I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A disgraced British war correspondent goes on a journey to rebuild her career and discover the secrets behind an old family heirloom while on an adventure with a world champion bull rider forced out of his profession and searching for answers to his family as well in author Sarah Kades’s “Wild Not Broken”, the second book in the Hearthstone series.
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The Synopsis
Lillian Morgan is a disgraced British war correspondent. Scotland Yard has cleared her of all treason charges, but her career didn’t survive being duped by a double-agent. The rediscovery of a family heirloom, a New World fur trade journal from the eighteenth century, gives Lillian a story to chase while she tries to pick up the pieces of her life.
Colt Tanner is a world champion bull rider, old enough to know his time on the circuit is coming to a close, but too skittish to settle down anywhere. He likes life one adrenaline high after another, never stopping long enough to feel anything. But a career-ending injury has left him with time to notice there are unanswered questions about his family that are starting to pile up.
A week in the wilderness to write an eco-inn’s marketing material is not Lillian’s idea of professional glory, but her job prospects are limited. She needs a guide and Colt’s schedule is now wide open. Sparks and bullets fly when these two stumble into deadly family secrets and international spies holding grudges. Will they find what they’re looking for, or die trying? It’s MI6 meets the Rocky Mountains…with heat.
The Review
A gripping yet heated romance takes center stage in this romantic suspense thriller! The author found the perfect groove between the passion and heat that a steamy romance tends to have with the intrigue and mystery that the suspense thriller has. The amount of tension that is laced into the atmosphere keeps readers invested in the character’s journeys, as does the rich amount of time developing the setting these characters find themselves in.
The character growth was truly superb in this read. The individual journey that each of the protagonists takes is equally matched with the shocking twists and turns in their family histories. The amount of espionage and spy-related thriller plot points that are included feel natural and entertaining, making this book impossible to put down.
The Verdict
Engaging, intense, and beautifully written, author Sara Kades’s “Wild Not Broken” is the perfect romance thriller and next chapter in the Hearthstone series! A brilliant way to start our 2022 for fans of the genre, the imagery and setting play a heavy role in developing this world, and powerful character growth will have readers hanging off of the author’s every word. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Sarah Kades writes eco-thrillers, and narrative non-fiction as Sarah Graham. Her writing is largely inspired by her previous career as an archaeologist where she routinely lived in tents, caught rides in helicopters and adored the awesomeness of the landscapes around her. Sarah is a two-time Energy Futures Lab Banff Summit storyteller, a recipient of the Calgary Arts Development individual artist grant, and has presented at the British Society of Criminology conference on the application of using arts-based approaches. When she’s not writing you can find her running, bumping into her next adventure, or trying to figure out where in the garden to put the makeshift wood-fired pizza oven.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A famed troubadour set to tell a tale in the King’s court finds himself the pawn of a powerful witch, and must work to outsmart her and save the kingdom in author Mandy Eve-Barnett’s “The Rython Kingdom”.
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The Synopsis
Unaware he is a pawn in a vengeful plan, Guillem’s actions may release an evil witch from her entrapment.
The famed troubadour attends the king’s court to recite a marvelous tale but his suspicions are raised by a strange servant. With the help of a wizened old woman, and her beautiful granddaughter, Guillem attempts to outwit the witch to save the kingdom from murder and mayhem.
He then finds himself part of a ritual for life everlasting with the entrancing and mysterious Juliana.
The Review
This was such a fun and engaging fantasy read. The story read like a brilliant new fairy tale, with a rich tapestry of characters that made the world the author created to feel alive and breathtaking. The action and the suspense that the author utilized in this narrative made the characters feel like they fit into this magical world, and the unique backstory of the protagonist and his turn as a hero and the hero’s journey he went on were so brilliantly written.
What stood out to me however were two things: the world-building and the mystery. The natural way this kingdom came to life and built upon a rich history within just a short amount of pages really captured the magic and wonder that the author was going for. Meanwhile, the inclusion of mystery and suspense elevated the narrative ten-fold, with an increased level of intrigue that kept the reader hooked throughout the narrative.
