them to arrive at an abandoned mall and tell no one. Once inside, their participation is enforced by a sniper. The rules are simple: survive to become a millionaire.

    I discovered this book through a Facebook ad and downloaded it immediately. After reading so many romances, I was craving something purely horrific—and this absolutely delivered.

    A seemingly wholesome YouTuber known for children’s content hides a horrifying secret. He spies on people, lures them into a deadly competition, and live-streams their suffering to viewers on the dark web. The participants are free to use anything inside the fully refurbished mall, but only one can make it out alive. If you don't escape by 2:00 AM, the building will explode.

    There is zero romance in this story. The narrative jumps between characters as they are hunted—or become hunters themselves. It’s brutal, disturbing, and vividly descriptive. And I loved every second of it.

    I would read more from this author without hesitation. In fact, I hope he has many more utterly unhinged stories waiting in the wings.

⭐ You’ll like this book if you enjoy:

• Survival horror with high body counts
• Battle-royale–style stories
• Dark web and snuff-film themes
• Isolated, high-stakes settings
• Fast-paced, relentless horror
• Books that don’t pull their punches

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

Book Review: Phantom by H. D. Carlton

Author: H. D. Carlton

Genre: Dark Romance

Tropes: Cheating, Abuse, Sexual Assault, Torture, Murder, Stalker Romance, BookTok

Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶🌶 — very explicit

Format: eBook

Series: Stand-alone set in the Cat and Mouse universe

    Gigi has been married to her husband for over a decade, and together they share a teenage daughter. Her life has never been particularly exciting, but it was comfortable—and she loved him. That stability begins to crumble when her husband’s drinking and gambling spiral out of control, threatening not only their marriage but their home.

    Enter Ronaldo.

    What begins as a routine job—collecting information on a debt owed to his boss—quickly turns into something far more dangerous. Ronaldo becomes obsessed with Gigi, and from that point on, the story descends unapologetically into dark romance territory.

    This book does not ease you in. It opens with torture, immediately setting the tone for what’s to come. The content includes cheating, abuse, rape, murder, and graphic violence. Please, genuinely—check your triggers. No matter how compelling a book may be, it is never worth sacrificing your mental health.

    That said, if you can handle the content, this was a gripping read. I found myself conflicted about the cheating aspect until the assault occurred—after that, all moral lines were erased. Ronaldo is a stalker who repeatedly breaks into Gigi’s home, and somehow… I still loved him. If that sentence alone doesn’t tell you whether this book is for you, nothing will.

    The story exists within the Cat and Mouse universe, and fans will appreciate the deeper lore. The grandmother’s journal entries belong to Gigi, and we get to experience both the moments as they’re written and the events unfolding around them in real time. It adds an unsettling, intimate layer to the narrative.

    This can absolutely be read as a standalone, regardless of where you are in the Cat and Mouse series. While still very dark, it is slightly less brutal than Haunting Adeline. The ending is bittersweet—I personally wanted more, but it fits the story Carlton chose to tell.

You’ll love this book if you enjoy:

• Stalker romance
• Extremely dark romance
• Mafia-adjacent storylines
• Morally gray (borderline black) MMCs

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

Book Review: 21 Dares by Stephen Barnard

     When a teacher retires due to the "bullying" of 4 teenage boys the punishment is for them to clean out his classroom hoarders closet. Inside they find a game of 21 dares stretching back into the towns dark history. If anyone completes the 21 dares they will bring back the loathsome serial killer, Black Jack McKenzie, and allow him to finish his spree. Can these 4 boys complete these increasingly disturbing and destructive pranks or will one be willing to throw in the towel?

    I got this book around Halloween last year and surprisingly enough read it shortly thereafter. A plausible horror novel that includes an autistic kid, a rich kid with serious psychotic tendencies, and two "bad boys". Each must put in something that they deeply care about and whoever completed the last task wins and keeps everything unless the dares are all completed.  

