I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A man wakes up in 19th-century London in the morgue in author A.A. Sekhon’s “Assumptions.”
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The Synopsis
“He awoke in a morgue in London.”
So begins Assumptions, a character-driven novella with a flair for mystery. Set in 1880s London and written by a historical scholar, it serves not only as a study of late Victorian society but of the complexities of human nature itself. Enjoy the first chapter of this page-turner, and you’ll want more!
The Review
This was such a richly woven narrative. The Victorian-era setting was written with such depth and insight that readers instantly felt they could step into the ghastly streets of 19th-century London. The imagery and atmosphere of the story were heavy with dread and shocking events, adding a healthy amount of tension and suspense to the narrative.
The heart of this novella lay in its character development. Instantly, readers are drawn in by the opening sentence, and, without going into much detail, as the story progresses, they are introduced to a unique and deeply human take on an iconic Victorian-era literary figure that keeps them invested. The bond between the protagonist and his friend John, the mystery of how the protagonist ended up in the morgue, and the deeply insightful look into human nature and psychology made this a compelling novella.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, entertaining, and compelling, author A.A. Sekhon’s “Assumptions” is a must-read Victorian-era mystery thriller. The twists and turns, the shocking levels of suspense, and the rich character dynamics at work in this novella immediately hook readers, and the author’s harrowing imagery creates the atmosphere needed to fully immerse readers in the world. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
A. A. Sekhon, an avid scholar and student of history and human nature, earned a B. A. as a W. T. Young scholar at Transylvania University, an esteemed liberal arts university, and a Master of Arts in Diplomacy—specializing in history and political science—at the Patterson School of Diplomacy at the University of Kentucky. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, Sekhon has taught classes in history and in political science at a local university there. Assumptions is Sekhon’s first book.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A couple in post-war Europe faces the power of secrets and lies in author Crystal Quast’s “Eye Spied Serenity Acres: The Prequel.”
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The Synopsis
A new map is emerging after the war, and not all of the lines have been drawn. After nearly a decade on the run, Zosia and her husband take refuge as caretakers of an old inn.
But soon, rumors and a shameful secret threaten to shatter their hard-won peace. Spies, lies, and raids drag them back into the world they tried to escape. Zosia has a plan to get them out, but at what cost?
Before Serenity Acres, there was a town too beautiful to be true. Of course it was. That’s where the secrets started.
The Review
What has always been so compelling about this series is how in-depth it is in exploring rich characters. The haunting nature of war and its impact on those not only who fought in it but also survived it are greatly explored in this novel’s setting, and the mystery and intrigue that occurs when people are missing and no one knows where everyone is after the deadly battles that have been fought kept the narrative moving forward greatly in this story.
The way this story and its characters set up the rest of the series, and the depth of intrigue the specific setting holds, are the narrative’s greatest hooks. The dynamic between the two protagonists is tense and keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they push not only each other but themselves into paths that shock even themselves in order to find a sense of self-preservation and survival. The horrors that the two face and the theme that no matter how hard a person tries, they cannot deny who they are on the inside made this story so incredibly captivating.
The Verdict
Remarkable, haunting, and enthralling, author Crystal Quast’s “Eye Spied” is a must-read entry in the Serenity Acres series and a compelling suspense thriller. The world-building and mystery add depth to the narrative, and the haunting way the book explores the depths humanity is willing to sink to survive and escape its own reality is the perfect setup for the rest of the series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy on April 15th, 2026, or preorder your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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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 Man recounts his friend’s sudden rise to power in a new political party and the conspiracy they discover in author Stu Strummasser’s “A Real Collusion.”
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The Synopsis
A Real Collusion is about the secret conspiracy between the Republican and Democratic parties to control the US government through an illegal duopoly.
From the author of the bestselling novel, The Organ Broker, (hailed by Lee Child, New York Times # 1 bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series as, “Exciting and thought-provoking–the perfect package”) comes, A Real Collusion, a stunning political thriller and expose.