The Verdict
Masterful, captivating, and entertaining, author Mandy Eve-Barnett’s “The Rython Kingdom” is a must-read fairy tale! The fantasy and intrigue the novel brings will keep readers hooked, while the memorable cast of characters and epic fantasy action and romance will delight and engage readers who love adult fantasy reads. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Mandy currently lives in Alberta, Canada but is originally from England. Her background is diverse and gives her rich experience to utilize in her writing. Mandy has been a nursing professional, a business owner, and a sort after administration expert. She has traveled throughout Europe, parts of America and Canada and was born in Africa.
Mandy is passionate about writing to the point of obsession and she succeeded in becoming a published author in record time. Mandy’s venture into freelance writing has been successful and she regularly contributes to Strathcona Connect, an e-zine and the Never Been Better page in the Sherwood Park newspaper as well as well as holding the position of Secretary for her local writing group, Writers Foundation of Strathcona County. She is also Secretary of Alberta Authors Cooperative.
Writing in various genres, Mandy has been published in anthologies, on numerous web sites as well as regularly blogging about her writing journey.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
After a series of events forces her to take on the role of an undercover agent, a young woman with extraordinary gifts finds herself in the midst of a drug investigation that includes murder, all while trying to keep her gifts hidden from the world in author J.P. McLean’s “Lethal Waters”, the fourth book in The Gift Legacy series.
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The Synopsis
A body in the water. A vast ocean. A killer on the loose.
In the midst of a bloody rebellion, Emelynn Taylor exposes her gift of flight to save a man’s life. Now International Covert Operations knows her secret. The powerful organization is willing to cover up the carnage and protect her secret—in exchange for her services.
Her first assignment, a drug case in the coastal city of Vancouver, soon reveals a grisly murder that implicates one of her own kind.
Stalked by the ancient Tribunal Novem and vilified by a distrustful team of detectives, Emelynn takes on a perilous undercover role embedded in a drug ring where anyone could be the murderer.
Intrigue and danger lurk in the cold Pacific, challenging Emelynn’s unique gift and pitting her loyalties against her honour. And her choice is guaranteed to hurt someone.
The fourth book in The Gift Legacy series, Lethal Waters is a thriller that skirts the edges of reality in a world within our own. Don your life jacket and escape the ordinary: take flight with Emelynn Taylor.
(Lethal Waters was previously published as The Gift: Penance)
The Review
I am a massive fan of this series. I always love seeing the author naturally blend the events of the previous books and the events that individual characters have undergone into the narrative without feeling like a summary and instead more of a natural progression of the modern story. The characters continued to evolve the history and mythos of those with her gifts while turning more into the mystery aspect of the narrative. Emelynn’s turn as an undercover agent of sorts, brought in unexpectedly into an investigation after a series of synchronicity style events puts her in the investigation’s path, added a depth of intrigue and mystery that readers are going to absolutely love.
The descriptive narrative the author utilized here really brought this world to life in the reader’s mind. The action and suspense of who the main players in this investigation were and who could be trusted added a burst of adrenaline as the events began to pile up one after the other for Emelynn.
The Verdict
Entertaining, heart-pounding, yet highly thoughtful in its approach to the mystery, author J.P. McLean’s “Lethal Waters” is a must-read novel and the perfect addition to this growing series. The action and mythos really will keep readers on the edge of their seat, while the new direction the author takes the protagonist will breathe new life into this fantasy universe, making this a book in the series that is not to be missed. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
JP (Jo-Anne) McLean writes urban fantasy and supernatural thrillers which have received honorable mentions from the Whistler Independent Book Awards and the Victoria Writers Society. Reviewers call her books addictive, smart, and fun. Her work includes endorsements from award-winning and best-selling authors, E.E. Holmes, Jennifer Manuel, Elinor Florence, Jennifer Anne Gordon, and Eileen Cook.
