Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.51k reviews by:
popthebutterfly
Disclaimer: I received this book from NineTales publishing. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: February 14, 2019
Genre: New Adult Romance
Recommended Age: 16+ (trigger warning for attempted rape! Romance, love, self discovery, alligators, and accidents)
Publisher: NineTales Publishing
Pages: 328
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Olivia Jefferson has always been a good little automaton. At least, that’s what her best friend Angela had always told her. She was a dutiful daughter, straight A student, and a devoted friend.
But when Angela dies at seventeen of terminal brain cancer, Olivia’s automaton life gets turned upside down.
She made a promise that she would finish Angela’s bucket list for her.
But number one is to go on the scariest ride at the County Fair, The Hurricane, and number two is to go on a Grand Adventure. Both seem impossible. So when a pretty, blue eyed carnie boy offers her a place on the carnival for the summer, she couldn’t possibly go, right?
Deciding to abandon her well planned future, Olivia follows the carnival along the bottom States, from Florida to LA. What she learns as she works her way through Angela’s bucket list will make her reexamine her dreams, her beliefs and make her really question: Who is Olivia
Review: This book is a very quick read! The book is adorable and the story is unlike any other. I really felt for the characters and, while there was some play on the legal aspects, I felt that the book was very realistic. The book characters were all very well developed and the plot was interesting. The writing was also very well done and this book is not as much a romance but a self discovery book.
My only huge complaint is that the book has a massive attempted rape scene and this can be very triggering for some people. The scene comes out of nowhere and without warning. It shook me a little when I read it. I think that this can be issue if there’s no trigger warning to warn people ahead of time.
Verdict: A great book!
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Publication Date: February 14, 2019
Genre: New Adult Romance
Recommended Age: 16+ (trigger warning for attempted rape! Romance, love, self discovery, alligators, and accidents)
Publisher: NineTales Publishing
Pages: 328
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Olivia Jefferson has always been a good little automaton. At least, that’s what her best friend Angela had always told her. She was a dutiful daughter, straight A student, and a devoted friend.
But when Angela dies at seventeen of terminal brain cancer, Olivia’s automaton life gets turned upside down.
She made a promise that she would finish Angela’s bucket list for her.
But number one is to go on the scariest ride at the County Fair, The Hurricane, and number two is to go on a Grand Adventure. Both seem impossible. So when a pretty, blue eyed carnie boy offers her a place on the carnival for the summer, she couldn’t possibly go, right?
Deciding to abandon her well planned future, Olivia follows the carnival along the bottom States, from Florida to LA. What she learns as she works her way through Angela’s bucket list will make her reexamine her dreams, her beliefs and make her really question: Who is Olivia
Review: This book is a very quick read! The book is adorable and the story is unlike any other. I really felt for the characters and, while there was some play on the legal aspects, I felt that the book was very realistic. The book characters were all very well developed and the plot was interesting. The writing was also very well done and this book is not as much a romance but a self discovery book.
My only huge complaint is that the book has a massive attempted rape scene and this can be very triggering for some people. The scene comes out of nowhere and without warning. It shook me a little when I read it. I think that this can be issue if there’s no trigger warning to warn people ahead of time.
Verdict: A great book!
Disclaimer: I received this arc from Smith Publicity. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: She Wore a Yellow Dress
Author: John Cammidge
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: contemporary readers, romance lovers, historical romance
Publication Date: February 16, 2021
Genre: Historical Romance
Recommended Age: 17+ (romance, slight sexual content, slight language)
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
Pages: 478
Synopsis: A spark is lit on Bonfire Night in Northern England in 1965, but for John and Jean-Louise the fireworks continue to explode for decades to come. An awkward Yorkshire farm boy with few prospects and a sophisticated town girl from Manchester, John and Jean-Louise blossom, grow - both together and apart - and find ways to compromise in this coming-of-age story that goes beyond the wedding where the curtain often drops.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. The book had an interesting plot and the book was written very well. The book was emotional and I liked working through this book. The book also had some well written world development.
However, I did think that the book didn’t have good character development. The dialogue didn’t feel authentic and the characters just lacked that oomph that set them apart from each other. The book also had slow pacing in some of the book.
