I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young parapsychologist must face her fears and decide whether to help two recently deceased teens who have nine days to solve how they died in author Wendra Colleen’s “The Inn Between.”
Advertisements
The Synopsis
Teenagers J.T. and Sylvia have no memory of dying, only how much they hate each other. Trapped at The Inn Between, a B&B of the afterlife, they have nine days to discover how they died. If they solve the mystery, they can choose to evolve; if they don’t, they will be reborn with their memories wiped, destined to die young again.
In the realm of the living, Dr. Jillian Flaggerty, a young, newly minted parapsychologist, suppresses her childhood ability to rescue earthbound ghosts. She wants to avoid another trip to an institution and succeed in her first job. On a ghostly visit to Earth, J.T. realizes that only Jillian can see and hear him and begs for her help. Jillian denies J.T.’s existence until she uncovers a personal connection to the teen ghosts. Then Jillian has to choose between saving souls or her sanity as time winds down for J.T. and Sylvia to reconcile their differences, face the truth of their deaths, and avoid being reborn.
If you’re looking for an escape like Cemetery Boys, Neverworld Wake, and The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts with a dash of The Good Place, don’t wait to read this high-stakes supernatural novel.
The Review
This was such a compelling and heartfelt paranormal and contemporary fantasy read. The author expertly wove a unique mythos surrounding the afterlife and death while also capturing a profound and moving story of trauma, loss, and what it means to be human. The author’s powerful imagery captured the creative storytelling and rich atmosphere not only of the story but also of places like the In Between.
The heart of this book was in the character dynamics and world-building. The afterlife and concepts of different dimensions and worlds being traversed and the idea of evolving versus being reincarnated to develop more fully was such a powerful storytelling device, and the emotional connection readers make with the protagonists of this story, from J.T.’s compounded rejection to Sylvia’s spiral and so much more, will leave a lasting impact on readers and will keep them invested in the growing narrative.
The Verdict
Thought-provoking, engaging, and mesmerizing, author Wendra Colleen’s “The Inn Between” is a must-read YA contemporary and paranormal fantasy novel. The mystery and intrigue behind the protagonist’s deaths, the shocking revelations as they discover more about what happened to them, and the exploration of shared trauma and forgiveness will touch readers’ hearts and keep them invested in this growing story. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on October 31st, 2025, or preorder your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
Advertisements
About the Author
Wendra Colleen’s motto is “Embrace your weirdness.” Her dark and humorous short stories, screenplays, and novels show how unique, unusual, and unconventional individuals transform adversity into empowerment. Funky facts include that she has a PhD in experimental psychology and deployed to the Iraq War as a civilian, all of which was a breeze compared to learning how to embrace her unique, unusual, and unconventional qualities in high school.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A group of people in a world where magic has been destroyed must discover if this is truly the case in author Andrew P. Merrit’s “Ballad of the Blade”, the first book in the A Serenade of Smoke series.
Advertisements
The Synopsis
Ballad of the Blade is a dark, gritty, multi-pov epic, with a dash of horror, and a dollop of gallows humor. It is the debut novel of Andrew P Meritt and the first story of many in A Serenade of Smoke.
Magic is dead.
The Order made sure of that. They gathered it up, and what they couldn’t destroy, they hid. Now, noble houses squabble over the realm, civil unrest smolders in the east, slavery and injustice run rampant, all while mankind hides behind their two-faced gods.
However, the truth is, magic isn’t dead. It’s just been sleeping, and I intend to wake it.
Under the light of a sinister moon:
A promising initiate struggles to conform in an organization that wants to exterminate the very magic running in his blood. A hired assassin fights to stay one step ahead of shadows, betrayals, and past mistakes. A musician in over his head tries desperately to trade debt from one group of killers to another. A slave of blood and sand claws his way toward freedom, one corpse at a time. An irreverent Justiseer struggles with a particularly obstinate severed head. A man wakes with no memory, only to discover a community with problems far greater than his amnesia.
Each of them is forced to question if magic truly is dead and wonder…
Should it be?
The Review
I loved the shifting perspectives of each chapter in this novel. Anytime a novel adapts a multiple POV style of storytelling, readers are given the chance to view the story from unique perspectives that change as each character sees a situation through their own lens. The dynamics between the characters were well ranged, from humorous and competitive at times in the dialogue to chilling and haunting all at once. The powerful imagery in the author’s writing really did an incredible job of bringing this story to life and the world it inhabits.