JP is a graduate of the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business. She is a certified scuba diver, an avid gardener, and a voracious reader. Raised in Toronto, Ontario, JP lived in various parts of North America before settling on Denman Island on Canada’s west coast, where she now lives with her husband. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her cooking dishes that look nothing like the recipe photos or arguing with weeds in the garden.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
The eldest daughter of the last Tsar of Russia seeks out escapes from the Victorian lifestyle her mother keeps her in by venturing into St Petersburg with her Aunt and later must contend with the outbreak of war and the threat of rebellion hanging over her family’s head in author Bryn Turnbull’s “The Last Grand Duchess”.
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The Synopsis
This sweeping new novel from the internationally bestselling author of The Woman Before Wallis takes readers behind palace walls to see the end of Imperial Russia through the eyes of Olga Romanov, the first daughter of the last Tsar.
Grand Duchess Olga Romanov comes of age amid a shifting tide for the great dynasties of Europe. But even as unrest simmers in the capital, Olga is content to live within the confines of the sheltered life her parents have built for and her three sisters: hiding from the world on account of their mother’s ill health, their brother Alexei’s secret affliction, and rising controversy over Father Grigori Rasputin, the priest on whom the Tsarina has come to rely. Olga’s only escape from the seclusion of Alexander Palace comes from her aunt, who takes pity on her and her sister Tatiana, inviting them to grand tea parties amid the shadow court of Saint Petersburg. Finally, she glimpses a world beyond her mother’s Victorian sensibilities—a world of opulent ballrooms, scandalous flirtation, and whispered conversation.
But as war approaches, the palaces of Russia are transformed. Olga and her sisters trade their gowns for nursing habits, assisting in surgeries and tending to the wounded bodies and minds of Russia’s military officers. As troubling rumors about her parents trickle in from the Front, Olga dares to hope that a budding romance might survive whatever the future may hold. But when tensions run high and supplies run low, the controversy over Rasputin grows into fiery protest, and calls for revolution threaten to end 300 years of Romanov rule.
The Review
As a major fan of history and learning about different time periods and cultures, I absolutely loved getting to learn more about the last of the Romanov Family. Olga was the perfect protagonist to feature in this story, as she would have been the most in the know about her parent’s dealings and lives. Reading about the influence that Gregori Rasputin had on the family born out of their fears and desperation to save their only son was both captivating and heartbreaking, but in truth getting a written perspective from Olga that showed this prominent and iconic family in history from a more personal angle was what really captivated me as a reader, showing their flaws and yet showing the strength of their bond as a family in the face of every adversity they faced.
The imagery and tone of the narrative were breathtaking, showcasing both the regal and powerful image that the royal family held and the parties that the wealthy in St. Petersburg held as well as the cold and harsh realities of war and the rage that the people held for the royal family and the elites during this time of revolution and power changes. The even pacing allowed the reader to fully understand this infamous yet not as understood point of history, and the emotional moments between Olga and her family, as well as her intimate moments with characters like Mitya, really held audiences and enthralled them with how personal the narrative felt.
The Verdict
Engaging, heartfelt, and historically driven, author Bryn Turnbull’s “The Last Grand Duchess” is a must-read novel of 2022 for all fans of historical fiction. The personal and emotional journey Olga goes on with her family and the attention to detail will have historical fiction fans on the edge of their seats with anticipation, and readers will not be able to put this book down until the final heartbreaking page. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Bryn Turnbull is the bestselling author of The Woman Before Wallis. Equipped with a master’s of letters in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews, a master’s of professional communication from Ryerson University and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from McGill University, Bryn focuses on finding stories of women lost within the cracks of the historical record. She lives in Toronto.
Here is an Excerpt from Bryn Turnbull’s “The Last Grand Duchess”
1
March 1917
Tsarskoe Selo
Shots rang out across the twilit grounds of Alexander Park. Sit-ting on the window ledge in her father’s study, Olga turned her head toward the sound. She’d heard gunfire in the days and weeks since the riots had broken out in Petrograd, though they’d never sounded so close, so final. Incongruously, she thought not of advancing troops, but of her brother Alexei and his cap-gun, firing at imagined enemies in the grounds where, at this very moment, true monsters stalked between the trees.
Across the room, shrouded in the darkness that had cloaked the palace since the electricity lines were cut days before, Olga’s mother pulled a shawl across her shoulders. Candlelight sent dark flames up the cavernous bookshelves that lined the walls, illuminating her weary face.