Verdict: It was good, just no rememberable characters.
Book: She Wore a Yellow Dress
Author: John Cammidge
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: contemporary readers, romance lovers, historical romance
Publication Date: February 16, 2021
Genre: Historical Romance
Recommended Age: 17+ (romance, slight sexual content, slight language)
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
Pages: 478
Synopsis: A spark is lit on Bonfire Night in Northern England in 1965, but for John and Jean-Louise the fireworks continue to explode for decades to come. An awkward Yorkshire farm boy with few prospects and a sophisticated town girl from Manchester, John and Jean-Louise blossom, grow - both together and apart - and find ways to compromise in this coming-of-age story that goes beyond the wedding where the curtain often drops.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. The book had an interesting plot and the book was written very well. The book was emotional and I liked working through this book. The book also had some well written world development.
However, I did think that the book didn’t have good character development. The dialogue didn’t feel authentic and the characters just lacked that oomph that set them apart from each other. The book also had slow pacing in some of the book.
Verdict: It was good, just no rememberable characters.
Disclaimer: I bought this book! Support your video game designers.
Book: Blackbird
Author: Scott Cawthon
Book Series: Five Nights at Freddy’s: Fazbear Frights #6
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: horror, Fazbear Entertainment
Publication Date: December 29, 2020
Genre: Horror
Recommended Age: 10+ (death, scary moments, cancer, slight gore)
Publisher: AFK
Pages: 256
Synopsis: To avoid confronting an ugly truth, Nole falls prey to a monster that punishes past transgressions. Growing weaker by the day, nine-year-old Jake looks back on the time before he was sick, imagining life as if he were well again. And, forever desperate to prove his worth to his arrogant brother and distant father, Toby chases victory at an arcade game with horrifying consequences. But in the unpredictable world of Five Nights at Freddy's, sometimes the past can take on a life of its own.
Review: I really liked this book and I felt like the book did well to convey the more emotional side of these stories than the previous books did. The writing was well done and the characters and world building was marvelous. I also really liked plots.
However, I don’t think this book stayed true to the Fazbear storyline. How does the bird fit in if it’s not an animatronic? How does the doll fit in the same way? I feel like there’s some big connecting thread to all of these, but it’s not very well hinted at in these stories.
Verdict: It was great, but I’m confused how it fits in.
Book: Blackbird
Author: Scott Cawthon
Book Series: Five Nights at Freddy’s: Fazbear Frights #6
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: horror, Fazbear Entertainment
Publication Date: December 29, 2020
Genre: Horror
Recommended Age: 10+ (death, scary moments, cancer, slight gore)
Publisher: AFK
Pages: 256
Synopsis: To avoid confronting an ugly truth, Nole falls prey to a monster that punishes past transgressions. Growing weaker by the day, nine-year-old Jake looks back on the time before he was sick, imagining life as if he were well again. And, forever desperate to prove his worth to his arrogant brother and distant father, Toby chases victory at an arcade game with horrifying consequences. But in the unpredictable world of Five Nights at Freddy's, sometimes the past can take on a life of its own.
Review: I really liked this book and I felt like the book did well to convey the more emotional side of these stories than the previous books did. The writing was well done and the characters and world building was marvelous. I also really liked plots.
However, I don’t think this book stayed true to the Fazbear storyline. How does the bird fit in if it’s not an animatronic? How does the doll fit in the same way? I feel like there’s some big connecting thread to all of these, but it’s not very well hinted at in these stories.
Verdict: It was great, but I’m confused how it fits in.
Disclaimer: I received this book from Smith Publicity. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Beneath the Crimson Willow
Author: Martin Niewood
Book Series: The Garden of Elsyn Series Book 2
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: fantasy readers, ya readers
Publication Date: October 29, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 214
Synopsis: Life on the run has been hard for Violet Noone and her family, and it's about to get harder. While pursued by the authorities and the Marked, a secret organization focused on revenge, Violet is approached by a mysterious stranger. She is blackmailed into solving the brutal murder of Georgina Givens, a victim of the poisonous compound, Unelse. The investigation reveals that religious, political, and corporate forces might be at play, although Violet can't rule out the possibility that Georgina's husband, Leonard, may be the murderer.
