Paramour Book 1: Moneta by George Bachman

Following a violent attack, Blondie lies near death. But she is not the main character in this tale: her mother Moneta is. The majority of this tale flows across two different timelines. One where Moneta is younger, and one involving her daughter Blondie at the same age. There is a parallel in these two storylines as much of Blondie’s life seems to mirror Moneta’s. Both seem to have the same interests, and they seem to often make the same mistakes.

I read a review copy of this book, and parts of this story I found to be very interesting. I enjoyed the characterizations, and the parallels between the two timelines. But I also have to warn readers that I do need to include some trigger warnings for this book. There are some incidents involving violent and descriptive sexual assault on a near-adult minor. There are some traumatic events in this story that could trigger PTSD for some readers. And there are also abusive relationships within this book.

I did enjoy much of the characterization and parts of the story, but I feel like there was too much in-depth description of the science (or made up science for this story) within the book that went far beyond my ability to comprehend. And in my opinion, these instances often dragged on for too long, causing me to want to skim over them as I was not really understanding why so much time was being spent on these specific conversations. While I do recognize that parts of them were essential to the story, I believe that shortening or condensing certain conversations would have held more fully held my interest rather than causing me to want to skim through them.

Overall, while I did have some issues with parts of the story, I did enjoy others and was often interested in what was going on, even if I didn't always understand it. Would I be interested in reading the next book in this series? Probably. I believe the second book will likely clear up some of the questions that the answers were never revealed in this book, and hopefully would explain what actually led up to the opening scene. (I have an idea about that, but I have no idea if my guess is correct, or if there are other questions that I don’t even know to ask yet.)

So while I think that some will find the technical discussions involving memory and the brain fascinating, I think that for the rest of us, if you can get past the sections that seemed to slow down my interest, and can get past the trigger warning issues within this tale, then I believe you will probably enjoy this story. It is definitely an interesting concept, even if I think some parts could have used a bit more development and refining before publication.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Memory Thief: Streets of Nox Valar (Chronicles of the Crossing Book 1)by CD Corrigan

Rasa fell to Ashen Fields of the Sunless Crossing with no memory of anything that had gone before. She didn’t know where she was, what her name was, or how she came to be there. She didn’t even know that she was dead. Almost immediately, she was being attacked by monstrous creature after monstrous creature, again, without knowing why. When Secan found her, she at first assumed he was another being simply determined to try and kill her and almost tried to do the same to him as she had to the other … things that had attacked her. Together, they set off to try and find a way to help her regain her memory and figure out where she belonged in the realm of those who had died. What they didn’t know was the dangerous plot that was being implemented by an Angel that endangered the balance of life/death in the Sunless Crossing.

I read an advance review copy of this book, and like the other tie-in novel to the Black Ballad RPG game, I enjoyed this one a great deal. There is a lot going on in this book, keeping the pace fast and drawing the reader of this fantasy series quickly into the story and making them want to know more about what is really happening.

Thus far, I have been enjoying this series. It is an easy read, well written, and quite entertaining. Those who enjoy role-playing games, have read any of the other Black Ballad tie-in novels, or who have played an RPG set in the Black Ballad world of the Sunless Crossing, will likely enjoy this book a great deal. It is a very entertaining story, and the realm of those who are currently dead, but aren't yet ready to enter their afterlife is a fascinating one that I believe readers will enjoy... whether they have played the RPG game itself or not.

The characters are another great source of entertainment for the reader, and I can easily imagine the difficulty in waking up with no memory only to have someone try to convince you that you are dead, even though to yourself, you feel as alive. It would be one thing to have a memory of being killed, but with no memory at all? That would be quite difficult, I would imagine, at least until something convinced you otherwise.