A Real Collusion is about a man who accidentally becomes the leader of an independent political movement that nearly takes down the two-party system in America, while exposing a conspiracy that affects the results of the 2016 election. It explores universal and deeply human themes of loss, and the tension between justice and power. In the opening sentence the narrator points out that, “Ordinary people often do extraordinary things.” The characters in the book do, and the action is driven by the fantastic events of a unique political satire. It is also the heartfelt story of regular people struggling with lost love, alienation and nearly universal disaffection who find strength in enduring loyalty and friendship
This is the story of John Campbell (a regular guy from the lower east side of Manhattan) as recounted by his friend Skip Winters. Skip becomes John’s campaign manager and later, a congressman in his own right. He narrates the stunning-but-plausible story of how John Campbell and The American Coalition race to popularity, raising over a hundred million dollars from grassroots contributors—and become a threat to the political duopoly of the Democratic and Republican parties. The book sprinkles in references to real events from recent history, and real political leaders including Trump, John McCain, and more. This imbues the novel with a sense of realism, albeit one of an alternate reality. Skip discovers a deep-seated conspiracy within our political system whose leaders orchestrate a murder, destroy his friend and tip the scales of the election. The novel turns out to be Skip’s exposé of the secret collaboration between the two major political parties in our country—a cooperation to protect the duopoly that is, in part, real.
This was a truly compelling alternative history meets conspiracy thriller. The pacing makes the reader feel the adrenaline fueled nature of the narrative, both from the propulsive nature of the campaign to the shocking twists that these two characters face as the conspiracy unravels. The author does a remarkable job of conveying the urgency and danger of the scenario playing out in the book through powerful imagery and mounting tension that takes over the story.
Yet it was the rich character dynamics and themes that took over this narrative in the best way. The characters do represent the themes well, taking on a representative of the little guy facing down big brother politicians in an effort to take on corruption. The haunting similarities of the events playing out in this book with our own reality in recent years, and the inclusion of real political figures, will draw the reader in as the conspiracy grows more and more and the action fuels the atmospheric nature of the story.
The Verdict
Thrilling, memorable, and entertaining, author Stu Strummasser’s “A Real Collusion” is a must-read political thriller meets alternative historical fiction narrative. The powerful commentary on modern politics and the corruption of the two party political system, the fast-paced action and thrills of the narrative, and the relatability and heart of the characters made this a powerful thriller that is impossible to put down. If you haven’t yet, grab your copy on April 1st, 2026 or preorder your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Stu Strumwasser studied in the creative writing program at Cornell University and then pursued dual careers as a writer and investment professional. His first novel, The Organ Broker, was published by Skyhorse (distributed by Simon & Schuster) in May of 2015 and short-listed as one of five finalists for the Hammett Prize for literary excellence in crime writing. Lee Child (NY Times #1 bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series) hailed it as, “Exciting and thought-provoking–the perfect package.”
His band Channeling Owen, for which Strumwasser was the primary songwriter and drummer, was featured on hundreds of college radio stations in the late 1990s and an episode of Dawson’s Creek when it was the number one television show in the world. The band was also featured alongside Blink-182 in a lengthy article in Forbes magazine in 1999 about how the internet was leveling the playing field in the music industry.
Strumwasser is also the Founder & Managing Director of Green Circle Capital, a specialized merchant bank focused on advising food brands and investing in food-related technology. Prior to launching Green Circle, from 1990-2005, Strumwasser worked at major Wall Street firms (including Paine Webber and Oppenheimer & Co.). In 2006 he left finance temporarily and founded Snow Beverages to make a natural soda. He served as the company’s CEO for six years.
Leading up to the 2000 Presidential election, Strumwasser, who has been concerned with broken government for thirty years, consulted on fundraising for the Committee for a Unified Independent Party. He is an articulate and passionate speaker and has been interviewed on the WPIX NY morning news, “The Closing Bell” on Fox News, for the cover page of the money section of the NY Daily News, a six-page article in Forbes ASAP, Crain’s NY, Timeout NY Kids (with his twins) and more. Strumwasser has also been mentioned or quoted in the Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NY Post, Dow Jones, and been a speaker at NY Entrepreneur Week, Baruch, Columbia, Pace, NYU, and many more.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A woman must run a supernatural city while dealing with mysterious animal attacks and a moody horseman in author DC Gomez’s “Unstoppable Famine”, the fourth book in the Intern Diaries series.
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The Synopsis
Animal attacks, a temperamental Horseman, and a cranky Intern. Heads are going to roll.
Why does everyone keep telling me I need a vacation?
I’m not volatile.
But how would you handle running your own city, with domestic disputes, vandalism, and even breaking and entering? Oh yeah, add in all the citizens are supernatural?
There is only so much a girl can handle.