    I enjoyed how deep the speculation went as to the mystery behind the game as well as the progression of pranks. These are all things that could have been executed, although I don't suggest it. Then there was Black Jack which the power of suggestion. Love all of that. I will say that the book takes a minute to get into. It starts out with the dares pretty quickly, but it took me a while to actually get interested. 

    I liked the fact that all of the pranks had to be done at school during school hours, although the fact that the school didn't have cameras for most of the book seemed a bit of a stretch. That being said they couldn't have achieved most of this if they had. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $3.79 by clicking here. 

Book Review: No Way Back by Santana Knox (Darkling, Beloved Book 2)

     Halloween has become my favorite holiday. It is our anniversary and after what happened last Halloween nothing can top it. But, when we are set to spend the night in an active prison I am determined to have my fun. The only thing that may keep me in some sort of check is my best friend will be there and she doesn't know this new dark side of me, but he will be. We fuel each other's madness. 

    I found this book in one of my groups. Someone was posting about it being too much for them and a DNF because of the very descriptive scenes. I took one look at the trigger warnings list and was in love. I did not start by reading book one, but trust me when I say it is on my TBR. Sure, there were some spoilers in this book about what went down then,  but I want to experience it first-hand. 

    In case you haven't already realized I loved this book. My biggest warnings is it is DARK. I have suggested it to multiple people. Those who have read it, like my aunt, questioned if I was okay when it reached the slight necro section. I am and I loved that one just as much as every blood splatter. This book is unhinged in the best way and this author has 100% been added to the list of those I will read anything by. 

    I genuinely hope that the end of this book for the characters is not the end for them. I am thinking of bloody and sexually charged patient activities. Oh the fun they could have in this location. Trying my damndest to be vague here. 

    This book is non-stop action in one form or another from her getting railed by her professor boyfriend in chapter one while he takes a phone call to every vulgar and defiling act they complete along the way. I loved every single second of this book and only wondered if I should be upping my therapy sessions once because of enjoying it so much. 

    Amazing read, but please for the love of all read the trigger warnings. If you have problems with things I guarantee it will be on that list and just don't read it. If you don't have trigger warnings or consider them to be a delightful all you can eat buffet read it and prepare to question your life choices in the best way. 

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

Book Review: Haunted: Perron Manor by Lee Mountford (Haunted Book 1)

 

    Sarah and Chloe inherit a house that is so far beyond anything they could ever had imagined owning. A sprawling manor that they hope to turn into a bed and breakfast, however the house has a dark past. Determined not to let the ghost stories, murders, or cult activities impact their dream the pair move in with Chloe's husband and young child in tow. Everything is going great until their boiler is set to be replaced and with it the minor activities in the house spiral. 

    I found this book from a Facebook ad. It suggested it, I was mildly interested, then I proceeded to see it every time I opened my app for the next week. So, I downloaded it. There were zero regrets. I will say I started to have some regrets towards the end of the book, but my concern didn't come to fruition, so it was fine. I draw a very hard line at child death and would have DNF'd it. But, all was well. 

    The child in question in the book, Emily, was on track for her age in some aspects and severely behind in others. At least in what I have seen with my 3 children as well as the other children I have been around at this age. Still, it was a minor detractor from the book, and didn't play a part in the actual plot. 

    As for the plot I loved it. One of my favorite books and movies will always be The Shining and this book does a great job of a haunted manor. Sprawling floorplan, cult room, ghosts, and a demon. Who couldn't love this. It's like someone took Rose Red, The Shining, and Thirteen Ghosts and decided they would make a great mashup. I have absolutely zero complaints about this book's plot and will definitely read more from this author. 