The world-building and powerful themes this story comprises will really drive the narrative forward. The unique implications of magic and its impact on the world, as well as the changes that result when it is stripped away politically and socially, are fleshed out in shocking ways in the story. The visceral, gritty detail the author puts into this narrative helps lend realism to themes of survival against all odds and of facing challenges and hardships, such as slavery and corrupt leaders.
The Verdict
Powerful, haunting, and compelling, author Andrew Meritt’s “Ballad of the Blade” is a must-read dark fantasy novel and a great start to a brand new series. The twists and turns, and the visceral tone of the story overall, capture a harrowing tale of shifting perspectives and overlapping storylines, resulting in a cohesive, massive world that readers can easily get lost in. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
Advertisements
About the Author
Andrew Meritt grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he began telling stories around the campfire. Work has taken him from Alaska to Minnesota, Ohio, and California. He is now settled in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife, Annika, and their two dogs, Zagreus and Alyeska. He spends his free time rock climbing, snowboarding, and woodworking. Ballad of the Blade is his debut novel.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
Reporting on business during the early days of the internet was one of my first writing jobs. I loved the fast pace, and soon transitioned into TV as a producer at a popular news outlet. I wrote broadcast copy for newscasts, and thrilled at paring back long sentences into crisp one-liners.
Journalism was already under fire way back then, and I made the switch to PR, where I’ve worked in corporate communications for 20 years. While many think business is boring, it’s full of invention and progress, driven by fascinating personalities.
Then, late last year, after years of telling other people’s stories, I wanted to tell one of my own.
Advertisements
2) What inspired you to write your book?
When I started the Serenity Acres Series, I planned five volumes, with a strong idea about volumes three, four and five. I was stumped on how to progress from Dinked until…
I fell prey to an age-old publishing scam, backed by a slick overseas operation.
When I discovered the duplicity, I was shocked. I went through all of the typical emotional stages of fraud.
I also laughed at the irony. Dinked already contained an Amazon phishing subplot. Life imitating art.
And what domestic thriller writer wouldn’t dream of taking revenge on the very people who burned her?
The more I learned about the people behind my fraud, the more I questioned their true identities. I don’t know who the real John Eden or Jordan Delgado is, or where they live. Certain things they said resonated when I read articles about people in Southeast Asia swept up into call centres and forced labour.
Was I catfished by prisoners? I don’t know and never will. But I got my frustrations out in Shafted.
3) What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
There are no takeaways of values in Serenity Acres! Everyone’s a hot mess with a secret. I do think the residents might benefit from self-reflection.
4) What drew you into this particular genre?
I grew up watching staples like Colombo and Murder She Wrote, where every camera zoom or lingering shot hinted at a clue to be placed into an orderly conclusion.
That, and a heavy dose of daytime soaps, which my Mom loved while ironing! I loved the absurd twists; double-lives, dramatic affairs and anything but domestic bliss.
5) If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
Daphne! I would love to know why she shops so much! She seems to have it all but is intent on throwing it away. Irwin is devoted to her and they have two great kids, but she’s focused on everything but, including her pet costume biz.
Oh, and Clara. But I might be afraid to get too into her head.
6) What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
Facebook. I’ve shared character cards and reels with great engagement. I know I should use TikTok but haven’t gotten to it yet. I sort of hate the idea of another platform.
7) What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Stay true to your story; you know the way you want to tell it.
Most of my characters are quantifiable jerks, but with redeeming qualities. Much like real life: faulted, vulnerable and complex. Have a plan and move it forward with clarity. Keep details relevant and tied together at the end. No one cares what kind of cookie a character likes, unless they’re going to kill someone with it.
Advertisements
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With over twenty years of spinning stories in corporate communications, Dinked: Serenity Acres. Where Secrets Barely Stay Hidden is Crystal Quast’s debut novel. When she’s not writing, Crystal loves playing pickleball and tennis, paddleboarding, hiking, and spending time with her family.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young Goth warrior’s quest to give his people freedom continues as his service to Rome begins in author Les Jauron’s “Wallia’s Quest Book 2: In Roman Service.”
Advertisements
The Synopsis
“My name is Wallia, and I am a Goth.” With these words Wallia continues his epic forty-year quest for freedom from Rome and a permanent home for his people. The second book of the series begins after Wallia is betrayed by his nemesis, Eriulf, and is forced to flee for his life from the Goths.