Now I have unexplained animal attacks and the moody Famine to deal with. I don’t need a vacation. Just don’t cross me and life will be great for everyone. Because you don’t want to see me mad.
* Unstoppable Famine is book four in The Intern Diaries, The Urban Fantasy Series based on the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Isis Black never expected to become an overworked, stress-out intern, ready to snap. With the demands of running a city and dealing with the deception surrounding the Horsemen, even Isis has her breaking point. But will Texarkana survive Isis and Famine?
The Review
One thing I’ve always loved about this series is the wonderful blend of humor and wit the author brings to the character dynamics. The book can explore everything from the pros and cons of eating meat and going to war online with Satan over a viral video to moments of explosive action and intensity that instantly grab readers’ attention. The larger-than-life world-building is always really well balanced with little life moments that make the reader feel grounded and engaged in the world the author has created.
The heart of this narrative has to be in the character growth and the larger themes the story plays on. Seeing the protagonist struggling with balance and burnout (even in a supernatural sense) allowed the reader to glimpse a relatable tone that highlighted the struggles many people face in finding moments for themselves amid responsibilities and sacrifices. The protagonist’s deepening bond with characters like Bartholomew and the unique story that unfolds when they bring Famine into the mix will keep readers invested as the story progresses.
The Verdict
Humorous, action-packed, and wildly entertaining, author DC Gomez’s “Unstoppable Famine” is a must-read supernatural thriller novel. The charming character dynamics are felt from the very first page, as a seemingly domestic dispute turns into a spectral home attack, and the twists and turns the author introduces while also deepening the world-building and creating heartfelt characters make this feel like a dynamic entry into the series that readers won’t be able to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
D. C. Gomez, is a fast-talking extra-quirky Dominican with a dark sense of humor.
She used to enjoy long walks at the park and all that fun outdoors activities; unfortunately, due to a mysterious condition she is now allergic to the sun.
Rumor has it, that her true nature is coming out and her vampirism is now showing. While hiding from the sun, she is busy writing action packed adventures full of quirky characters and zany plots. As well as hosting her podcast, Inside the Minds of Authors.
If you would like to learn more about her, or join her at an event, check out her website. We promise she doesn’t bite (much…).
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A couple’s gender reveal party turns deadly in author Heather Gudenkauf’s “The Perfect Hosts.”
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The Synopsis
A couple’s gender reveal party turns deadly and everyone is a suspect in this gripping thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest.
Is it a boy or a girl? They would die to know…
Madeline and Wes Drake have invited two hundred of their closest friends and family to their sprawling horse ranch for the most anticipated event of the year: a “pistols and pearls” gender reveal party so sensational it is sure to make headlines. But the party descends into chaos when the celebratory explosive misfires, leaving one woman dead and a trail of secrets.
As the aftershocks of the bloody party ripple across the small town, Agent Jamie Saldano is brought on the scene to investigate. Battling his own demons from the past, Saldano unearths a web of deceit spun around the Drakes. The appearance of some unexpected houseguests only deepens the mystery. And as tensions mount, it becomes clear that the explosion wasn’t just an unlucky accident. But who was the target, and why? As the shadow of a killer looms, the happy parents-to-be must unravel the truth before it’s too late.
The Review
What a compelling and dynamic read. The author did a marvelous job of layering this story with mystery and intrigue, first by shocking the reader with hidden secrets and explosive and deadly events that set off a chain of events that will rock the cast of characters to their core. The tension that mounts from the beginning is palpable, and the harrowing way the mystery unfolds leaves a lasting impression on the reader thanks to the strong use of imagery in the author’s writing style.
The heart of this narrative is in the dynamic characters the author brings to life on the page and the charged themes that bring this story to life. The story delves into themes of domestic violence and twisted family dynasties, and the corrupting power that wealth can bring to life in a person. The way this impacted the characters in shocking ways, from the surprising revelations behind Agent Jamie Saldano’s backstory and connection to the setting to the emotional struggles of the protagonist, Madeline, and the multiple POVs that the story captures, greatly enhanced the novel’s narrative flow.
The Verdict
Harrowing, thrilling, and compelling, author Heather Gudenkauf’s “The Perfect Hosts” is a must-read domestic thriller. The shocking twists and turns in the narrative, the haunting realities the story explores in wealthy and elite society, and the far too often overlooked world of domestic abuse and the evil that usually lurks where we least expect it made this story enthralling to engage in. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Heather Gudenkauf is the critically acclaimed author of several novels, including the New York Times bestsellers The Weight of Silence, The Overnight Guest and Everyone Is Watching. She lives in Iowa with her husband and children.