There are some interesting subplots in this story that I think made it a book that was quite difficult to put down, and one where I kept wanting to know what would happen next. I think that if you give this book a try, you won’t be disappointed.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Flight of Fate by Angelina J Steffort

Ayna, the Crow Queen, is currently trapped in her crow form, unable to change back to her human form after a bargain made with Sister the goddess who had at one point created a curse that punished all crow fae by not allowing them to fully return to their fae form. The bargain allowed the Crow Queen to save her people, but left her trapped as a crow. And no one seems to know how to return her to her human form. But who is it harder on? Ayna or her beloved mate Myron? Both are tormented, and unfortunately, neither of them can put all their energy and resources into finding an answer as not only are the few remaining Crows in danger, but all of Askerian Fae as well. The King of Tavros is still coming for them with the magic-dampening potion that Ephegos and the Fire Faeries helped to create. And right now, that is the bigger threat.

I read an advance review copy of this book and as I have the previous books in this series, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Ms. Steffort has a way of drawing you into the story that lets you feel for the characters during the rough times and leaves you cheering for them at others. And as heartbreaking as much of this story often was, it does have its happy and joyful moments as well. This is a complex tale with many moving parts, and just when you think that maybe you have it figured out, something happens to show you that there is still so much more going on than you realized. (At least that’s the way it went for me.)

I do not believe that we yet have the full story of what the Brother and Sister Guardians are up to, let alone what the Human King of Tavros and the Crow warrior who turned many of the Crow Faeries against their king are up to. I believe there is more behind their alliance than we have yet learned, and I also believe that there will be more betrayals and victories yet to come for our heroes, And I for one, and very much looking forward to finding out what will happen next, as this was not the last book in this series.

The cliffhanger ending of this book was not as heartbreaking as the one in the previous book, but it does leave quite a bit open as to what will happen next. One thing is for certain, I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in this series. I don’t know if it will be the final one or not, but either way, it should be a very good read as well.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

To Be Fair: Illyrian Boy Series Book 1 by Julieta Moss

James is an adult gay man from the United Kingdom who is currently living in Italy. His life has not always been easy, and it seems to weigh on him a great deal. Bogdan is a sixteen-year-old refugee seeking asylum in Italy after having fled from a war torn area. To his knowledge, he has no living relatives, or at least none that he knows of who have escaped the war. And as such he is essentially considered a ward of the state (or in this case, country). But for all that he has had a much more difficult life than James, more often than not Bogdan manages to hold on to a generally positive outlook on life. But even he has his darker moments and is also tormented by nightmares of his escape to freedom.

This appears to be the story of two lost souls finding each other, though their journey along the way is anything but easy or simple and does include many missteps. I received a review copy of this book, and am honestly not entirely certain how I feel about the story after I finished reading it. While I enjoyed the ending, the journey for the characters to reach that point is a very difficult one, especially when you consider that James is an adult, and a good deal older than Bogdan. And while the physical relationship that develops between the two does not start immediately, it appears to me to be far from an equal relationship by any means even before that happens. 

Bogdan is all in, but unsure of himself, while James is lost, depressed, and has a fair number of other emotional issues that he needs to come to grips with, though neither of them seems overly concerned with the age difference between the two of them. Had Bogdan not been so young and still a minor, this would not have bothered me so much, but the fact that he was only sixteen and seeking out a relationship with an older man sets off alarm bells in my mind. Though in all fairness, the age disparity in the relationship seems not to be an issue for anyone else in the story. I’m not sure why that is, but it may be a cultural thing. I am not familiar with what the age of consent is in Italy.

This book is written by what I believe is a British author, as all the spellings are in British English rather than American English, and as such some words and phrases may appear a bit unusual to some readers if they are unaware or unfamiliar with the differences. One minor issue I ran into was that all times were merely referred to as “.am” or as “.pm” with no actual time listed. I don’t know if this was intentional or if the actual time of day in each instance was accidentally left out in the version that I read. I think that if the reader is patient, they can guess at an approximate  time for activities that were being referred to, but for me it was a mild annoyance. 