“Abdicated?” she whispered.
Panic gripped her by the throat, and Olga turned to face the window once more. In the deepening gloom, she fancied she could see the orange glow of bonfires. “I don’t understand. In favor of Alexei?” She glanced at Mamma: Alexei’s chronic poor health had always made him seem older than his age, but at twelve, he was still very much a child, and far too young to take on the heavy burden of ruling.
Standing in front of the tsarina, Major General Resin, the commander who’d taken charge of the garrison of troops that protected Olga’s family, cleared his throat. “No, Your Majesty. It’s more complicated than that. We’re still receiving information from the front, but it seems His Imperial Highness was most insistent on the matter. He offered the crown to his brother, Grand Duke Mikhail, but the grand duke refused it. The Duma has formed a provisional government to determine what will happen next, but as I said, we will learn more once His Majesty returns.”
Olga turned her attention back to Mamma, shutting out the continued rattle of gunfire—no closer to the palace walls, but no further away, either. Having spent the last several weeks nursing her siblings through a fierce bout of German measles, Olga had not had the time nor the energy to keep abreast of political developments, but she’d heard enough to know that unrest had been boiling in the capital. Protests in the coal plants; riots in bread lines. Rolling blackouts, hitting tenements and palaces alike; rallies and calls for change, growing ever louder as the war against the Central Powers continued to leech provisions from households and businesses.
But abdication?
From within the white folds of the Red Cross veil she’d worn since the start of the war, Mamma’s face fell, her pale eyes darting around the room. “I don’t understand,” she said. “I simply don’t understand.”
She reached out a thin hand, waving her fingers insistently; recognizing the movement, Olga stepped forward and took it, searching for a logical route through her own confusion. She could hear a buzzing in her head: an insistent roar, the sound of surf crashing against the hull of a ship. With Papa’s abdication, the situation had become everything she’d feared, the sickening finality in the word itself enough to keep it from passing her lips: revolution.
She squeezed Mamma’s hand, watching as Resin’s fingers tightened on the flat brim of his cap. “Where is Papa?”
“He’s coming here, Grand Duchess,” replied Resin, “but in the opinion of the Provisional Government, the palace is not the safest place—not for His Imperial Majesty, and not for you, either. I’m afraid they can no longer guarantee your welfare.”
Mamma looked up sharply. “We have three hundred loyal Cossacks at the gate—the finest soldiers this country has ever produced,” she said, sounding for a moment like her old, fierce self. “They’re loyal to my husband. I fail to see the danger.”
Resin shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, Minister Rodzianko disagrees. The barracks in Tsarskoe Selo have begun to riot; they’re singing the ‘Marseillaise’ as we speak.”
Mamma paled. Olga recalled visiting the garrison less than a year earlier, trotting on horseback past 40,000 troops all sworn to protect the tsar and his family. How could 40,000 minds be so easily turned?
“And what of my children?” Mamma persisted. “Tatiana can hardly walk. Maria and Anastasia are delirious, and the tsarevich is in a very delicate state—”
“With all due respect, Your Majesty.” Resin met Mamma’s gaze directly. “When the house is in flames, one carries out the children.”
The room fell silent. Despite her attempt at composure, Olga began to shake, a thin, uncontrollable trembling, which, given the darkness of the study, she hoped Resin couldn’t see.
Mamma gripped Olga’s fingers in a silent plea to keep calm. Though her poor health would make it appear otherwise, Mam-ma’s Victorian upbringing had given her a stiff upper lip which Olga and her sisters lacked. She’d been instrumental in running the government since Papa went to command the front, overseeing the distribution of relief aid to soldiers’ families, orchestrating shipments of food and provisions, reining in the government ministers whose political agendas risked the country’s success at the front. Despite what people said about her—despite her Ger-man roots—Mamma had led Russia through the worst of the war years, relying on her faith in God and in Papa to make the decisions others would not.
How had things gone so wrong?
Mamma stood. “We will stay,” she said finally, lifting her chin. “I won’t leave the palace without my husband.”