Georgina and her husband were no strangers to criminal schemes and Violet quickly uncovers the connection between the theft of valuable intelligence and Georgina's death. Pursuing each lead, Violet slips deeper into a world of conspiracy and lies and learns she can trust no one. Beset by their own demons, her family is unable to support her, forcing a seventeen-year-old Violet to accept unwelcomed truths about herself and face challenges well beyond her years.
This time, Violet is on her own. With her enemies closing in, she must unravel the mystery, retrieve the intelligence, and solve the murder. But can she do it before the Marked find her?
Review: I had to DNF this read at about 180 pages in. The book was ok, but it lacked depth for me and the writing was weird. The characters were very well developed, but the world building could have been better. The book was also very slow. I also didn’t realize that this book was apart of a series. I don’t normally like reading the middle book of a series and not having read the others.
Verdict: It would be better read in series order.
Book: Beneath the Crimson Willow
Author: Martin Niewood
Book Series: The Garden of Elsyn Series Book 2
Rating: 2/5
Recommended For...: fantasy readers, ya readers
Publication Date: October 29, 2020
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 214
Synopsis: Life on the run has been hard for Violet Noone and her family, and it's about to get harder. While pursued by the authorities and the Marked, a secret organization focused on revenge, Violet is approached by a mysterious stranger. She is blackmailed into solving the brutal murder of Georgina Givens, a victim of the poisonous compound, Unelse. The investigation reveals that religious, political, and corporate forces might be at play, although Violet can't rule out the possibility that Georgina's husband, Leonard, may be the murderer.
Georgina and her husband were no strangers to criminal schemes and Violet quickly uncovers the connection between the theft of valuable intelligence and Georgina's death. Pursuing each lead, Violet slips deeper into a world of conspiracy and lies and learns she can trust no one. Beset by their own demons, her family is unable to support her, forcing a seventeen-year-old Violet to accept unwelcomed truths about herself and face challenges well beyond her years.
This time, Violet is on her own. With her enemies closing in, she must unravel the mystery, retrieve the intelligence, and solve the murder. But can she do it before the Marked find her?
Review: I had to DNF this read at about 180 pages in. The book was ok, but it lacked depth for me and the writing was weird. The characters were very well developed, but the world building could have been better. The book was also very slow. I also didn’t realize that this book was apart of a series. I don’t normally like reading the middle book of a series and not having read the others.
Verdict: It would be better read in series order.
Disclaimer: I received this arc from Smith Publicity. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Gift of Diamonds
Author: Roberta Seret
Book Series: Transylvanian Trilogy Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Jewish characters
Recommended For...: fantasy lovers, historical fiction fans, ya readers
Publication Date: February 23, 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, terrorism, slight language, depictions of the Holocaust)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 334
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Mica is a determined aspiring actress living with her parents in Romania as Nicolae Ceausescu begins his reign. Her parents are covertly political and influential, which makes them a perfect target for the Secret Police. They’re soon arrested, and Mica flees the country with her father’s rare—and possibly cursed—diamonds. With her parents imprisoned, it’s up to Mica to investigate the terrorism involving Ceausescu and his nuclear business partners.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. The plot instantly hooked me and I read the book within 3 hours. The book had great character development and I loved that the book stuck to some historical facts. The book did well to weave fiction and fact into the story. The world building was wonderful and I absolutely loved this read.
The only issue I really had with this book is that sometimes there were some very slow moments in the book. I also found it off that there was so much detail but nothing came of it, but it might be setting up for the additional books.
Verdict: It was great!
Book: Gift of Diamonds
Author: Roberta Seret
Book Series: Transylvanian Trilogy Book 1
Rating: 5/5
Diversity: Jewish characters
Recommended For...: fantasy lovers, historical fiction fans, ya readers
Publication Date: February 23, 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, terrorism, slight language, depictions of the Holocaust)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 334
Synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Mica is a determined aspiring actress living with her parents in Romania as Nicolae Ceausescu begins his reign. Her parents are covertly political and influential, which makes them a perfect target for the Secret Police. They’re soon arrested, and Mica flees the country with her father’s rare—and possibly cursed—diamonds. With her parents imprisoned, it’s up to Mica to investigate the terrorism involving Ceausescu and his nuclear business partners.
