Shades of Gray by Addie J King

Samantha (Sam) is a fairly new police officer. While out on her regular beat with her partner, Justin, she is attacked and bitten by someone neither of them managed to see.. What she only learns after recovering and beginning trauma counseling was that the man who bit her was a werewolf, and that she is showing signs that she has been infected and will soon experience her first change. She will need to take some precautions in order to keep her condition secret, but it is something that she will be able to manage. Of course, first she needs to believe that she will actually be regularly needing to turn into a wolf.

This was the first book in the Hochenwalt Files series. (The second book in this series has recently been released.)  I read a review copy of this book and really enjoyed it. (I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book in the series.) Ms. King did a great job of creating realistic police officers and showing the way that they respond to different situations, some dangerous and others (at least seemingly) not. I enjoyed the interaction between the two partners, as well as seeing their budding relationship. You can easily feel what they are going through, both Sam when she must learn to accept and deal with her new secret/condition, and Justin when he happens to be present to see her change form unexpectedly.

I also enjoyed the subplots in this book, dealing with people in positions of power, as well as the theme of wanting to help others and keeping those we care about safe. Sometimes that means knowing that the cost of doing so will likely be a high one, perhaps even more so than most would be willing to pay. It really makes you think about what you might do in some of these situations. And yes, we see characters who have to make such decisions based on each of their individual circumstances. Only one of which was the werewolf who bit Sam.

While this book is very different from Ms. King’s other books and series, I feel that anyone who has previously enjoyed her other stories would likely enjoy this one, too. I also feel that those who enjoy werewolf stories as well as stories that take place in what could be our own world would likely enjoy reading this story. (After all, how do we know that there aren’t werewolves hiding their dual nature and working  somewhere that we might see them on any given day? It’s certainly something to think about.)

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.

Nine Minute Diner by Grzegorz Kunowski

This is a book that tells the same short story from the perspectives of multiple people in a small, rundown diner in a small town. It was a very interesting concept that, for me, had potential, but also had a number of problems. The entire book is about nine minutes that happened leading up to, during, and immediately after a robbery told from the individual perspectives of each person in the diner at the time of the attempted robbery.

First off, I believe the book could have used a good editor or at least a proofreader. At times, I felt that the author was trying to imitate a particular style of speaking for some of the characters, and at other times, it seemed like it may have been a poor translation from a foreign language, or maybe just needed some fine tuning.

Individually, some of the stories had the potential to be very enjoyable if expanded into a book of their own. For example, the deaf piano player was a character that intrigued me. Of course, I can’t help but wonder why a rundown small diner that seems to be in the middle of nowhere had a piano inside, as no small diner I have ever seen or heard of has space for a full-time piano player. The only exception to this that I can think of would be if it were a piano bar, which this place clearly wasn't. And this wasn't the only character that I wanted to know more about. There were a number of the characters whose stories, if expanded and broadened, would have made for much more interesting tales in their own right.

With each individual character’s story ending at the same point of time, I was often left wanting to know more about what happens to each character after the end of their part of the story. And while each character had their own individual background details about who they were and why they were there at the time of the robbery, in several cases the stories overlapped enough that they felt rather repetitive to me due to being very similar and containing nearly identical information.

I do need to warn you that within at least one character's story, there was what I believe was meant to be a date rape. Though depending on which character is telling their side of the story, it was (or wasn’t) consensual sex involving someone who wanted to have a baby and a guy trying to help her out knowing there would be no commitment between them. Honestly, the stories around this incident and the multiple characters involved left me rather confused as to what actually was or was not closer to the full truth of that story.

All in all, while some of the individual perspectives were interesting, there really is much more I would have liked to know. As it stands, I’m afraid that I'm rather confused as to the intent and purpose of the book as a whole. I think I would have enjoyed it more myself with fewer characters and more details tying them together into a longer, more complete story, or as individual short stories dealing with more about one or two of the characters and their full stories beginning earlier and running beyond the confines of this tying-together incident. As it was, there was just not enough time or space within each tale to truly feel invested in any of them, and I was left confused and wanting more.