Given refuge by the Romans, Wallia meets Emperor Theodosius and agrees to support the emperor’s plan—to give his people a homeland within the empire in exchange for providing soldiers to serve Rome. Wallia then joins the Scholae Palatinae, the elite cavalry squadron that protects the emperor.
In his position near the center of power, Wallia quickly learns the intricacies of court life and becomes a valued advisor to the emperor. After a short sojourn to Gaul, where he unsuccessfully attempts to save the Western Roman emperor from himself, Wallia returns to Constantinople. Eventually, as a reward for his outstanding service, Wallia is given a Roman estate and marries a Roman woman. She gives Wallia a son and the proud parents decide to raise their child as a Roman.
Then fate intervenes. Wallia is called back into Roman service to help the emperor to defeat a massive barbarian invasion and several Roman usurpers. Through endless marching, intense fighting, constant conflict, shifting loyalties, and incessant intrigues, Wallia learns some hard truths. Things are not always what they seem. Bad decisions lead to immeasurable suffering. The Goths and Romans have different interests. Unity requires leaders to subordinate their goals to those of the tribe. And, most importantly, the emperor does not see the Goths as partners in a shared enterprise—but as a weapon to be used against his enemies.
These hard truths force Wallia to make hard choices. Can he trust his people, even after being betrayed by his enemies in the tribe? Does his loyalty to his own people outweigh his oath to Rome? Or, should he remain faithful to an emperor who is willing to fight to the last Goth to maintain his power?
In the end, Wallia must decide if his future is with Rome—or the Goths.
The Review
This sequel is a fantastic narrative that pushes the envelope and continues to capture the Roman Empire’s powerful history. The level of world-building and historical context the author pours into this sequel is astounding, allowing readers to get a glimpse into the events of the first book while diving straight into the action and politics that demanded so much of Wallia’s time in this novel. The powerful imagery in the author’s writing style captured the wildness of Wallia and his group’s travels, the glory of Rome’s spectacle and setting, and the gritty intrigue of the power struggles these leaders played out amongst themselves.
The character dynamics and powerful themes played a significant role in this story. The protagonist himself undergoes substantial growth and comes to haunting realizations about those he both admires and distrusts, discovering that things are often not what they seem. The mystery and suspense of whose allegiance he will ultimately favor become a driving point in this narrative, and the struggle for faith, equality, and even love becomes a driving force in his role in the growing relationship between Rome’s ruling elite and his people, the Goths. The morality of his role in his people’s path was also deeply explored, showing the character’s remorse for having been misled into persecuting a family for no reason, or, in this book, for infiltrating rival groups of Rome and making questionable decisions to secure the mission he was given.
The Verdict
A complex, enthralling, and memorable historical fiction novel, author Les Jauron’s “Wallia’s Quest Book 2: In Roman Service” is a must-read novel. The attention to detail regarding the history and historical figures themselves, the balance of action and intrigue, and the thought-provoking depth of character development that added to the intrigue of political backstabbing and power struggles in the Roman Empire and beyond made this such a fantastic sequel to get lost in. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
Advertisements
About the Author
Les Jauron is a West Point graduate, a retired Army officer, and a retired college administrator. He has two graduate degrees – a Master’s in Military Arts and Sciences from the School for Advanced Military Studies, and a Master’s in Business Administration from Oklahoma City University.
Les has always been fascinated by history, organizational leadership, politics, military affairs, and rocks. He’s always been fascinated by the ancient world and, particularly, late antiquity. The reason for this fascination is because that world did much to shape our world today. During that time, the Roman Empire dealt with many of the same issues we are experiencing in our modern world — immigration, great disparities of wealth, the interplay between Christianity and government, and a toxic political environment that causes politicians to leverage fear of “the other” to gain and maintain power.
Les and his wife, Zoela, lived in their motor home for four years after Les retired for the second time and traveled extensively through the western United States. After ending their RV odyssey, Les and Zoela settled for a few years in Clarkdale, Arizona before moving to Chico California to be closer to their three children and nine grandchildren.
During their wanderings, Les grew to love red rocks and exploring slot canyons, hoo-doos, arches and natural bridges, and ancient petroglyphs and pictographs. After settling in Arizona, he began collecting rocks of every sort — which are now strewn throughout the house and the backyard. Recently, Les and Zoela moved to Chico, California to be nearer to their three children and nine grandchildren.
But writing is Les’ greatest passion. He uses fiction as his medium to entertain, to educate, provoke thought, challenge assumptions, and inspire change.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young Goth warrior must fight to secure freedom for his people in author Les Jauron’s “Wallia’s Quest Book 1: Beyond the Donaws.”