    I will say that this is book 1 of 9 in a series called Haunted. Personally, I think everything in this book wrapped up nicely, even with there being a technical reason to return to the house. If we are moving on to another place and even all new characters I would read on in the series. Sticking with the characters in this book as they complete their new vengeance doesn't hold a lot of personal appeal, though. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for  $4.99 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: Becoming Insane by Leyla Cardena

     When the body of a junkie is left outside one man's apartment he and his previous best friend reconnect, only to slowly descend into madness together. The trigger may be a long buried shared memory from their childhoods that has come for them once more. Will the pair be able to regain their sanity and return to a normal life, or will their newfound afflictions bring them into a permanent institutionalized state?

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I found this book a bit hard to get into. We jump around between the two characters as they complain about their average lives not going how they want, without ever actually doing anything to change them. Then, the madness slowly starts to overtake them with one insane instance after another to the point the reader doesn't know what is going on half the time. 

    Don't get me wrong, the insane bits held some excitement, although all the details on what actually happened to the pair I am still unclear on after actually finishing the book. Even though the book wasn't my favorite that I have read recently I didn't walk away from it with any feelings of distaste. My favorite part was where the agent and psychologist were tracking down the man. I'd say more about him, but considering that was the best bit, I'll leave it out. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $3.97 by clicking here. 

Book Review: A Passionate Play by Jessica Lauryn (Rabourn Theater Book 1)

     Alicia comes awake in a strange house with no memory of who she is or her past. Her captive is a tall, sexy, man who seems to know her well and keeps calling her 'Alicia'. He insists he isn't keeping her captive, that he is a friend and is only trying to keep her safe. As her memories come back in small, disjointed segments, could 'Nick' be the threat she keeps dreaming of? 

    I received a copy of this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is an exciting thriller that makes you wonder at some points if it is paranormal or natural. The author does an amazing job of casting just enough in shadow for you to wonder what is real and what is imagined. 

    I loved this book and the characters within. We get a healthy dose of romance and betrayal with our thriller, which is always fun. It is great to see the differences and similarities between Alicia's personality during her memory loss and what we know of her from before. Then there is Nick, who even when you don't trust him or are mad at him, you can't help but root for. 

    While this book is part of a series about Rabourn Theater this book has very little to do with the theater itself. Alicia is an actress there, and her cousin runs the place. This isn't a bad thing. As I said, this book is amazing and I truly enjoyed it. 

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

Books by This Author: 

An Amorous Dance (Rabourn Theater Book 2)

A Sultry Performance (Rabourn Theater Book 3)

An Intoxicating Interlude (Rabourn Theater Book 4)

An Enchanting Song (Rabourn Theater Book 5)

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: Tempus Fugit: The Engagement Ring by Jules X. Perlaski

         In this 'Choose your fate' story you are a college grad who lives in an RV with his best friend. Your friend has discovered a new type of drug and your girlfriend has just broken up with you when you tried to propose. Where will your story go? 

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have always loved the Goosebumps books that were choose your fate, however, I didn't enjoy this book so much. I will say that I absolutely read through each of the eight possible paths in order to get as much as I could from this very fast read. 

    The book was not poorly written, by any stretch, but it wasn't something I found myself enjoying or a series I would like to continue in the future. I don't feel like I walked away from the book with a real depth of feeling for any of the characters involved. The series may get better as it progresses, but this will be my stopping place. 

    We "play" as a college graduate who is living in an RV with his best friend who is both a drug addict and seller. After we are dumped by our girlfriend, he tries to convince us to take a drug that allows you to travel in time. The choices you make from that point on are your own. You can give your friend to the authorities, join forces with them, take the drug, don't, and so on. 

    This may be something others would enjoy, personally I just wasn't a huge fan. The author does have a website: playtempusfugit.com 

    If you would like to try this book it is available on Amazon as a paperback for $250 (not sure why that is) by clicking here. 