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man born of two worlds and seeking his place in the world finds himself forced to fight in growing global conflicts while building his family in author Gary Turner’s “I’ll Take My Chances Volume 1”, the first in the trilogy of the same name.
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The Synopsis
The story begins in the 1850’s and sets the stage for generational visions and wisdom sharing through the character of Walking Thunder. More than a century ago, most whites gave little credence to such notions.As Sidney travels through the story, he immigrates to Canada dreaming of owning a farm. He initially finds misplaced love with Mystique, although it is with Emma, that he finds lasting love and a home.When World War 1 erupts, he is torn between the Indian and white way. His decision sets the direction for Emma and their descendants in the following decades.
The Review
This was such a visceral and brilliant read. The author did such a great job of striking a resonating chord for those who have served or who are fascinated with historical fiction that explores real-time wars and battles. The imagery and history the author fused into the narrative kept the story balanced, while the emotional journey readers go on as the author explores how war and history have shaped this family through generations was amazing to read.
The characters were a real bright spot in this novel. The balance the author found between creative writing when developing some of the characters while also infusing people from his own family history and historical landmarks and battles was fantastic to see, as it made the book feel not only relatable but personal at the same time. Getting to see the historical aspect of Canada, from the impact war and European settlers had on the indigenous people of the land and how WWI impacted this growing family, was a real treat historically while also truly emotional on a personal level.
The Verdict
A memorable, haunting, and entertaining historical fiction read, author Gary Turner’s “I’ll Take My Chances Volume 1” is a must-read novel. The way the author is able to take readers into the “action” so to speak and show the intensity and reality of war while also striking a harmonious tone within this developing family line and showing the impact of war showcases just how strong of a voice the author carries into his work. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
The son of a career solider, Gary developed a keen interest in military history at a young age. His family lived in various locations in Canada and also a three year posting to Germany. Over the years he developed a passion for writing short stories and essays. Several of those essays have been published in a national magazine. His grandfather fought in The Great War and four decades ago, Gary began researching Canada’s involvement in that conflict. Another obsession of his, which began fifty years ago, is riding motorcycles, naturally enough without his parent’s knowledge. In 2011 he toured the old Western Front in Belgium and France on his BMW. That trip of a lifetime, led to the germination of his new novel, I’ll Take My Chances.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Three mothers and friends-turned-frenemies must work together to solve what happened to a local high school girl after she is found unconscious months after her disappearance after the police are unable to move forward in the investigation in author Kristen Bird’s domestic thriller, “The Night She Went Missing”.
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The Synopsis
Months after she disappeared, a high school senior is found floating in the town’s harbor, alive but unconscious. Where has Emily been, and how did she get into the water? In Kristen Bird’s “gripping” (Publishers Weekly) debut The Night She Went Missing, three friends-to-frenemies mothers in a close-knit, wealthy Texas community decide to investigate after the police hit a dead end. While each woman has secrets to protect, they’ll all be forced to look at their own children – or each other’s – to uncover the truth.
With the relentless pacing and complex female characters of Big Little Lies and an expertly crafted small town setting, The Night She Went Missing introduces Kristen Bird as a new force in the world of domestic suspense. Her novel goes well beyond that, exploring complex questions about mothers and daughters, loss, and the line between taking chances and living dangerously.
The Review
What an adrenaline-fueled thriller! The pulse-pounding narrative really infuses a sense of mystery and suspense into the character arcs and dialogue as each chapter peels back the layers of the story and the character’s pasts as well. The author found amazing notes of dread and spine-chilling terror as the actions of the mothers, their children, and their community begin to unfold.
What really stood out to me was the character arc. A great way of differentiating a domestic suspense thriller from your average murder mystery type of thriller is the intimate community setting and character development that can be found within. The author really captured that voice and tone in the novel, and these protagonists were crucial to that vibe, as these mothers balanced the struggles of parenting and their own identities with the actions of their children and other members of the community.