It was interesting as a description of multiple people in a single setting. And anyone who wants to read a collection of character descriptions and short background histories would likely enjoy this book, but when I finished it, I felt like I had missed the purpose of the story as a whole. I feel like it needed something more to truly tie it all together. It was a very interesting concept, but one that, for me, needed more time and details to make it work as an individual novel.

I do hope that the author will continue to write and perhaps develop his writing with the help of a good editor and proofreader, because as I said, it was a very interesting concept and one that I had looked forward to reading. It just, in my opinion, needed something more.

The Soundtrack to your Scream by Sarah Saedo

Joan Sclacht is a Lorian Hollow Guardian. She helps to protect the human citizens of the town from those who would hurt and cause destruction to others, as well as keeping the peace among all the citizens of the town.Those who have spent their whole lives in the town know that the founding families are not human, and many of them have spent years training and joining the Guardians to help protect people. Others have no idea about the hidden dangers lurking in the town. And when someone begins killing people, removing tongues, eyes, and then sewing  the mouth shut, it’s up to the guardians to solve these murders.

I read a review copy of this book. It was an unusual horror novel with some interesting twists. Not everything is as it seems, and that will make tracking down this mysterious murderer that much more difficult for Joan and the other Guardians. Judas Lorian, One of the immortal members of the founding families, loves Joan, but can never tell her. He is immortal, with secrets that he cannot share with her because she is human. Long ago he loved and lost a human, and he has yet to forgive himself for that tragedy. And that is only one of the complications going on in this book.

I cannot go into much detail here, as I am afraid that would cause me to accidentally give away some of what is happening, and thus spoil the story for you, but I will say that I am interested in seeing what happens in book two in this series.

If you enjoy horror stories that involve some mystery, murder, and quite a bit of gore with a touch of the supernatural attached, then I think you will likely enjoy this book.

Amazon Associates Statement

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.

Lost and Found by Alex Andre

Long after the “E”  rendered machines inoperable, society has changed. Within the remains of cities, people who refer to themselves as “Rats,” search for usable items to trade or sell, though with as much time that has passed, little seems to remain. Park Yun-Mi is a young “Rat” who believes she is meant for great things. But her beginning is a rough one, leaving her with a great deal to prove to herself as well as others.

I received a review copy of this book, and while I did enjoy it, I do need to mention  that it is over 500 pages long and contains an attempted rape. The characters are interesting, but there is a great deal of necessary set up to the story before it becomes really clear what the story is about. Because of all the necessary setup to this story, and also likely due in part to the length, it feels like the plot moves somewhat slowly, though that may in part be an illusion due to it being a longer than usual book. (I expect that book two in this series will go much faster now that we have the history and background information already, and yes, I would be interested in reading book 2 in this series at some point.) 

I will say that for longer than I expected, I was trying to figure out where the story was going, but even when not yet realizing what the story was supposed to be about, I was still enjoying it. It’s not often that I read something that keeps me guessing for so long. I enjoyed reading this book.

I think anyone who enjoys post apocalyptic stories that involve a variety of people, cultures, and societies. Will enjoy this book. There is a lot going on in this story, and I have only scratched the surface of it in my review of this book. If you’re looking for a story with a variety of characters and parts to the overall story, this is the book for you.

https://amzn.to/4dst5gm (Amazon link)

https://books2read.com/u/47Bv98 (Books2Read link to other vendors

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.

"BloodLaw" by Blaise Ramsey

Alastair Maddox is the Chicago ADA during a time when crime is running rampant. There are turf wars between Capone & other rival Mob bosses, and never mind the cops, lawyers, and judges who are on their payrolls. Prohibition Chicago was a rough time, but Alastair is determined to help clean up his city. He is not, however, prepared for Alexandra DeLane, a woman who seems to wrap most everyone around her finger with no real effort. And despite being accused of several violent killings, she somehow escapes from custody, though she seems to become more than a little obsessed with Alastair. A fact that will only cause quite a number of problems for many people. DeLane, it seems, is a vampire.

This was a book that fascinated me with its historical setting as well as its supernatural twist. One can only imagine what might happen in a book where the forces of "good" and "evil" are battling for Mob territory as well as both for and against the law. I enjoyed this story a great deal. 