Advertisements
The Synopsis
“My name is Wallia, and I am a Goth.” With these words, Wallia begins the story of his forty-year quest for freedom from Roma and a homeland for his people. In this first book of the series, Wallia is a determined teenager eager to make his mark as the son of Athanaric, the pagan leader of the Goths.
When the Romans attack his people, Wallia goes to war with his father and distinguishes himself by his bravery. But then, in defiance of his father, Wallia becomes a Christian. Disowned by Athanaric, Wallia flees to his father’s rival, a Christian named Fritigern. As Wallia grows from a boy into a man, he quickly becomes one of Fritigern’s most trusted retainers and is at his patron’s side during the Goths’ unsuccessful war against the savage Huns.
After the Goths are driven from their homes by the Huns, Fritigern is forced to ask the Romans for sanctuary. Although Fritigern and his people are initially accepted by the Romans, the Goths are mistreated by corrupt Roman officials and forced into rebellion. In the war that follows, Wallia again distinguishes himself by his military skill, judgement, and bravery.
Although Fritigern now treats Wallia like a son, Fritigern’s actual son, Eriulf, sees Wallia as a threat and does everything he can to eliminate his rival. The story then devolves into a shifting web of alliances, intrigues, battles, and tragedies as Wallia does his best to support Fritigern but is undermined by Eriulf at every turn. Eventually, rejected by his patron, Wallia must make a series of difficult choices to maintain his honor and help his people to gain the freedom and permanent home they so desperately need.
The Review
This was such a rich and compelling historical fiction read. The author did an incredible job of offering detailed and fascinating insight into an era of Roman history that highlighted the struggles tribes and other cultures, such as the Goths, faced as they assimilated into the Roman Empire. The author’s powerful imagery transported readers to the period, and the level of detail made the narrative feel authentic and engaging at once.
The character development and rich history were the two cornerstones of this book. The protagonist was complex, sparing no details, as the first-person perspective gave the story an almost introspective, thoughtful tone. The complicated family drama of Wallia’s upbringing, as well as the complex political and military allegiances and betrayals he had to navigate as he rose through the ranks of his people and the Roman Empire, all spoke to the character’s sense of honor and duty. The historical detail that explored this time period was astounding, and the balance between history and fictional narrative was perfect in this story.
The Verdict
Visceral, compelling, and engaging, author Les Jauron’s “Wallia’s Quest Book 1: Beyond the Donaws” is a must-read historical fiction novel. The twists and turns in Wallia’s personal story, the dynamic historical setting that came alive on the page with intrigue, the conflicted nature of Wallia as a character, and the harrowing ending will give readers a reason to eagerly return for the next entry in this fantastic series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
Advertisements
About the Author
Les Jauron is a West Point graduate, a retired Army officer, and a retired college administrator. He has two graduate degrees – a Master’s in Military Arts and Sciences from the School for Advanced Military Studies, and a Master’s in Business Administration from Oklahoma City University.
Les has always been fascinated by history, organizational leadership, politics, military affairs, and rocks. He’s always been fascinated by the ancient world and, particularly, late antiquity. The reason for this fascination is because that world did much to shape our world today. During that time, the Roman Empire dealt with many of the same issues we are experiencing in our modern world — immigration, great disparities of wealth, the interplay between Christianity and government, and a toxic political environment that causes politicians to leverage fear of “the other” to gain and maintain power.
Les and his wife, Zoela, lived in their motor home for four years after Les retired for the second time and traveled extensively through the western United States. After ending their RV odyssey, Les and Zoela settled for a few years in Clarkdale, Arizona before moving to Chico California to be closer to their three children and nine grandchildren.
During their wanderings, Les grew to love red rocks and exploring slot canyons, hoo-doos, arches and natural bridges, and ancient petroglyphs and pictographs. After settling in Arizona, he began collecting rocks of every sort — which are now strewn throughout the house and the backyard. Recently, Les and Zoela moved to Chico, California to be nearer to their three children and nine grandchildren.
But writing is Les’ greatest passion. He uses fiction as his medium to entertain, to educate, provoke thought, challenge assumptions, and inspire change.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Paul DeRenzo shares a guide for teenagers and parents alike to help cope with anxiety and empower teens to build lasting relationships in the book “Calm Within Chaos.”