The Verdict
A striking, engaging, and haunting read, author Kristen Bird’s debut novel “The Night She Went Missing” is a must-read domestic suspense thriller and a brilliant first novel in the author’s career. With a shocking series of twists and turns, the narrative will keep readers invested in diving down the rabbit hole that is this small-town mystery and the final revelation will have readers spinning as one of the protagonists has their world turned upside down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Kristen Bird lives outside of Houston, Texas with her husband and three daughters. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music and mass media before completing a master’s in literature. She teaches high school English and writes with a cup of coffee in hand. In her free time, she likes to visit parks with her three daughters, watch quirky films with her husband and attempt to keep pace with her rescue lab-mixes. THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING is her debut novel.
Here is an Excerpt from Kristen Bird’s The Night She Went Missing
EMILY
They find me faceup in the murky water of the harbor on the day of my funeral. Or memorial service. Whatever. It’s not like there’s much difference. Dead is dead.
Except I’m not. I. Am. Not. Dead. I would pinch myself if I could move.
“Can you hear me? Hey, what’s your name? Can you open your eyes?”
My eyes are as dense and heavy as basalt. Basalt: rich in iron and magnesium, Mr. Schwartz penned on the board during our volcanic rock unit in eighth grade. I fight to come out of the emptiness that has held me for the past…the past what? Hours? Days? Weeks?
I attempt to whisper my name even though my eyelids remain anchored. Emily. That’s right. Emily. I can’t remember the last time I voiced those three syllables.
“Pull her up.”
Hands yank at me, jerking me from the arms of the water. Two hands wander up my body—over my feet, my legs, the arch of my hips, my arms, onto my neck, stopping at my forehead. This touch is not like the familiar plying of the boy I love, so fiery that it almost stings. This touch is necessary, cold, perfunctory. Perfunctory, Mrs. Abbot, my sophomore English teacher had pronounced for us students as we learned the word for the first time. P-E-R-F-U—
The voice cuts in. “Tell them we have a girl, a teenager. No broken bones as far as I can tell but looks like she’s been out here for hours. Unconscious, but breathing on her own.” His voice muff les as he turns his head. “I think she might be Emily.”
Suddenly, a brilliant choir of tenors and baritones and basses burst forth. “The Emily?”
Emily. Yes, that’s me. What a comforting thing to hear one’s name spoken by those who can point the way home. I breathe in gratitude and descend into the lightness of sleep before a hand touches my cheek again.
“You awake, Emily?”
The swooshing of the waves calls to me, a reminder that the song of the deep is steady despite all the new sounds: The bustle of work boots, the hum of the boat waiting to churn to life and set out across the open sea.
“Your mama’s been looking for you, Ms. Emily. You gave us all a fright. You hear me?” The man seems to sense that I can hear his words while my body remains frozen despite the warmth of the water and the sun overhead. “You’re gonna be okay, sweetheart. Yes, ma’am, you’re gonna make it just fine. Got a daughter about your age, and I woulda been worried sick if my girl had gone missing for weeks on end. Your mama sure is gonna be happy.”
A nasally voice now. “Where you think she’s been all this time? Turned into a mermaid?” The boy chuckles.
“Hush, Beau.”
The man’s hand touches my forehead, his fingers sandpapery with callouses. “Now, sweetheart, if you can open your eyes for a sec, I can introduce you properly to the crew. We’re getting you help as fast as we can, but you can go ahead and open them eyes before all the medics arrive. They’d be good and relieved to see you looking around.”
I try. Oh, how I want to f licker them open, but my head aches and oblivion pulls harder. The siren call of the void is too tempting to resist.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young heir to the throne is sent away to be protected from a looming threat, but finds sins of the kingdom’s past may find their way back to her in author Richard H. Stephen’s “Keeper of the Jewel: Highcliff Guardians Epic Fantasy Series”, the first book in the Soul Forge Universe series.
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The Synopsis
Something evil lurks beneath the palace.
A phantasm from a darker past makes its presence known to Khae Wys, Queen of the Elves.
Braving the perils of a haunted tower, the queen seeks the counsel of the mysterious Fae, for only they can predict what is to come. A future that doesn’t bode well for her only living child.
In a desperate attempt to save the heir to the Willow Throne, Princess Ouderling is exiled to the only place capable of protecting her. Highcliff, the home of the coveted Crystal Cavern and the dragons that watch over it.