“Madeline,” comes Wes’s voice, tinny and faraway-sounding. “Are you okay?”
She is lying flat on her back, the air still hazy with smoke. Is she? Is she okay? The ringing in her ears is fading, and she can hear again. In the distance she can hear sirens. Help is coming. Madeline does a mental scan of her body. Nothing seems broken, but her head is pounding. She touches her hairline, expecting her fingers to come back with blood, but instead they find an egg- sized lump. She tries to remember exactly what happened. Wes pulled the trigger, and the truck exploded. An explosion, that’s what it was. Something had gone wrong with the reveal. The baby. Oh God, is the baby okay? She presses her palms against her belly.
“Madeline, Madeline,” comes Wes’s voice again, this time more insistent. His frantic face comes into view.
“Shhh,” Madeline orders. “Please be quiet.” She needs to lie completely still, has to concentrate so she can feel the baby move. She. The baby is a girl, Madeline thinks, remembering the wisps of pink smoke she saw among the fiery black cloud. Her little girl will kick her in the bladder, one of her favorite moves, any second now. There is nothing. No cartwheels or wiggles. Nothing.
Wes kneels beside her and slips his hand into hers. “Help is coming. Stay put. Don’t move.”
Madeline nods as hot tears roll down her cheeks. “What happened?”
“It must have been the truck,” Wes says. “It must have triggered a bigger explosion.”
“But how?” Madeline asks. “You said it was safe . . . Is anyone hurt?”
“It was. It was supposed to be.” He shakes his head, be- wildered. “I don’t know what happened.”
Madeline struggles into a sitting position and looks around. Charred lumber litters the lawn. The canopy over the dining tables has collapsed and is covered in dancing flames that a handful of guests and waitstaff are trying to smother with what- ever is handy: cowboy hats, table linens, an old horse blanket. Other guests are gathered in small, tight clusters, holding on to one another. Some sit in the grass crying, others stand slack- faced, as if in shock. Through the smoke a rodeo clown appears, his brightly colored clothing now blackened with soot and his makeup running down his sweaty face. The clown is helping the photographer, who is bleeding from the head. But it is the old storage barn that Madeline finds herself fixated on. Huge f lames shoot from the hayloft window and the roof. Someone pulls a hose from one of the horse barns, and suddenly buckets and containers of all sizes appear. Others, including Johanna’s husband, Dalton, are running toward the burning barn and tossing water onto the structure. They know that one wayward spark could ignite the house or, worse, the barns filled with her beloved horses.
“Can you walk?” Wes asks. “We have to get you away from here.”
Madeline nods, and Wes helps her to her feet. She is barefoot. The blast had lifted her in the air and knocked her flip-flops clear off her feet. Madeline, leaning against Wes, winces with each step, the rough ground pricking at the soles of her feet. He leads her to the meadow, a safe distance from the burning barn, but still close enough for her to see what’s happening. Some of Madeline’s earlier numbness is beginning to wear away, and the enormity of what has happened begins to descend.
“Go,” Madeline says, knowing they need as many hands as possible.
Wes shakes his head. “No,” he says. “I’m not leaving you.” “I’m fine,” she says, but is she? She fell hard, and still the baby hasn’t moved.
Madeline scans the crowd. “Where’s Johanna?” she asks. “Have you seen her?”
“I haven’t,” Wes says. “But I’m sure she’s around here somewhere. Have you seen Dix?”
“No,” Madeline says. The last she saw Dix was just before he handed the microphone to Wes. “Go,” Madeline repeats. “Really, I’m fine. I just have to get my bearings,” she assures him when he turns his gaze to her doubtfully. “Go help, find your brother. And check on the horses.”
“You wait here,” Wes says. “Don’t move from this spot, and I’ll come back and find you.” He squeezes her hand and kisses her cheek before darting away and disappearing into a cloud of black smoke.
Madeline continues to eye the property for any sign of Johanna’s long dark braid, her suede skirt. In the distance the wail of sirens grows closer. Help is coming. The meadow to the left of the house was being used as a makeshift parking lot for the guests’ vehicles. One wayward spark from the fire landing on the stubbled field could set off a chain reaction where upward of a hundred cars and trucks, tanks filled with gasoline and diesel, sit idly.