Advertisements
The Synopsis
Teens growing up in the 21st century are living in a world where social media, new technologies, and rapid spreading of information make them feel more connected than ever before. With this connectedness also comes new social, academic, and personal pressures nobody could have imagined decades ago. It is not surprising that over 70% of teens report feeling stressed on a daily basis, according to a 2024 research report by the American Psychological Association.
Are you a teen caught in the whirlwind of anxiety, stress, or anger, and not knowing what you can do to get out of it? Or are you a parent/caregiver searching for ways to better understand and support your teen through these emotional struggles? In either case, Calm Within Chaos is designed to help you navigate these situations.
This book was inspired by countless conversations with teens – conversations that started with confusion, frustration, and feelings of being misunderstood but ended with clarity and hope. While emotional struggles are an unavoidable part of growing up, having the right tools to manage them makes all the difference. This is more than just an anxiety workbook for teens—it’s a powerful guide to emotional strength and personal growth.
This book isn’t just about learning to control your emotions—it empowers you to live more fully, make better decisions, and build lasting, meaningful relationships. Whether you’re looking to reduce stress, improve your mood, or understand your teen’s emotional world, Calm Within Chaos provides the tools you need to create lasting change. It’s ideal for those seeking stress management for teenagers, tools for anxiety relief for teenagers, and even stress relief for high school students facing academic and social pressure.
What you will find in this book.?
Science-backed explanations of how we develop and experience emotions, based on insights found in books like The Wisdom of Anxiety and Redefining Anxiety
Techniques to address emotional triggers and develop healthy responses, perfect for anyone looking for social anxiety help or seeking a teen anxiety solution
Exercises to build skills in identifying emotions, managing stress, and building resilience—similar to a practical anxiety journal for teens
10 interactive challenges, quizzes, and reflections to reinforce your understanding—ideal for parents, caregivers, or therapists looking for a teen stress relief book or health anxiety book that delivers real results
This book is meant to help teens immediately! Each chapter ends with a 7-day long Teen Inner Peace Challenge that will tell teens exactly how to apply the lessons from that chapter in their actual life. This will help them navigate complex relationships with friends and classmates, family members, and even their social media relationships. It’s a valuable resource whether you’re working with emotionally resilient tweens and teens or supporting kids anxiety book readers moving into adolescence.
Parents/caregivers can use these challenges as a guide to help them ask the right questions to their teen and play a part in helping their teen gain healthy control of their emotions. Whether you’re looking for a social anxiety book, a teen anxiety guide, or something akin to a mindfulness for teens with anxiety toolset, this book offers it all.
Don’t let another day pass in emotional turmoil. Grab Calm Within Chaos today, and take the first step toward emotional mastery, resilience, and a calmer, more confident life. Perfect for anyone searching for a teens guide to anxiety, a social anxiety book for adults trying to relate to their teen, or support in helping young adults with anxiety.
The Review
This straightforward and compelling book is a valuable resource for teens and parents alike. The author does an incredible job of speaking directly to the reader, not only by recognizing the emotions teens experience but also by providing tools that empower them to take charge of their own emotional care. The balance the author found in not only identifying the causes of these stresses or anxieties and the steps needed to face them, but also in speaking directly to teens and to the parents or caregivers who need the proper tools to interact with and help teens going through these emotional moments.
At the heart of this book was a focus on relationships as a whole and an exploration of the pressures and challenges teenagers face in the modern world. As someone who grew up in an age that had only just begun to acknowledge mental health and still grew up around mentalities of just “toughening it out”, it was refreshing to see the honest and compassionate yet interactive way the author dove into the challenges facing teens today, from social media and academic pressure to the sadly uncertain future teens face due to the growing political and social divides that impact everything form relationships to economics and so much more. The way the book encourages teens and parents alike to find common ground and create an atmosphere that fosters emotional growth together was a bonus.
The Verdict
Memorable, honest, and engaging, author Paul DeRenzo’s “Calm Within Chaos” is a must-read nonfiction self-help and emotional guide for teens, parents, and everyone in between. The detail and straightforward writing style, along with actual tools and practices teens can use to tackle these emotions head-on, will be perfect for readers to return to time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
Advertisements
About the Author
Your Mindful Moments, PLLC is the driving force behind this
book, dedicated to helping you take control of your emotional well
being. The goal is simple: equip you with practical tools for
managing stress, building resilience, and creating stronger rela
tionships.
Paul DeRenzo, the founder and licensed therapist behind Your
Mindful Moments, PLLC, has over 10 years of experience helping
teens and adults navigate emotional challenges. His approach
blends mindfulness techniques with cognitive-behavioral strategies
to help you develop emotional resilience, manage stress, and thrive
in everyday life.