Bogdan is all in, but unsure of himself, while James is lost, depressed, and has a fair number of other emotional issues that he needs to come to grips with, though neither of them seems overly concerned with the age difference between the two of them. Had Bogdan not been so young and still a minor, this would not have bothered me so much, but the fact that he was only sixteen, and seeking out a relationship with an older man sets off alarm bells in my mind. Though in all fairness, the age disparity in the relationship seems not to be an issue for anyone else in the story. I’m not sure why that is, but it may be a cultural thing. I am not familiar with what the age of consent is in Italy.

This book is written by what I believe is a British author, as all the spellings are in British English rather than American English, and as such some words and phrases may appear a bit unusual to some readers if they are unaware or unfamiliar with the differences. One minor issue I ran into was that all times were merely referred to as “.am” or as “.pm” with no actual time listed. I don’t know if this was intentional or if the actual time of day in each instance was accidentally left out in the version that I read. I think that if the reader is patient, they can guess at an approximate  time for activities that were being referred to, but for me it was a mild annoyance.

I do also need to warn that  there are some incidents in this book that some readers may find triggering. Bogdan does have nightmares from his time fleeing a war. This book also does include a suicide and themes of emotional abuse, alcohol abuse, anxiety, depression, and bullying. For much of this story, it is not a happy book by any means. And as I mentioned above, I am not entirely certain how I feel about it. But I also do not believe that I am the intended audience for this story, and as such, that may be coloring my view of what happens within the tale. For some readers, I could easily see many of these experiences being helpful or allowing a reader to feel “seen” and less alone in the world. And this would easily be a redeeming factor of the parts that I had a difficult time reading, as those sections were not speaking to me, but very well could be helpful and meaningful for someone who has been through similar difficulties, or who is also going through a tough time themselves.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The 5 Moons of Tiiana by PT Harry

Rez Cantor is a soldier and the captain of the guard. He has been assigned the task of protecting the princess and heir to the throne. When this story begins, the war between their worlds has been lost and in the morning they are expected to surrender to an invading empire. What the general population of this world doesn't know is that the surrender will mean the death of everyone by the invading aliens, including the princess he is sworn to protect. Rez and a select few are charged with helping the princess to escape and live somewhere in hiding off-world. However, as their ship flees the planet, the invading force attempts to stop them, firing on them and damaging the ship. While Rez survives crash landing on a distant world somewhere, he wakes completely alone, not knowing what happened to the rest of those on his ship, including the princess that he was charged with protecting, where he is, and whether or not any of the others had also survived.

This was an unusual science fiction story. I will admit that early on I felt a little confused since I wasn’t sure if this was going to wind up being solely his story of survival or whether it would find a way to tie back to the rest of those he had been travelling with. All I can say about that is that it does tie back to the stories of the others and more, but that this is overwhelmingly Rez Cantor’s story, while the others are secondary characters. Yes, they are an important part of his tale, but their stories are not the main focus of this book. While we do learn a little of what happened to each of them when their ship was attacked and they crashed, their stories are very clearly secondary plotlines in this book. (It is possible that the author may write others books focusing on these secondary characters stories, but we will have to wait and see if he chooses to at some future date or to leave the fullness of their tales of survival left to our imaginations.)

I read a review copy of this book and I enjoyed it. This was a classic science fiction story that involved other worlds and cultures as well as multiple alien species. And for those who enjoy classic science fiction, I feel that you will definitely enjoy this book. We learn a lot about the characters, as they learn much about themselves, survival, and other worlds/peoples. If you are able to read this book on a color device or tablet, I would recommend doing so as this book does contain color illustrations throughout the story that do enhance the tale by allowing you to see what the author was describing when various alien species or people were encountered along the way. If you are reading this book on a black and white kindle, the pictures are still quite helpful and very nice, but they truly shine when viewed in color.