The air is filled with inky smoke blotting out the face of the mountain and the setting sun. A fire truck pulls through the side yard, crushing Madeline’s lavender and Russian sage, its massive tires carving deep ruts in the soil. Madeline barely notices—it’s what she sees as a group of guests part to let the truck through that causes her breath to lodge in her throat. A woman lies on the ground, her arm thrown over her face, while someone presses a blood-soaked cloth to her abdomen. One by one, Madeline registers the carnage. Someone is doing CPR on Gary Wilson, the president of the bank that holds their mortgage. One of her equestrian students is wandering aimlessly through the smoke, tears running down her face. A fifteen-hundred- pound bull has escaped the rodeo paddock and is trotting toward the mountains. She sees Mellie, the young waitress, running and screaming, fire dancing up the front of her legs. A partygoer tackles her, smothering the flames with his body.
This is bad. So very bad. Madeline fights the urge to vomit. She wants to help. But how? Water, Madeline thinks. She can pass out bottles of water, try and keep the guests calm and reassure them that help is here, that everything is going to be okay. On unsteady feet she moves toward the party barn, where she knows there is plenty of bottled water, but someone grabs her arm. Mia. “Have you seen Sully?” she asks tearfully, her arm hanging at an odd angle. “I can’t find him.”
Madeline shakes her head. “I’ll help look for him,” she promises. “You’re hurt. Sit down.”
Mia shakes her head. “I need Sully,” she says thickly and stumbles away. There are too many injured and not enough emergency personnel.
The fire truck has come to an abrupt stop. Two firefighters are urging those guests who jumped in to try to put out the fire to move away from the blaze. With machinelike efficiency, they unroll the hoses.
Madeline is mesmerized by the flames that roll across the roof of the barn, the dense cloud of smoke, the roar of lumber being eaten by the flames. She moves closer, unnoticed by the firefighters, her face growing pink from the heat. Madeline vaguely becomes aware of more sirens and shouts of “Over here” and “Please help!” More help has arrived. The spray of water hisses and snarls as it strikes flames and wood. The barn turns into a living thing then, twisting and groaning until it collapses in on itself, turning to a big heap of charred lumber with sooty farm equipment peeking out here and there.
Seth Voorhees is a Black Hills author who lives in Rapid City, South Dakota. He describes himself as a writer of dark fiction. He draws on his experience as a counselor and educator in adolescent development and mental health to develop his characters and their journeys through morality and life’s challenges. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and Psychology from Black Hills State University. He lives with his partner and stepdaughter. More information can be found about Seth at: Home – A Black Hills Author
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.”
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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
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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.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young woman must discover the secrets of a small town while looking for the truth behind her sister’s death in author Liisa Kovala’s “Like Water For Weary Souls.”
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The Synopsis
In Nolin Creek, the water runs deep and the secrets run deeper.
In the harsh landscape of a Depression-era Northern Ontario mining town, Finnish immigrant sisters Hanna and Essi Kivi scrape together a living as domestic workers, sharing a room in a disreputable boarding house owned by a protective madame.
When Hanna’s body is discovered in the icy waters of Nolin Creek, the police call it a tragic accident. But Essi knows better. Her sister would never have risked crossing unstable ice—not after they lost their youngest sister Martta to drowning years before.
Haunted by guilt and driven by loyalty, Essi begins to unravel the secrets Hanna kept hidden. As Essi digs deeper into her sister’s final days, she discovers that in a town built on desperation and dreams for a better future, everyone has something to hide.
A gripping tale of love, family, sisterhood, and the search for truth.
The Review
This was such a compelling and gripping historical fiction mystery thriller. The author brilliantly wove together the narrative with rich character development, culture, and deep-seated mysteries. The writing itself felt poetic in a way, with the imagery found in the writing style so detailed and the flow incredibly powerful. The tension that built from the beginning with the discovery of her sister’s death and the twisted path the protagonist found herself on investigating the death herself kept readers on the edge of their seats.
What stood out to me was the amount of history that played well into the narrative and the emotional core of the main story itself. The impact of the Depression Era and its effects on the people of that time made the lies and secrets uncovered by the protagonist even more poignant. The emotional struggle that the protagonist felt not only for her sister’s loss but the loss of her younger sister years earlier, and the way it impacted her relationship with her mother in the years that followed, made this book both harrowing and devastating was the story began. The protagonist’s strength of will and determination in the face of so much adversity, as well as the infusion of romance and intrigue into the main plot, made this a phenomenal read.