Through his work, Paul empowers clients to embrace emotional
regulation as a lifelong skill. For more resources, articles, and
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young woman finds work as an administrative assistant for an agency that places goblins and trolls in the book “The Night Girl” by James Bow.
Advertisements
The Synopsis
Perpetua Collins works for a real troll.
Well, technically a goblin, and it’s not as bad as it sounds. As the administrative assistant, she provides a “human” face for an employment agency specializing in placements for goblins and trolls. It’s probably the most unusual job she could find in Toronto, but she’s grateful for it, having come to the city with $500 in her pocket and no support. Without it, she’d have no choice but to go back to the boring small town and overbearing mother she worked so hard to leave.
But as Perpetua settles into her new job, disturbing questions arise. And no, they’re not about the fact that goblins and trolls exist. She’s fine with that part. What bothers her is that the agency has no visible means of support. How does her boss manage to keep his “clients” out of the public eye? They’ve been part of the city far longer than anyone thinks, and are growing restless under the burden of forced invisibility and financial poverty.
What will happen if the veil drops, and humans see?
The Review
This was such a unique and engaging fantasy read. The setting of Toronto became just as much a character as the rest of the characters in this book; its unique sights and sounds were captured in the detailed, beautiful imagery the author poured into their writing. The world-building in this novel was top-notch, giving readers an incredible blend of the Toronto scene and the otherworldly, mythical creatures that inhabit it, all in the author’s unique story.
The heart of this narrative lay in its character development and strong themes. The protagonist, Perpetua, is a strong lead who embodies the hopeful spark many try to hold onto as they venture into a new phase of their life, while also maintaining the strength to face the unknown without losing herself in the process. Identity becomes central to this narrative, not only for her but also for the clients she works with, as they seek steady work and acceptance. The commentary on inequality and social class structures was spot-on and fit well with this fantasy-driven narrative. Perpetua’s connection with Fergus is a strong hook that will keep readers invested.
The Verdict
Memorable, thoughtful, and entertaining, author James Bow’s “The Night Girl” is a must-read fantasy-driven novel. The story has a splash of everything, from a big battle that brings the action and adventure to the narrative, humor in the author’s dialogue, and a hint of romance as well for the protagonist, as the world-building and strong narrative create a world that readers will want to get lost in time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
Advertisements
About the Author
Version 1.0.0
I was born in downtown Toronto on April 19, 1972 and lived there until my folks moved up to Kitchener in 1991 so I could attend the University of Waterloo. I’ve lived in Kitchener ever since. I’ve been trained as an urban planner, and I’ve worked as a database manager, web designer, circulation manager, administrative assistant, layout designer and office manager. The one consistent thing about my varied academic and professional career has been a love of writing.
I love to write and I love to read. I especially love to write and read stories set in the young adult years when everything seems big and wonderful (and sometimes frustrating and frightening) and where the greatest achievement is growing up and conquering yourself. This has been a consistent element of a number of my fiction books.
To learn more about me and my writing, please visit my website:
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A schoolteacher hiding a dark secret finds her two worlds colliding in author Constantinos Koumontzis’s “She Looks Like Fun.”
Advertisements
The Synopsis
Ann Bonny hides beneath the façade of an innocent schoolteacher in Chicago but spends her nights a call girl. She masquerades herself through an online escort service to carry out her violent desires. Her two worlds collide one night as her dark tendencies cross paths with her ‘normal’ life. Miss Bonny is about to spiral into madness while trying to keep her two lives from combusting.
The Review
This was a compelling, gripping psychological thriller. The suspense and drama of the narrative create a sense of tension from the get, allowing readers to feel as if they are hanging over the edge of a rooftop, their heart in their throat, with every twist and turn in Ann’s story. The vivid imagery in the author’s writing style and the haunting atmosphere the storyline brought to life were very cinematic, keeping the reader engaged with this cast of characters throughout the narrative.
The powerful, driven character arcs and the novel’s dynamic themes really brought the whole thing together. Ann is a complex character, often balancing her work and social life to maintain her cover, with her nightlife activities a constant struggle. In one breath, she can be completely dumbfounded by the idea of a “happy hour” hang while easily able to plan out a gruesome crime. The concept of hidden secrets and of not fully knowing a person or their motives, while also exploring morality and justice in a society that often overlooks those who need them most, made this thriller stand out.