Overall, I think that anyone who enjoys science fiction, alien worlds, alien beings, and multiple cultures or languages, will enjoy this complex and interwoven tale. I don’t know if this is intended to be a stand-alone novel or if the author intends to continue the story with another book. It does work well enough on its own, but I could easily see another book written about what happens to the main characters after the end of this tale. (And yes, I would willingly read that book as well should I get the chance.) It was an interesting and entertaining story.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Cost of Lies by Samantha Price

Wilma had lied about her first husband not leaving a will. And for years Florence has mourned the fact that the apple orchard she so loved was not hers, especially when Wilma married Levi and the orchard suffered due to his lack of knowledge in how to effectively manage an orchard. But now it has come out that there was a will and that all these years it had been meant to belong to Florence. Levi was furious at Wilma and told her that she needed to make it right. And then he suffered a heart attack.

As with the previous books in this series, I enjoyed reading this one. Despite any family troubles, it comes through clearly how much family means to everyone in the Baker family. No matter how angry they may get with each other, they are always there for each other no matter what.

This series makes me smile when reading it. I get drawn into each book and want to know what will happen next for everyone involved. I think that anyone who enjoys Amish romance books, any of the other books in this series, or any of Ms. Price's other books would also enjoy this story as well.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

TimelessWritten by Gail CarrigerNarrated by Emily Gray

A member of the Kingair werewolf pack has gone missing after being sent to investigate the advancing plague of humanness that is happening in Egypt, where werewolves and vampires in an increasing area are rendered completely mortal/human while within its borders. Alexia, her husband Connell, and their daughter Prudence have been summoned by the oldest of the vampire queens to visit the Alexandria Hive. And such a summons cannot be ignored. At the same time, it gives them the perfect opportunity to investigate what is happening in Egypt.

I listened to the audiobook version of the story and greatly enjoyed it. There is a lot going on in multiple plotlines within this book, with the narrator doing an excellent job of differentiating the character voices so that there is no confusion as to who is supposed to be speaking. The story was entertaining and held my interest throughout. The twists and turns taken, along with the outcomes of those decisions will keep you wanting to know what happens next.

I believe that anyone who enjoyed the previous books in the series, whether reading or listening to them, will enjoy this story. It was a great ending for this series and left me looking forward to reading the series about Alexia and Connell's daughter Prudence. This is a fun series that is easily enjoyed as either an audiobook or a physical book. And either way, this series always keeps me coming back to enjoy other books by this author, whether in this same series or in another. I do, however, recommend either reading or listening to the previous books in this series before beginning this one if you don't wish to feel a bit lost when reading this one.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Amish Mayhem by Samantha Price

When Cherish went searching through her mothers personal things in order to determine if Wilma had given her husband Levi ownership of the apple orchard, she never expected to find her father's will. So far as the Baker children knew, her father had not left one. Now it seems that he did, but that Wilma had chosen to ignore his wishes by keeping the orchard rather than it becoming Florence's as he had intended.

Not knowing what to do about it, Cherish takes the will to show it to Florence and Carter. But what will Florence decide to do now that she knows that her father had intended for the orchard to be hers? Will she seek to own it or let it go to Levi & Wilma?

I enjoyed reading this book. As with the previous books in this series, it is a very quick read and can be easily finished within about a day or two. It did contain more family drama than many of the previous books in the series, but that also makes it even more interesting than if it hadn't had the emotional turmoil that accompanies any family drama. It definitely has me wanting to keep reading this series to see what happens next, especially after the very large shock at the end of this book.

I believe that anyone who has read the previous books in the series or who enjoys Amish romance books as well as of the other books by Samantha Price will enjoy this book.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

A Vampire Named Allison by Nick Savage

Allison has been having a rough time. Many of her friends and family have been murdered, and her boyfriend Connor is being framed for the most recent murder. Connor has gone into hiding while he seeks to find a way to prove that he wasn’t guilty. It doesn’t help that Allison’s best friend Scarlet was among those killed, though in her case, it’s a bit more complicated than just her having been murdered And that is only some of what is happening in this book.

I read a review copy of this book and really enjoyed it. This is a complex fantasy series with what I feel is a rather unique approach to paranormal entities such as werewolves, vampires, and fairies. This book does deal with quite a few serious subjects, such as murder, loneliness, feelings of abandonment, depression, alcohol abuse, and suicide. So please be aware of them should such subjects be triggering for you.