The Verdict
Harrowing, entertaining, and compelling, author Liisa Kovala’s “Like Water For Weary Souls” is a must-read historical fiction meets mystery thriller novel. The haunting atmosphere, blend of culture and history into the fabric of the setting, and twists and turns galore that will keep readers guessing until the book’s final revelations, helped elevate the deep emotional toll of the narrative. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
Liisa Kovala is a Finnish-Canadian author and book coach. Like Water for Weary Souls is her second historical novel. Sisu’s Winter War was her debut (Latitude 46, 2022). Surviving Stutthof (Latitude 46, 2017), recounts her father’s experiences as a Finnish merchant marine imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp in Poland. It was short-listed for a Northern Lit Award in 2018 and was translated into Finnish. Liisa is a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada and the Canadian Authors Association. Liisa also writes the Hygge House Cozy Mystery series as A. L. Jensen (debuting in early 2026). Her work explores her Finnish heritage and celebrates the northern landscape she calls home.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A former witch finds herself fighting for her life when deadly warlock magic is forced upon her in author JP McLean’s “The Never Witch.”
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The Synopsis
In her witch’s blood, a warlock’s power awakens . . . and it could destroy her.
Adeline Thorne was born to a witch. But when the magic that should have been her birthright never came, rage and humiliation drove her into a reckless rebellion. She lost everything: her coven, her pride, and her marriage.
Years later, she’s built a quiet life in the Pacific Northwest, distant from all things magic. She’s a portrait painter, a big sister, loving aunt, and ex-wife. And that was enough. It had to be.
Until a convicted warlock, desperate to escape his fate, forces his magic into her. But warlock magic is lethal to witches, a slow death. As the power manifests, Adeline knows she’s running out of time. With no other option, she turns to the last person she ever wanted to face again: the priestess who exiled her. A woman she despises.
But the priestess’s help comes at a price. Assigned to protect her is Luke Churchwell, a brooding runecaster with his own secrets—secrets that tie him to the warlock who cursed her. The deeper Adeline is pulled into the coven’s hunt for the rogue warlock, the more she realizes her greatest threat may not be the magic inside her… but the man assigned to guard her.
If you love the dark magic of Rachel Griffin, the sharp dialogue of V.E. Schwab, and the emotional landscapes of Alix E. Harrow, you’ll be spellbound by The Never Witch.
The Review
This was such a gripping and compelling urban fantasy meets occult suspense novel. The author did an incredible job of crafting a world set in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, and yet still felt otherworldly and cultivated in its own separate world. The author’s carefully curated use of imagery in the writing style of this book really brought each scene to life so eloquently, such as scenes in which the protagonist found herself being tested for this newly forced upon warlock power that quickly took an explosive turn.
Immediately, this book set itself apart with a nice balance of rich mythos and character development. The politics and tension that the author built both amongst the witches and warlocks and within their own individual ranks were thrilling to read, keeping readers on the edge of their seats on who they could trust. The bond between Adeline and Sarah as sisters is powerful, and the chemistry she develops with warlock Luke, as well as the return of an old flame, adds a bit of romance and will-they, won’t-they moments for the characters as the narrative develops without sacrificing the main plot.
The Verdict
Action-packed, thrilling, and entertaining, author JP McLean’s “The Never Witch” is a must-read occult suspense and urban fantasy read. The first in what is hopefully a great new series, the book brings a unique spin on the contentious history between witches and warlocks, as well as their own unique approaches to magic, and the dynamic character development and multiple POVs will keep readers heavily invested in this fantastic author’s latest fantasy series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
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About the Author
JP (Jo-Anne) McLean is a bestselling author of urban fantasy and supernatural thrillers. She is an Eric Hoffer Award winner and was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards, the Chanticleer International Book Awards, and the Independent Author Network Awards. She is a B.R.A.G. medallion honouree and a three-time Literary Titan award winner. Reviewers call her books addictive, smart and fun.
JP holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business, is a certified scuba diver, an exploratory chef, and an avid gardener.
Raised in Toronto, Ontario, JP now lives with her husband on Denman Island, which is nestled between the coast of British Columbia and Vancouver Island. 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.