The Verdict
A haunting and chilling blend of horror, thriller, and suspense that evokes a tone similar to Breaking Bad, Dexter, and Killing Eve, author Constantinos Koumontzis’s “She Looks Like Fun” is a must-read psychological thriller for the fall season. The twists and turns this story takes and the cliffhanger finale are perfectly set up thanks to strong characters and complex narratives and themes that challenge the reader’s perspective several times throughout the novel. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
Advertisements
About the Author
Constantinos Koumontzis graduated from DePaul University Chicago with a Creative Writing bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. He was awarded the Mary Zavada writing endowment and honed his craft while studying abroad in London at the University of Westminster. He produced the short film “Touch” in 2024 and currently lives and writes in Los Angeles. “She Looks Like Fun” is his first novel.
Mark David Campbell has a new queer YA sci-fantasy book out (gay, lesbian, homonormative) Gear Box book 1: Gear Child.
From our beloved teddy bear to our cherished first car, we form deep emotional bonds with inanimate objects. Will AI machines inevitably develop the capacity to love us in return?
In a post-apocalyptic world that survives on garbage left over from the Gawd Wars eight generations ago, Sunny Boy, a semi-organic machine initially made to emulate a thirteen-year-old, and later modified as an eighteen-year-old, longs to be loved. His quest to find a family takes him from a farm in Winnipeg to the far reaches of the known galaxy. When Sunny Boy becomes embroiled in an ancient battle between a collective intelligence and a parasitic alien crystal, the boundaries between organic and inorganic life are called into question.
Warnings: Very low sex and violence (no gun play)
Series Blurb
The Gear Box Trilogy, which includes: Gear Child, The Arena of Mayhem, and The Wayward Star, is a journey of the heart that takes you from a devastated post-Gawd Wars Earth, across the Solar System to the far reaches of the galaxy, and explores the line between inanimate machine and animate life form.
Told from the perspectives of Sunny Boy, Fancy Larry, and Loofah—three AI machines—who understand the world around them through symbols, metaphors, and allegories. Along with their capacity for creative thought, empathy, and growth, they likewise struggle with issues of self-identity and self-esteem. Most of all, Sunny Boy, Fancy Larry, and Loofah, like any intelligent being, crave acceptance and long to be loved.
I unlatched the glass, and a salty, humid breeze blew into the cabin like it was saying welcome. In no time, the burnt land below us gave way to water, and the Captain veered the airship southward.
In the distance, I made out the silhouettes of broken and battered glass and steel towers all jutting out of the ocean like fingers of drowning men reaching up to be saved. I watched as the shadow of our airship glided along the surface of the water, silently sliding over the towers.
“Is that a city?”
“Once was.” The Captain nodded. “Greatest in the world. But that’s all that’s left of it.”
“Why is it underwater?”
“Ha!” the Captain snorted. “It happened a long time ago, during the Gawd Wars and the Great Flood, when my great-great-great-granddaddy was a boy.” The Captain scratched his head. “See, way back then, everybody had their own books full of old stories about Gawd. Most of the stories were the same, but everybody told them in a different way.” He furrowed his brow. “People started fighting and killing one another to prove their way of telling the stories was right, and the way other people told the stories was wrong.”
I looked at him with my mouth hanging open, trying hard to understand why people wanted to kill each other over a bunch of old stories.
“Was Gawd bad?”
“No, I don’t think so.” He shook his head. “But by the time everybody got tired of killing one another and blaming it on Gawd…” The Captain cleared his throat. “They’d already blown up all the big cities and poisoned the land. And as if that weren’t enough, they’d also melted the polar ice caps and flooded everything remaining along the coast.” Taking his beard in his hand, he stroked it a couple of times. “People don’t talk much about Gawd anymore.”
“Is that the hand of Gawd?” I pointed to a giant green hand sticking up above the surface of the water, holding what looked like a torch.
“No. That’s the hand of a giant woman. She was one of the idols they used to worship a long time ago.” He eased the throttle and floated the ship in closer so I could get a better look.
“What happened to her?” I tried to make out her body and head below the surface of the water, but all I saw was a cluster of barnacles and algae.
“I guess she got old and tired, and people had no use for her anymore.” The Captain veered the ship southward and pulled on the big wheel. Leaving the city of dead fingers behind, we continued on down the coast, rising slowly toward the jet stream, again.
“Oh, please! Who do you think designed robos in the first place—the military! And it wasn’t only for cleaning and sex.”
“Only those who get caught are sorry.”