There is a lot going on in this book, and while many of these themes are on the dark side, there are happy moments as well. Overall, I found the story to be entertaining, happy at some times, depressing at others, but there were good reasons behind everything that happens in this story, and I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in this series to see what will happen next.

This book did end on a rather upsetting cliffhanger, and we’ll unfortunately have to wait on the release of the next book before we learn the aftereffects and fallout from that character’s actions. Looking back, the signs for what takes place were there but it was so unexpected that I didn’t truly see the signs until the event took place. Unfortunately, I can’t go into any further detail about it without including some major spoilers. And as much as I want to talk about it, I do not want to give away anything important. I will say that if you are at all invested in these characters, the ending of this book is going to hit you where it hurts.

If you like complex fantasy novels that are loosely based on real world issues, stories about supernatural creatures, and books that are highly emotionally charged then you will want to read this book, especially if you have read the previous books in this series. If you have not yet read the previous books, I would strongly suggest that you read the previous books in this series first as you are likely to feel a bit lost and confused on a number of things if you haven't. Recommended.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

An Indian Mail Order Bride by Florence Livington

Wicapawakan’s father promised her as a wife to another indian on their reservation. Unfortunately, her father doesn’t believe the stories told about the man’s violent nature and believes he would never harm his daughter. But he’s wrong. Wicapawakan chooses to escape this arranged marriage and runs away in the middle of the night, keeping moving from one place to another, never staying anywhere for too long. She places an advertisement in the Matrimonial Times hoping to find a safe haven where even if her would-be husband finds her, she will already be married to someone else and will be safe.

Harve, the man who responds to her letter and offers to marry her, doesn’t realize that he was writing to an Indian woman, and while he wants to help protect her, he knows that his extended family are unlikely to accept a marriage to a native american woman. They were expecting him to choose a woman of high social standing to be his wife. And a native american woman does not, in his mother’s eyes, meet that standard.

I read a review copy of this interesting mail order bride novel. I enjoyed the story, as I have all of Ms. Linnington’s other books. This one had some interesting twists and turns, most of them I expected, though there were some surprises. One of the themes in this book seems to be how if someone looks different than you, then you shouldn’t be with that person. And though this seems to be how the two main characters were raised to believe, as they get to know each other, they come to realize that while there are differences between them, as there are between any two people, those differences did not make either of them better or worse than the other. And of course, another theme seems to be that in the end, love conquers all.

And as always, you can expect that no matter the difficulties the characters face, there will be a happy ending for the characters. If you enjoy sweet romances with some inherent difficulties, mail order bride stories, any of Ms. Linnington’s other books, then you will likely enjoy this book as well.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Midnight in Istanbul by Kathryn Gauci

During WWII, resistance operatives were working in Turkey, Greece, and in other locations in the world in an effort to defeat the Nazis and end the horrific deaths happening in the concentration camps. In Turkey, an OSS agent, Caldwell Bey, receives a message to meet a man in secret. The identity of the other party isn’t known, but clearly the man knows that Caldwell is working with the resistance. But when he arrives, no one is there to meet him, and a man has been murdered. But the question remains, who was murdered and which side was the murderer on. Was Caldwell the intended victim? Has the resistance been compromised?

I received a review copy of this book, and while I did enjoy the story, I do have to admit that it was not one of my favorites by this author. To me, it felt too disconnected from the rest of the war, and I kept wondering who had committed the murder and why. And while we do learn the identity of the dead man, I’m not entirely certain how it all tied in together.

There is a great deal of the local culture and the wartime atmosphere shown in this book. We see the relationship of Caldwell and another member of the resistance while he is on assignment. A fair amount of the story does involve the relationship between the two of them and their differing assignments while in Turkey.