Book Reivew: The Expat Wife by Courtney Hargrove

     After a whirlwind romance Rose moves with her new husband Wesley to his new job in Switzerland where things quickly begin to sour. As she is on a spouse visa she is unable to work in the country, making her give up her journalism career and be a stay at home wife. While she knew this going in, she was under the assumption that finances would be split without her having to basically beg to make any purchases. Although there is this minor bump in their relationship which is not unheard of with newlyweds their relationship is mostly perfect. Then one of the woman in her new circle of friends goes missing. No one else seems concerned, but it is like an itch she just can't scratch, and must keep looking. Can she find out what happened to Jacqueline or will she be next? 

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I genuinely loved this book. From start to finish. It has action, adventure, new scenery, and plenty of mystery to go around. Is Jacqueline dead or did she just go home? If she is dead who did it? Why does no one talk about the others that have left The Company in the past? The further Rose digs the more questions you will have. Can you figure out who is behind everything? Or is it all just Rose's sleep deprived brain making connections where there are none? 

    The scenery depicted is wonderful. The characters are great, even my least favorite character. I can't say who he is because it will give things away. But you shall see what I mean. Just the sheer amount of manipulation. It is so hard to believe that the other girls within the group simply didn't care that their friend was gone, but with pictures it's hard to dispute. 

    Join Rose as she battles herself and others to discover what is happening in Lucerne, Switzerland. 

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

Where Did You Go? By P L Jonas

     When an unpublished manuscript that was the outline and beginning for the sequel to Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell is found Madison Publishing is intent on having it finished. The CEO of the company, James Madison, wants his best ghostwriter, and long-time crush, to be the one to work on it. Not only was Sammy very talented, but she was also obsessed with Gone with the Wind, so this would be perfect for her. However, when Sammy begins working on the story she finds herself frequently slipping into lucid dreams, even while awake. Can Sammy fight the pull of spending time with her fictional love? 

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. While period romances aren't really my thing, this book wasn't technically a period romance. It's hard to explain. Sammy, a modern day woman, receives the manuscript and opportunity of a lifetime with the added bonus of working on the sequel of her favorite book. However, her mental stability soon declines forcing her to lucid dream, even while awake. During these times she would talk with a southern accent, like Miss Scarlet, and forget long segments. While she does attempt to get help, it doesn't come in the way she is expecting. 

    The sections of the book that would be "period romance" are largely skimmed over. I believe there are only 2 or 3 scenes where we actually see Rhett and Scarlet the rest of the time it is normal regular life. That being said, the book was very enjoyable and you don't see many books end the way that this one did. 

    I will say that I feel a bit bad for James. He seemed like both a good match and a better friend. He never overstepped his bounds although he was very interested in Sammy. Sammy meanwhile had a lot of mental struggles that she didn't have the healthiest coping mechanisms for. Hiding yourself away will only get you so far. 

    The bit about her bother, Matthew, was relatable and realistic. When a parent suffers from a type of addiction one often is the one who runs (in this case to the military) while the other stays and tries to handle the fallout of this parents decline. It is only too common, and it is rough on the one who stays and the one who leaves. However, the one that stays always has that larger cross to bear. 

    This book is an intriguing psychological thriller that will make you wonder what will happen to our ghostwriter who is seeing ghosts. 

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

Brian, Created Intelligence by AJ Pagan IV

     Able to grow/create every organ for the human body for replacement as needed except one. The one that has never been done is the human brain, but what is stopping us? Intent on further studying the human brain and how it interfaces with AI a specially crafted team of scientists have done just that. 5 years later Brian is a thinking and feeling being, but does he know what he is? When the AI interface section of the government steps in after the alleged death of 3 workers in Madagascar Brian becomes a tool to be used. Is he legitimate or is there something more in the works?

    I received a copy of this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. Ethics aside this book was great. We have Ellie who is a young, full of herself loud-mouth who probably should have been fired from Dipol a million times during this book. Then there is the psychologist who didn't want to be there from the start and the psychotic Agent Jonathan Volt who wants to weaponize what he believes to be an AI and use it to take over other locations. It is definitely an odd collection of characters. 