The Duke of Grim, however, has other plans for the princess.
The Review
I absolutely loved this book! The world-building was phenomenal, and the imagery the author infused into the narrative, (both literarily speaking and literally) was superb to see. The use of artwork throughout the book was an inspired choice, as the author was able to give readers a visual representation of the tone and quality of the characters that strengthened the emotional connection readers had for them.
I loved how complex and realistic the relationships and personalities of these fantasy characters felt. While I absolutely love fantasy-driven narratives, some novels can get so heavy with the fantasy elements that character choices and personalities can feel stuffy or disconnected in some way. Yet this author found a great way of making the characters either relatable or realistic enough for readers to recognize. Even protagonist Princess Ouderling perfectly represents the young woman who must undergo a heroic journey and face the past of her kingdom, but also holds that youthful sense of rebellion and need for an identity all her own, which will resonate greatly with younger readers especially.
The Verdict
A brilliant, entertaining, and amazingly haunting world of epic fantasy that readers won’t want to miss, author Richard H. Stevens’s “Keeper of the Jewel” is a must-read novel and the perfect start to a brand new fantasy series. What really was great to see was that this book was the first of a new series, but was set within an even greater series the author already has written. Yet the story felt fresh and was able to be enjoyed seamlessly by newcomers while still hitting great story strides with established lands and characters at the same time. It made for such a rich and powerful read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Born in Simcoe, Ontario, in 1965, I began writing circa 1974; a bored child looking for something to while away the long, summertime days. My penchant for reading The Hardy Boys led to an inspiration one sweltering summer afternoon when my best friend and I thought, “Hey, we could write one of those.” And so, I did.
As my reading horizons broadened, so did my writing. Star Wars inspired me to write a 600-page novel about outer space that caught the attention of a special teacher, Mr. Woodley, who encouraged me to keep writing.
A trip to a local book store saw the proprietor introduce me to Stephen R. Donaldson and Terry Brooks. My writing life was forever changed.
At 17, I left high school to join the working world to support my first son. For the next twenty-two years I worked as a shipper at a local bakery. At the age of 36, I went back to high school to complete my education. After graduating with honours at the age of thirty-nine, I became a member of our local Police Service, and worked for 12 years in the provincial court system.
In early 2017, I resigned from the Police Service to pursue my love of writing full-time. With the help and support of my lovely wife Caroline and our 5 children, I have now realized my boyhood dream.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and Poet Gary E. Moore use his experience living in Chicago’s South Side and as an inner-city school teacher and father to deliver a collection of poetry that dispels the trope of the “angry black man” and instead paints a realistic yet emotionally-driven image of vulnerability in his book, “Songs for the Cleveland Avenue Warriors”.
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The Synopsis
Some poets spend their lives within the cloistered walls of colleges and universities.Gary E. Moore has spent his life dedicated to education-but not behind cloisteredwalls. In over fi ve decades on Earth, he’s been educated by the streets of Chicago’ssouth side, by a system designed to deal out law and order disproportionately, andby a culture which rejects the idea of the nurturing, gentle black man. In his poeticdebut, Moore draws on his experience as an inner city schoolteacher, as a father, and as a former child himself to paint an emotional landscape which is alternatelypoignant, shocking, witty, and furious.
In “Songs for the Cleveland Avenue Warrior,” Moore breaks the strangling troupeof the angry black man with the vulnerability of his message, the melody of hislanguage, and the passion for nurturing which is woven throughout the work.Written in three sections, in honor of ancestral gemetric wisdom, “Songs” is a timemachine, a critique on the present, and a piercing ray of hope which illuminates ourcollective humanity.
The Review
I absolutely loved this book. The collection brought such a harmonious tone to both the emotions each of these poems conveys with the narrative style of poetry the collection took on. Exploring life and the adversities he faced over his life, the poems did an amazing job of putting the reader into the author’s world and visualizing the experiences and accompanying emotions that came with those experiences.