I kept waiting for something that tied the whole thing together in my mind, and while I did truly enjoy the story, when it ended I felt like I must have missed something important. Perhaps the point of this one was to focus on the daily lives of those in the resistance, but the fact that I’m still not certain if I missed something important or not has left me confused. I normally truly enjoy the books by this author, but honestly, this one left me wanting something more. I’m just not entirely certain what.

But as always, one of the most interesting parts of Ms. Gauci’s books for me involves what we learn after the end of the story. It is the part of the book where she fills us in on the historical research that she completed in order to write this story. We get to learn about what life was like in Turkey during the war. It was a country that claimed neutrality during the war, but in which members of both sides of the war played a part. So when you read this book, be sure to read the information at the end of the story. As always, I think it is one of the best parts of Ms. Gauci’s stories.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Future unfolds by J.L. Yarrow

Hunter Coburn has found himself jumping through time to the past, present, and future through seemingly random jumps that he has no control over. Each time, he has found himself traveling with a woman from the future named Kristin. The two of them are doing everything they can to stop a cataclysmic war from destroying the planet & spreading to other worlds. Each time they time jump, they encounter other time travelers who are working to make sure “The Purge” as it is being called, does happen.

I read an Advance Review Copy of this book, and it is a very complex, but interesting story with quite a bit happening. And reading it has the possibility of getting a little confusing at times if the reader isn’t paying attention as to when in time the characters happen to be. Fortunately, the authors do a good job of making it as clear as possible for the reader to keep track of the current time period that is being focused on, though be sure to pay closer attention as you get to the end of the book, as that is where the biggest potential for confusion might occur.

And while this book doesn’t complete the story (there will be a book three), we do gain quite a bit of insight into what is happening, though I’m still uncertain as to what the original event that began it all was. But I’m also fairly certain that is something we will finally learn in the next book. And I have to say, at this point I am more than a little curious as to how the authors are going to wrap up this story.

So if you’re looking for an intricate and complex tale involving time travel as well as people both trying to save the planet as well as others seeking to destroy it, then you’ll want to give this series a try. Time travel is a funny thing, and those attempting to change an outcome must be careful about unintended results of their actions. Because as the characters in this book do see at times, those unintended consequences can have far reaching effects. But also adds the question of whether or not those eventual outcomes were pre-determined the moment the very first time traveler began their journey?

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Sky High by Christy J. Breedlove

Four nearly-adult teenagers have decided to escape from a very restrictive and controlling society that has lived in an extremely tall building ever since the world’s cities were destroyed when a natural disaster caused by climate change destroyed nearly everything. Those living in Sky City have no freedom or real choice in anything about their lives. Resources are limited and everyone works extensively with no ability to simply decide to leave. It is not allowed. When these four escape, City Security is sent to bring them back by any means necessary … whether they want to return or not.

I read a review copy of this story and enjoyed the twists and turns that the plot took. The escape that the four young people chose to make was well thought out.  From the timing of their escape, what to take with them, and where they were attempting to escape to. They knew someone would be sent after them, and so took every possible precaution to keep their escape hidden and hard to track. It was an intelligent and well thought out storyline. I enjoyed the twists and turns that the four young adults and their pursuers encountered along the way. It showed not only why the four escapees were not simply allowed to leave, but that their journey toward freedom was a very difficult one with both expected and unexpected obstacles along the way.

I liked that we saw how and why these four young adults were determined to make their way from an authoritarian society to one that they hoped, but could not be certain, remained more of a democratic republic, despite the difficulties that their current world faced. It showed not just that the freedom to choose the course of their lives is important, but that they were willing to risk everything for the chance to live the type of life they wanted, no matter what it might cost them in the end. And yes, there was a very real possibility that they would die or be killed before they could reach their desired destination, if it still even existed.

The story kept me interested and entertained throughout. There were unexpected occurrences that added another layer to the story. But you'll have to read it yourself if you want to learn whether or not the four  young people manage to find what they were seeking, or if they get caught and dragged back to the city they were fleeing.