Review: For the most part I liked this book. The plot instantly hooked me and I read the book within 3 hours. The book had great character development and I loved that the book stuck to some historical facts. The book did well to weave fiction and fact into the story. The world building was wonderful and I absolutely loved this read.
The only issue I really had with this book is that sometimes there were some very slow moments in the book. I also found it off that there was so much detail but nothing came of it, but it might be setting up for the additional books.
Verdict: It was great!
Disclaimer: I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Initial Insult
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Book Series: The Initial Insult Book 1
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Character with epilepsy
Recommended For...: ya readers, mystery lovers, thriller seekers
Publication Date: February 23, 2021
Genre: YA Mystery
Recommended Age: 16+ (animal death and violence, epileptic episodes, drugs and alcohol usage, language, slight sexual content, gore)
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Tress Montor knows that her family used to mean something—until she didn’t have a family anymore. When her parents disappeared seven years ago while driving her best friend home, Tress lost everything. She might still be a Montor, but the entire town shuns her now that she lives with her drunken, one-eyed grandfather at what locals refer to as the “White Trash Zoo,” – a wild animal attraction featuring a zebra, a chimpanzee, and a panther, among other things.
Felicity Turnado has it all – looks, money, and a secret that she’s kept hidden. She knows that one misstep could send her tumbling from the top of the social ladder, and she’s worked hard to make everyone forget that she was with the Montors the night they disappeared. Felicity has buried what she knows so deeply that she can’t even remember what it is… only that she can’t look at Tress without having a panic attack.
But she’ll have to.
Tress has a plan. A Halloween costume party at an abandoned house provides the ideal situation for Tress to pry the truth from Felicity – brick by brick – as she slowly seals her former best friend into a coal chute. With a drunken party above them, and a loose panther on the prowl, Tress will have her answers – or settle for revenge.
Review: For the most part I thought that this was an okay book. The world building was very well detailed and the character development for the two main characters was very well done. Also felt like well this is a little bit of a mystery, that the point of their friendship was pretty good.
However, there were some things in the book that I did not like. I feel like the pacing was very slow and the book want was a little non-existent. I also really hated the use of animal violence in this book. I felt like the author you said to create a creepy atmosphere, but all it did was make me very sick at my stomach. I also felt like she used the animal violence and animal death as a shock Factor rather than a plot point.
Verdict: It was good, just slightly disappointing.
Book: The Initial Insult
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Book Series: The Initial Insult Book 1
Rating: 3.5/5
Diversity: Character with epilepsy
Recommended For...: ya readers, mystery lovers, thriller seekers
Publication Date: February 23, 2021
Genre: YA Mystery
Recommended Age: 16+ (animal death and violence, epileptic episodes, drugs and alcohol usage, language, slight sexual content, gore)
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 384
Synopsis: Tress Montor knows that her family used to mean something—until she didn’t have a family anymore. When her parents disappeared seven years ago while driving her best friend home, Tress lost everything. She might still be a Montor, but the entire town shuns her now that she lives with her drunken, one-eyed grandfather at what locals refer to as the “White Trash Zoo,” – a wild animal attraction featuring a zebra, a chimpanzee, and a panther, among other things.
Felicity Turnado has it all – looks, money, and a secret that she’s kept hidden. She knows that one misstep could send her tumbling from the top of the social ladder, and she’s worked hard to make everyone forget that she was with the Montors the night they disappeared. Felicity has buried what she knows so deeply that she can’t even remember what it is… only that she can’t look at Tress without having a panic attack.
But she’ll have to.
Tress has a plan. A Halloween costume party at an abandoned house provides the ideal situation for Tress to pry the truth from Felicity – brick by brick – as she slowly seals her former best friend into a coal chute. With a drunken party above them, and a loose panther on the prowl, Tress will have her answers – or settle for revenge.
Review: For the most part I thought that this was an okay book. The world building was very well detailed and the character development for the two main characters was very well done. Also felt like well this is a little bit of a mystery, that the point of their friendship was pretty good.