    That being said the characters meld well together and I enjoyed the storyline. Although I thought for a while that something was going to somehow develop between a bodiless brain and Ellie I am glad with how that aspect of the book ended. I do wonder what will be done with the information that the team had at the end as well what Volt had. I am trying not to give too many details. The book was very intriguing, though although it did get a bit bogged down in the science aspects versus the story aspects sometimes. 

    This story jumped perspectives a lot, which is something I appreciated. I don't think we would have had a good a grasp of the book without seeing it from each person's (or brains) perspective. Seeing how they were thinking or feeling in that moment. It allowed for a deeper insight without sharing too much that the author isn't ready to share yet. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $0.99, temporarily, by clicking here. 

Book Review: In Winters Garden by Mark Hurst

     Bernard McMaster's has lived a long and prosperous life as a horror author. His books were best-sellers in the 80s and eventually became movies allowing him to live a life of luxury. However, a fall from a later in the twilight of years lands him in a cushy retirement home for rehab. It will be a short stint and then he will be back to rattling around his mansion, alone. While he is closer to his daughter, Rosie, at this place, this is where the positives end. There is something odd about Winter's Garden and his unique expertise may be the only thing that will save his life. 

    I received a copy of this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. I love all things horror so was thrilled to receive this book. While we initially had some issues with my receiving it we figured something out. In most books the main character is someone between the ages of 20 and 40. However, in this book our main character is an old man. 

    The author does a wonderful job of keeping you guessing if the creatures in the book are real or imagined. This is definitely one of those times where you should trust nothing and no one. Not even yourself. That being said it is an easy story to be drawn into, wondering what will happen next. Will Bernard leave Winter's Garden alive? Is anyone actually trying to kill him? Or is everything just a carefully crafted delusion of an old man with a history of mental breaks?

    I have no complaints on this story and look forward to more works from this author in the future. The scenes are well-written and you are able to see the peacocks as they strut across the perfectly manicured grass in front of the old Victorian style mansion. Why anyone would want peacocks wandering around is beyond me, although they are pretty. 

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

Book Review: Save Me by K. M. Ryan (In the Moment Book 1)

     After the death of her mother Kaycee moved away from Chicago hoping that a change of scenery would help. Instead she felt more alone than ever and was planning to end it all. If it hadn't been for Jake and Grant she would have died. However, sometimes new friendships develop when we need them most and this one could not have come at a better time. But are they helping her because they want to make themselves feel better or because they genuinely want her in their lives? When she cooks breakfast for them they and Janelle convince her to start a cooking blog which soon opens a new pathway of good and bad. Can there be a balance or will the spiral begin again? 

    I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have read a couple other books by K. M. Ryan so I accepted this review request without reading the synopsis. I have a tendency to do that and sometimes it leads to regret. I'm not sure that I would have accepted this book based on the synopsis if I had. I tend to give a wide berth to mental illness books. Especially depression because I have it and it's really hard to read about it when you're having a dark day. There were multiple days during the time I had this book I had to put it to the side and just not touch it because you can't when you're in that mindset. It's just not a thing. 

    That being said this was a great read. It accurately displays depression and anxiety making the character relatable. It is interesting to see from the perspective of someone who doesn't have depression spending time with someone who does and how their brains work differently attacking the same problems. This book is very well written and I hope for all the best for the characters within. This is a series I would like to continue when more come out as the next book is featuring Robyn, who was my favorite character in this book. 

    The bookstore in it is also great and I loved that the author added one of her characters from her book, The Reunion, into it. A brief mention, but it still counts. This book is a rollercoaster of emotions, but ends on a bright point. As always, no complaints about this author or the wonderful romances she paints. 

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

Books by this author:

The Reunion (What If Book 1)

The Meeting (What If Book 2)

The Confrontation (What If Book 4)

With You at Last (Forget Me Not Book 3)