If you enjoy young adult post-apocalyptic stories, then I believe you will enjoy this book. It has some interesting twists throughout that I believe readers will enjoy. I know I did.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Phage by George Bachman

It seems like almost everyone on the planet has simply disappeared, with no explanation as to how or why. They are simply gone. There are only a few people left behind, who don’t understand what happened or where everyone else had vanished to. And to make matters worse, something seems to be hunting the two girls who appear to be the only ones left behind.

I received a review copy of this book, and to be honest, this book was just not for me. It seemed to start in the middle of the story, with no explanation as to how these events began or they were happening. I spent a large part of the beginning of this book feeling very confused as I tried to piece things together to try and understand it. And while I believe I have a decent vocabulary, I kept being pulled out of the story because I needed to look up the meanings of a number of words throughout the book.

This book also could have used another round with an editor. I believe that would have solved some of the issues I ran across as I read. Some of the actions of the characters didn’t seem possible to me. One of which involved the speed with which one of the two girls seemed to learn to speak an ancient Native American language after picking up a book in a library because the two of them had been joined by an ancient Native American who did not speak English. And unfortunately there were other issue I had with the plausibility of the actions taking place within the story.

Now, this isn’t to say that I found the book without value, for even as confused and distracted as I was by much of what was happening, there were parts of the story that I did enjoy reading, especially closer to the end of the story. While I still felt like I was missing something important, once I reached a point where I was beginning to understand what was happening, the story felt less problematic and made much more sense to me. Though I do wish the author had found a way to allow at least some of that information to begin to be or at least hinted at in the beginning of the book. It would have made it easier for me to get past what left me feeling very lost and confused for much of the book.

If I am honest, the beginning of the book was, for me at least, problematic and difficult enough to get through that it almost made me decide to quit reading. I am glad that I did keep reading to the end though, as had I stopped earlier, I would have always wondered what the book was actually about and never learned the answer. And yes, it does mostly get explained at the end of the story, though I do wish that there had been a bit more of an explanation earlier than we were given.

So while I still feel that this book was not for me, it was not entirely without merit. Anyone who enjoys Native American mythos and languages, combined with a sense of horror and the ancient past blending with the present might enjoy this book more than I did.

Dire Days: The Uncharted Horizon Serial by CR Buchanan and Jason Diamond

Humanity had long ago left a dying earth behind and moved to a planet known as Kep 4-b by its inhabitants. The problem was that the environment there began as little better than the one they had left behind, and now it too, is dying. Their only hope is that what remains of humanity can find a new home before it is too late.

McKayla Mason is an Armada pilot who cannot stand that an intelligent, humanoid species is being cruelly experimented on in an attempt to try and discover how they can manage to survive on a planet whose air would kill the humans without their ventilators to protect them. After having been identified as the one who had raided one of the facilities where the animals were being experimented on to free them, she knows that her career is over and she will be branded a traitor. But by turning herself in, maybe she can escape execution. She expects to spend most of her life behind bars. But something unexpected happens to grant her a second chance at a better life.

I read a review copy of this book and enjoyed it. It is rather complex, and the authors have created a complete language for a new world. I saw many similarities to what may happen here on Earth if things continue the way they seem to be going. And even on a new planet, there are references to “ancient Earth” and we are shown the remains of some recognizable landmarks.

For me, this story showed how often and how easy it is to repeat the mistakes of the past, as well as how hard it can be to avoid them. One of the main things I took away from this book is that not all may be as it seems, and sometimes one must look a little deeper and take a chance or a leap of faith if we are to have any hope of survival as a species.

I found this story fascinating, and found myself feeling sympathetic for several of the characters. I may not always have agreed with some of their actions, but I do understand that sometimes, not only can things go wrong easily, but that when we make an effort to try and correct our mistakes, forgiveness and acceptance might just save not only ourselves but many others as well.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Blind Mail Order Bride by Florence Linnington

Shortly after the birth of her son, Emily began losing her sight. Within a few years, she was completely blind, her husband dead at sea leaving her dependent on his parents for survival. But when they begin talking about marrying her off to a man of their choosing, she manages to escape by accepting a proposal from a farmer out west. She and her son Peter leave secretly, hoping to find a life of her choosing rather than one that is chosen for her. But when she arrives at his farm, she learns he had died the day before.