However, there were some things in the book that I did not like. I feel like the pacing was very slow and the book want was a little non-existent. I also really hated the use of animal violence in this book. I felt like the author you said to create a creepy atmosphere, but all it did was make me very sick at my stomach. I also felt like she used the animal violence and animal death as a shock Factor rather than a plot point.
Verdict: It was good, just slightly disappointing.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Fall of the Cities: Uprooting the Orchard
Author: Vance Huxley
Book Series: Fall of the Cities Book 4
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: dystopian lovers
Publication Date: October 25, 2020
Genre: Dystopian
Recommended Age: 17+ (language, gore, violence)
Publisher: Entrada Publishing
Pages: 518
Synopsis: Orchard Close survived Caddi's invasion, and smashed the General's army, but was the price too high? The Riot Squad are dead or wounded, the Army is watching from the bypass, and the attacking gangs were beaten but not annihilated. This time they don't even have a leader, because Soldier Boy will be out of action for months.
At least the attackers left behind plenty of weapons, providing the Army don't take them, and one person is ruthless enough to use them all. Without telling even 'Arold, the Killer Queen uses illegal weaponry to recruit, then launches a true Blitzkrieg across the battered city. With their enemies occupied, the Orchard Close survivors try to come to terms with the deaths, the destruction, and a growing conviction they can never win, that the government and scroats will keep coming.
The Cabal is distracted because the Reivers spring their own May Day surprise party. The Bruce is aiming high this time, he wants to buy Scotland from the Cabal and the first payment is in blood. As brave men and women launch their attacks or make their last stands, the foreign mercenaries and Specials find that their own families are vulnerable, and even the Royal Navy gets a wake-up call. While they are occupied, Bruce strikes for the real prize, a way to bring the Cabal to the negotiating table.
Throughout the summer, as Harold heals, he begins to plan the evacuation of Orchard Close. The gangs are finished, but when the Army withdraws from the bypass their replacements, Mart guards, will have machine guns aiming right into the heart of Orchard Close. Even as he tries to keep his plans secret, a rumour begins to grow, about an operation called Silent Running. It spreads and grows, helped by a song, until even the surrounding gangs believe it; Soldier Boy is leaving to set up a secret base. When the government finally comes for the Cities, there'll be a haven for those who escape and a strike force poised to disrupt the assault. By the time the convoy is ready, even the Cabal knows about the breakout, but with all the rumours Harold hopes that even his resident government spy is confused.
Review: I really like this book. I really like to genre and I thought that way that the author wrote this book was very well done. I also felt like the author did very well regarding character development and world building. The plot of the bus also hooks you in very early it doesn't let you go until the very end.
The only issue I really had with the book was that the pacing of the book can be pretty slow compared to what I am normally used to. It’s also a hard book to get into as the book is in the middle of a series and it’s hard to figure out where in the series this book falls as it’s not easily listed on Goodreads.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Fall of the Cities: Uprooting the Orchard
Author: Vance Huxley
Book Series: Fall of the Cities Book 4
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: dystopian lovers
Publication Date: October 25, 2020
Genre: Dystopian
Recommended Age: 17+ (language, gore, violence)
Publisher: Entrada Publishing
Pages: 518
Synopsis: Orchard Close survived Caddi's invasion, and smashed the General's army, but was the price too high? The Riot Squad are dead or wounded, the Army is watching from the bypass, and the attacking gangs were beaten but not annihilated. This time they don't even have a leader, because Soldier Boy will be out of action for months.
At least the attackers left behind plenty of weapons, providing the Army don't take them, and one person is ruthless enough to use them all. Without telling even 'Arold, the Killer Queen uses illegal weaponry to recruit, then launches a true Blitzkrieg across the battered city. With their enemies occupied, the Orchard Close survivors try to come to terms with the deaths, the destruction, and a growing conviction they can never win, that the government and scroats will keep coming.
The Cabal is distracted because the Reivers spring their own May Day surprise party. The Bruce is aiming high this time, he wants to buy Scotland from the Cabal and the first payment is in blood. As brave men and women launch their attacks or make their last stands, the foreign mercenaries and Specials find that their own families are vulnerable, and even the Royal Navy gets a wake-up call. While they are occupied, Bruce strikes for the real prize, a way to bring the Cabal to the negotiating table.