The themes and representation that the author included in this book were perfect. The examination of race, class, and family set against the backdrop of the Chicago South Side was an inspired and heartfelt choice. The examination of our nation’s broken system and how it impacts various communities, in particular the Black Community, was perfectly represented here. Yet it was the way the author’s poems contradicted and erased the stereotypes often thrust upon the Black Community, especially young black men, that was so captivating and emotional to read.
The Verdict
A beautiful, thoughtful, and highly creative collection of poems, author Gary E. Moore’s “Songs For the Cleveland Avenue Warriors” is a must-read book. The imagery and honesty the author conveys in these poems and the way not only his own personal experiences impacted the narrative style poetry found within but how readers will be able to read into these poems was truly awe-inspiring. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
**SPECIAL NOTE**: This book, as expressed by the publisher, was written in the manner in which the author himself speaks, and all misspellings and particular language used in the book is a result of the publisher choosing to honor and celebrate the voices from Black and Indigenous communities from all around the world. Therefore, any strong language found within the review title, synopsis, or author bio is a result of the idiosyncratic language used by the author himself and not a reflection of this reviewer’s language. I am proud to be able to share unique voices and respect the author creating an authentic and cherished story that reflects his own way of speaking.
A young Black man who dies as the result of gun violence finds himself taking on the role of Death and collecting souls from those whose time has arrived, but finds himself starting to empathize with those whose souls he takes in author Duvay Knox’s “Soul Collector”.
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The Synopsis
Collecting souls is the job, and the bosses in Hell are some shady motherfuckers. With new rules and reeling revelations with every assignment, the job doesn’t seem to be quite what it appears-and promotions come at a price.
A quick-paced supernatural thriller, “Soul Collector” follows the journey of Sippian, a young victim of gang violence, who in Hell assumes the role of Death and struggles to understand the convoluted rules and shadowy figures-and morality-he faces in the afterlife. What will it take for him to become, and remain, DAT Nigga? What will it cost? And who’s setting the price?
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Every era has its Bard. Its keeper of historical, scientific, and cultural knowledge. Its spiritual lightning rod. Its wizened satirist. Its destroyer of old and top-heavy ideas. In the era of Late Stage US Capitalism and COVID-19, Duvay Knox is that Bard. A long time urban folklorist, first time formally published writer, and holder of countless secret titles, Knox’ work in “Soul Collector” is both page-turningly fascinating, and spiritually salient to our times.
The Review
This was a gripping and mesmerizing work of urban folklore. The author did a great job of balancing his unique voice and perspective with a creative and thought-provoking fictional tale of death and those caught in its clutches. The world-building and character development were amazing and did a great job of elevating the theme and tone the author set from the beginning of this fast-paced noir read.
What stood out of course was the author’s brilliant dedication to representation and keeping a truly authentic voice for this book. The story wasn’t just entertaining, but socially and culturally important as it gave a community not often recognized quite as authentically as others in the folklore/horror noir genre a true voice. The imagery and atmosphere the author layered onto the narrative were amazing, as was the exploration of the protagonist’s moral dilemma when dealing with the business of death.
The Verdict
Memorable, heartfelt, and honest yet vividly creative, author Duvay Knox’s “Soul Collector” is a must-read book. Comedy and satire wrapped into horror and urban folklore box and delivered with culturally relevant and dialogue-driven narrative, the author really gave readers a personal yet relatable experience that not only represents the author’s own authentic voice but allowed for a thought-provoking message woven into a highly entertaining noir read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
I cum outta the South, by way of Louisiana and Tennessee, wit these Tales you see listed on this page. Life has turned me into a Savage Writer of black pulp fiction, black exploitation, black folklore, and black erotica – gritty shit that makes you wanna laff, cry, scream or make nasty love. RUMOR has it I was born frum the last nut in my Daddys sack. And came into this world when HE came. Needless to say, my birth was traumatic. Thus, I arrived heah wit an Attitude. The Doctor slapped me, and I slapped him back. And so mah Journey began. To find Myself. I ran them Streets. I walked the Path. I graduated frum Sidewalk University. I got my PH.D frum the School of Hard Knocks. I still haven’t found Myself. But I did find my VOICE. So Imma take my time and tell my Stories.