I read a review copy of this book, and as I always do, enjoyed reading it. I think what I enjoyed most about this story is the fact that Emily was determined to not be a burden on anyone, and instead to find a way to be more than just a “pretty wife” who must be taken care of by her husband. She is more than capable of taking care of herself and her son, as well as cooking, cleaning, and gardening, even if she is completely blind.

I enjoyed watching Emily prove to those around her that she wasn’t helpless, and in reality was extremely capable. And while she must face many difficulties, including  finding some way to go forward and find a home, given that the man she was supposed to marry is dead, his home burned to the ground, and his brother is determined to sell the land  so he can become a prospector for gold during the California Gold Rush, where so many men rushed to become prospectors who hoped to get rich were headed.

If you enjoy mail order bride stories, any of Ms. Linnington’s other books, stories involving hope, loss, and moving forward, then I think you will enjoy this one as well. It is a quick, but enjoyable book to read.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Wheels and Dirty Deals by Trixie Silvertale

Mitzy Moon and Erick Harper from are back for their next adventure in the town of Pin Cherry Harbor. After a boy is killed by someone seemingly deliberately hitting him with a van and driving off, Sheriff Paulson, as expected, arrests the wrong man, seeking only to close the case as quickly as possible with the least amount of work involved. But when her two biggest rivals get involved seeking to find the actual murderer, things always get interesting. In this case, it involves the well-known athletically-challenged Mitzi joining a roller-derby team to find the person behind the murder of a young man, as well as to learn why he was killed. And as you can guess, much more is discovered than was anticipated when the pair took the case.

I read an advance review copy of this book, and I enjoyed it a great deal, as I always do the books by this author. This series is fun, entertaining, and at times it includes some serious tugging of the heartstrings, as it did in this book. Mitzi is always an entertaining character, and paired with her husband Erick, who is often the more serious of the two, they make an amazing team. And reading about them always keeps me entertained.

This book—as are most of the ones in this series that I have read by Ms. Silvertale—is a quick read, and will keep you reading into the night so that you can find out “who done it and why” while enjoying the entertaining aspects of a good cozy mystery series. If you want to read something that is mostly lighthearted and fun (with a few more serious moments thrown in), then you should definitely check out this book, as well as the rest of this series. I think that you’ll likely enjoy them as much as I always do.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Adventures of Alex the Pirate: Treasure Island by Tom Oldaker

Alex is a young boy with a big imagination, Alex enjoys playing pirates. For him, this involves learning how to be a pirate, learning about ships and their parts, and discovering buried treasure. He has a lot of fun doing all of these things, and manages to learn while playing.

I received a review copy of this children’s book. And while it has been a very long time since there were young children in my household, I thought this was a very cute book with some interesting ideas. It includes games for the kids reading the book to play with their friends, while learning as they play.

One thing the reader does need to know about before trying to play the games is that the author is from the United Kingdom rather than the United States, and so when the book mentions football, it is referring to what we here in the US call soccer. It is something readers will want to keep in mind when setting up the games for energetic children to play as a group as if you call it “football” here in the US, the kids will think you are talking about a different sport involving a different type of ball than what they expect when hearing the same word in the UK.

Even though I do not have any young children in my household, I thought this book was cute and something that many parents who  have active children that possess an overabundance of energy will find to be a fun entertainment for their youngsters to engage in.

I do recommend, however, that this book be read either as a hard copy or on a color reading device. As my kindle is only capable of reading in black and white, some of the photos were a little on the dark side, making them sometimes a little difficult for me to see parts of the drawings for how to set up for the games. But I do think that younger children, who are likely not yet old enough for early chapter books, will find this book enjoyable, and the games a great deal of fun.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.