Throughout the summer, as Harold heals, he begins to plan the evacuation of Orchard Close. The gangs are finished, but when the Army withdraws from the bypass their replacements, Mart guards, will have machine guns aiming right into the heart of Orchard Close. Even as he tries to keep his plans secret, a rumour begins to grow, about an operation called Silent Running. It spreads and grows, helped by a song, until even the surrounding gangs believe it; Soldier Boy is leaving to set up a secret base. When the government finally comes for the Cities, there'll be a haven for those who escape and a strike force poised to disrupt the assault. By the time the convoy is ready, even the Cabal knows about the breakout, but with all the rumours Harold hopes that even his resident government spy is confused.
Review: I really like this book. I really like to genre and I thought that way that the author wrote this book was very well done. I also felt like the author did very well regarding character development and world building. The plot of the bus also hooks you in very early it doesn't let you go until the very end.
The only issue I really had with the book was that the pacing of the book can be pretty slow compared to what I am normally used to. It’s also a hard book to get into as the book is in the middle of a series and it’s hard to figure out where in the series this book falls as it’s not easily listed on Goodreads.
Verdict: It was good!
.jpg)
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Snow Dust and Boneshine
Author: Grendolyn Peach Soleil
Book Series: The Chronicles of Granny Witch (Book 1)
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Romance, Paranormal
Publication Date: December 31, 2020
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Recommended Age: 18+ (romance, sexual content, grief)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 218
Synopsis: Once upon a winter’s night, a lost cowboy finds himself in Purgatory Bend. Patrick Doolin is plagued by a wound that won’t heal, but winter is the season of miracles. As Patrick wanders through Wyoming, he meets Fawna, the mysterious granny witch, who channels the folk magic of her ancestors.
With nowhere to go and a secret Patrick doesn’t yet understand, he seeks shelter with Fawna in the snowswept prairie. Forbidden to fall in love, they form an eternal bond in the dreamscape, but when the bluebirds sing of summer and threaten their empire of dreams, they are faced with an impossible decision. Will Patrick stay in the land of the living, or will he cross over the prairie?
Summer is the season of surprises, and Fawna’s childhood sweetheart, Dezi Ketchum, longs to win her heart too. When winter melts across the gold-slick prairie, Fawna searches for answers under the rose moon. Caught between fire and water and flesh and fantasy, she follows her heart and ventures into uncharted territory.
Review: I was really surprised about how much I did like this book I thought that I wouldn't like it that much, but I'm glad I was wrong. The book is wonderfully well written and has amazing world building. I also felt like the book and well to kind of hug the reader instead of just attack it like a normal book about witches does.
Only thing that really slowed me down when reading this book was the pacing period the pacing was pretty slow and I kept getting a bit distracted while reading it.
Verdict: It was sweet!
Book: Snow Dust and Boneshine
Author: Grendolyn Peach Soleil
Book Series: The Chronicles of Granny Witch (Book 1)
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Romance, Paranormal
Publication Date: December 31, 2020
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Recommended Age: 18+ (romance, sexual content, grief)
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 218
Synopsis: Once upon a winter’s night, a lost cowboy finds himself in Purgatory Bend. Patrick Doolin is plagued by a wound that won’t heal, but winter is the season of miracles. As Patrick wanders through Wyoming, he meets Fawna, the mysterious granny witch, who channels the folk magic of her ancestors.
With nowhere to go and a secret Patrick doesn’t yet understand, he seeks shelter with Fawna in the snowswept prairie. Forbidden to fall in love, they form an eternal bond in the dreamscape, but when the bluebirds sing of summer and threaten their empire of dreams, they are faced with an impossible decision. Will Patrick stay in the land of the living, or will he cross over the prairie?
Summer is the season of surprises, and Fawna’s childhood sweetheart, Dezi Ketchum, longs to win her heart too. When winter melts across the gold-slick prairie, Fawna searches for answers under the rose moon. Caught between fire and water and flesh and fantasy, she follows her heart and ventures into uncharted territory.
Review: I was really surprised about how much I did like this book I thought that I wouldn't like it that much, but I'm glad I was wrong. The book is wonderfully well written and has amazing world building. I also felt like the book and well to kind of hug the reader instead of just attack it like a normal book about witches does.