As can be expected in a book involving the Mafia as well as vampires, there is more than a little violence in this book. (It was an unfortunate reality of the time period in which this book is set and would necessarily be included, even had vampires not been involved.)

I received a review copy of this book. If you enjoy historical fiction set in the 1920s prohibition era, vampire novels, or ones that involve the mafia, then I think you'll want to check this book out. I enjoyed reading it and I think you would as well.

This book may also be available from the following vendors:

https://books2read.com/vampirechicago01

"Shadow Guardian" and the "big Bad Wolf" by Robert J. Lewis

Two people had been cursed by a demon to know their love exists somewhere in the world, but to never again be allowed to be together. Through lifetime after lifetime, they search for each other, but in order to be together once again, the demon must be banished back to Hell, and they must find each other again. The curse can only be broken when they finally manage to touch each other. But with so many obstacles in their way, can this curse ever be ended?

I read an Advance Review Copy of this book. It was the second book in a series, but I have not yet read the previous book. Even without having read book one, I didn't feel at all lost while reading this one. I'm sure there are things that would be clearer had I read the previous book already, but I do plan on going back to read it when I have the chance.

Parts of this book made me snicker in amusement quite a bit at the antics of one character. He really managed to help keep things somewhat lighthearted, even when he wasn't trying to. Overall, I did enjoy this book, and I believe that anyone who enjoys fantasy novels with a lighthearted batman-style superhero would enjoy this book. It really is a fun read. And I'll be keeping my eyes open for both book 1 and book three in the series. If you enjoy superhero stories, give this series a shot. I think you’ll find it’s a fun one.

This book may also be available through:

https://books2read.com/shadowguardian02

"The Definition of Luck: The Post-Modern Prometheus" by Steven Paul Leiva

Khadambi Kinyanjui is a very tall Kenyan who was raised in London. Joe Smith is a much shorter red-headed orphan boy who grew up in the California desert, raised by his aunt. When the two scientists meet at University, they appear to be exact opposites. But the two of them find more in common between them than most people would think possible. Soon the two become the best of friends, closer even than brothers. (No, there is nothing romantic or sexual between them, this is not that kind of story.) 

This is the story of their friendship. One that spans a lifetime and beyond. It is the story of what they will do for each other when a life-changing tragedy strikes, and how that tragedy may wind up changing the course of their lives, as well as potentially the lives of a great number of other people. This is also a story about humanity, and what it means to be human. One big question explored by these two characters is... can one be considered human if they can no longer live in the physical world?

I love reading Mr. Leiva's books a great deal. His stories always leave me highly entertained, but more than that, they make me really think about the story and the characters. His stories are never ones that I read and then soon forget about as I begin reading another book. No, his stories really make me think about the meaning behind the story. And they stick with me long after having read them. (And for someone who reads a lot of books, that means something to me.)

I would highly recommend this book. It is a very complex tale, but one that I think anyone would enjoy, especially if you like books that will really make you think.

This book is also available through other retailers Simply click on this link to see them: https://books2read.com/u/bzK279

"Making Monsters: Dark Origins" by AJ Parnell

Born to poverty and living in a South African shanty town, Vander may be small for his age, but is also smart enough to be able survive the dangerous life he is stuck in, hiding his supernatural gifts from those who wouldn't understand. When he meets and befriends a wealthy English gentleman, his life will never again be the same, uf he can survive the dangers in front of him long enough to find a way out.

I read an Advanced Review Copy of this book and greatly enjoyed it. It held me captivated from beginning to end as I tried to figure out who the serial killer was. (All I will say on that part is that the ending both did and did not surprise me.) I am very definitely looking forward to reading book two in this series.  The author did a fantastic job of leaving me a lot to consider as I was reading. And honestly, I'm still not entirely sure who the worst monster of the story was. But I am looking forward to seeing where the author is going to take the story from here.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dark and gritty urban fiction stories. Especially if you enjoy ones with just a touch of horror and a fair amount of suspense. But be warned, this book does contain instances of sexual assault and abuse. It is, unfortunately, a part of the plot that cannot be removed from the story, so if this is something that you might find triggering, then this may not be the book for you.

This book is also available through:

https://books2read.com/makingmonsters01