I thought about all the people who had died, and I felt sad, but mostly I felt sad because my name would never be recorded there or anywhere else.
“Hey, kid, don’t feel bad. It’s not about you. That boy’s head’s so full of crap, he wouldn’t know a ray of sunshine even if it was beaming up his butt hole.”
He swept the scanner across the pilot’s groin, looked at it, and laughed. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. Your sperm look like a bowl full of goldfish somebody forgot to feed.”
“I thought I was dead.” He grasped both my hands. “Who are you? Some kind of a superhero?”
I felt my face flush. “No, I’m only a robo.”
He took my hand and kissed it. “Not to me.”
“Something tells me we’ve just met the resistance.”
Spinner frowned. “Beyond those doors, there’s nothing for me. I’m not like you.”
“I’m a robo, like you.”
“No, you’re not!” Spinner practically spat out the words. “You can grow, adapt, and evolve. I can’t. This is all I can ever be.”
“We’ll go to the opera and art galleries. You’ll learn about second-hand stores and how to shop for bargains, we’ll create and redecorate, dance the night away, and sit in cafes trashing the latest clothing trends until the sun comes up.”
Author Bio
I have a passion for science/speculative fiction that is socially and culturally driven. Maybe that’s why I studied anthropology and archaeology.
My recent publications include: Eating the Moon (NineStar Press, 2021), a dystopic story of an elderly anthropologist who stumbles across a hidden society where homosexuality is the norm and heterosexuals are marginalized. Secrets of Ishtabay (Ninestar Press, 2023) is the story of a Maya village in Belize, which struggles with its transition to globalization after the completion of a highway linking it to the outside world. The Homework Assignment (Polar Borealis Magazine of Canadian Speculative Fiction, March 2025) is a short story about an anthropology professor who asks his students to imagine first contact with an alien intelligence with whom they share only one sense.
Currently, I live in Milan, Italy, with my husband. When I’m not writing, I work with Italian sociologists, biologists, and psychoanalysts, assisting them with their English academic publications. I enjoy reading both classic and newer books, immersing myself in steampunk and futurism. I love adventure stories, and most of all, I want to fall in love with a great MC. I am dyslexic, which means I can’t spell, and I have a love/hate relationship with computers and the internet.
Gear Child by Mark David Campbell Exclusive Excerpt Chapter Nine
“Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve all been waiting for has arrived!” Fancy Larry stood on a bale of hay with his arms stretched outward, his ball of fleece carefully arranged on his head, and his face all chalky white.
Both Grease Spot and I looked around, but there were no ladies or gentlemen in the barn.
“What moment?” Grease Spot asked.
“The farm is upgrading with newer task-specific robos.” Whenever he was excited, Fancy Larry spoke in an alto tone.
“Are they going to terminate us?” Grease Spot said.
“Well, I overheard the guards this morning. They are sending the older robos to the toxic dumps, and the higher-end robos, like us, are going to be shipped to Winnipeg City and reprogrammed for urban cleaning and sanitation duty.” Fancy Larry clasped his face in his hands. “All my dreams have finally come true.”
I looked at Grease Spot. “I don’t know anything about the city.”
Grease Spot patted my head. “Don’t worry,” he said, even though he had a dreadful expression on his face.
On the night before we left the farm Grease Spot and I sat on the worktable, as usual, while Old Gus finished his dinner.
“Things in New Winnipeg City are a mite different than things here on the farm,” Old Gus kept sniffing like he had a cold.
“You boys promise me you’ll do exactly what you’re told to do and don’t look them gots directly in the eyes.”
“We promise,” we said in unison.
“You won’t have me no more to come running to when you got a problem.” Old Gus’s eyes filled with tears, and he dropped his head.
Grease Spot slid himself off the table, went over to the bed, and flopped down with his head on Old Gus’ lap. Old Gus bent over, wrapped his arms around him, and buried his face in Grease Spot’s fiery red hair. “My boy, my beautiful, mechanical boy,” Old Gus cooed while he cuddled and rocked Grease Spot.
As I sat there and studied them, I pictured my lambs all alone in the barn, and I wanted to cradle and rock them, one last time. I slid off the table and, without saying a word, went to the sheep shed.
All night long, as I hugged my lambs, I thought about Old Gus and Grease Spot over in the mechanics shed without me, the two of them huddled together in the dark on that steel cot. I couldn’t understand why Old Gus had never cradled me that way.
Grease Spot was only a machine, like me, wasn’t he?