Only thing that really slowed me down when reading this book was the pacing period the pacing was pretty slow and I kept getting a bit distracted while reading it.
Verdict: It was sweet!
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: The Devil Whispered
Author: Shawn Starkweather
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Cyberpunk, Sci-Fi
Publication Date: February 1, 2021
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 200ish? I can’t find the Amazon page
Synopsis: Ex special-forces commander Jacobi Slate is drawn into a downward spiraling vortex of fear and doubt while investigating a brutal murder that's been committed by an old friend. As evidence mounts that someone else might be pulling strings from the shadows, Jacobi struggles to understand a developing connection to his own past, which is quickly catching up to him.
Near-future cyberpunk collides with gritty detective noir in this fast-paced thriller that shines a light on both the vast shortcomings and the noble heroics of the human condition. To unravel the mystery, Jacobi will pull on every thread while chasing leads from the squalor of the most dangerous streets to the high-tech towers of the wealthy elite on his quest to understand a truth he might not be ready to face.
Review: I had to dnf this book. I really liked the premise of the book as it sounds really good, but I just couldn't get into it. I also felt like the writing was a bit weird, but maybe that is because I couldn't fully get into it.
Verdict: It’s good, but not for me.
Book: The Devil Whispered
Author: Shawn Starkweather
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: Cyberpunk, Sci-Fi
Publication Date: February 1, 2021
Genre: Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: can’t recommend, DNFed
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 200ish? I can’t find the Amazon page
Synopsis: Ex special-forces commander Jacobi Slate is drawn into a downward spiraling vortex of fear and doubt while investigating a brutal murder that's been committed by an old friend. As evidence mounts that someone else might be pulling strings from the shadows, Jacobi struggles to understand a developing connection to his own past, which is quickly catching up to him.
Near-future cyberpunk collides with gritty detective noir in this fast-paced thriller that shines a light on both the vast shortcomings and the noble heroics of the human condition. To unravel the mystery, Jacobi will pull on every thread while chasing leads from the squalor of the most dangerous streets to the high-tech towers of the wealthy elite on his quest to understand a truth he might not be ready to face.
Review: I had to dnf this book. I really liked the premise of the book as it sounds really good, but I just couldn't get into it. I also felt like the writing was a bit weird, but maybe that is because I couldn't fully get into it.
Verdict: It’s good, but not for me.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Subversive
Author: Colleen Cowley
Book Series: Clandestine Magic Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: dystopian
Publication Date: September 27, 2020
Genre: Dystopian
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, feminism, misogyny)
Publisher: Slender Sky Books
Pages: 444
Synopsis: In an America controlled by wizards and 100 years behind on women’s rights, Beatrix Harper counts herself among the resistance—the Women’s League for the Prohibition of Magic. Then Peter Blackwell, the only wizard her town has ever produced, unexpectedly returns home and presses her into service as his assistant.
Beatrix fears he wants to undermine the League. His real purpose is far more dangerous for them both.
Review: I really like this book. I felt like the premise of it and the plot was super interesting and very well done. I felt like the character development was also very well done and the world building was simply marvelous.
The only real issue I had with the book was to pacing. I felt like the pacing was eventually slow for this kind of book in certain places but for the most part I really did enjoy this book.
Verdict: I really liked this one!
Book: Subversive
Author: Colleen Cowley
Book Series: Clandestine Magic Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: dystopian
Publication Date: September 27, 2020
Genre: Dystopian
Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, slight gore, feminism, misogyny)
Publisher: Slender Sky Books
Pages: 444
Synopsis: In an America controlled by wizards and 100 years behind on women’s rights, Beatrix Harper counts herself among the resistance—the Women’s League for the Prohibition of Magic. Then Peter Blackwell, the only wizard her town has ever produced, unexpectedly returns home and presses her into service as his assistant.
Beatrix fears he wants to undermine the League. His real purpose is far more dangerous for them both.
Review: I really like this book. I felt like the premise of it and the plot was super interesting and very well done. I felt like the character development was also very well done and the world building was simply marvelous.
The only real issue I had with the book was to pacing. I felt like the pacing was eventually slow for this kind of book in certain places but for the most part I really did enjoy this book.
Verdict: I really liked this one!