The Race to the Blackened Nevers by Douglas Bain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the first book of this series, we are introduced to a slew of characters (Thank Gods for the list of characters in the beginning of the book), who are to some extent or another, integral to The Race. So many different characters who all run for different reasons, some to reclaim their honor, others who are cursed, some who want answers of the gods and yet others who seek to prevent catastrophe. Amongst those running, the Gods have their own motives and the winner will claim honor, power and so much more.
Interesting dialogues, intriguing side plots and twists that can quite literally knock a character on his knees, this book has the potential to stay with you for a long time. I enjoyed the fast pace and adventure entwined with it all, and I liked the characters with their depth and their yearnings. Let’s hope the next book will turn out quite as good as this one.


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Her Eyes Underwater: A True-Crime Inspired Romantic Suspense novel by Romona Simon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A riveting true crime novel, Her Eyes Under Water is about a young university student, Julia Strauss. A free spirit at heart, she disregards recent reports of missing people in the Montana wilderness. When she meets Alex Bowman, she is enchanted with the man and they begin to date. Soon thereafter, Alex’s perfect behavior starts to crack, and a cruel, ruthless, and violent man shines through. Will Julia connect the dots to the missing people and Alex in time? Or will her free spirit be snuffed out too soon?
Julia is a smart young lady whose emotions get the better of her. Life seen through rosy red glasses is a true sentiment in this novel, at least until they break. Alex must suffer from multiple personalities, as it seems he does care for Julia immensely, however his penchant for cruelty that is also directed at her is too great of a red flag. This was a well written, well though out book that was gripping from first page to last.


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Arrested Mind by H.L. Nida
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Molly Murphy is a sweet young lady, s sweet that her self-confidence and self-strength is nearly non-existent. The men she falls in love with are quick to take advantage of her sweetness and willingness to do almost anything for love. One evening, she is saved from a violent ex-boyfriend by a charming police officer, Mark Washington. Mark is the complete opposite of what Molly’s normal type is: he is steadily employed, self-confident and knows how to treat a woman right. But he is much older than her, so she squashes her feelings until they cannot be ignored no longer. Mark, unsure if his feelings for Molly are true or only misplaced parental feelings of concern, finally decides to find out how she feels, and sparks fly between the two.
I enjoyed this book; I’ve had a dalliance with a much older man when I was younger and I fully understand how Molly felt so conflicted about him. I am happy for their story, even if it took some rough twists, especially in the beginning.


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No Hero Here: Not every love story has a hero. by Faith Cameron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

No Hero Here is an apt title for the book. Rose is an America who has traveled to England for her arranged marriage to the Duke of Dorchester, Sebastian Graham. In her travels she is accosted and kidnapped by the notorious Silver Hawk, a devilish rogue who has female admirers in most if not every town. Sebastian hears of the kidnapping and sets out (against his hermit nature) to rescue his Rose. But Rose is no simple damsel in distress and has grown to be fond of the Silver Hawk. Sebastian and the Silver Hawk are fierce enemies and Rose seeks to understand the animosity between the two, as well as her own confusing feelings.
A romance that has a twisted love triangle, some humor, plenty of family secrets and hard feelings as well as some swoon worthy descriptions. I was certainly entertained by the story and I loved Rose and her reactions to most situations. I have always loved the head strong ladies!


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The Arena by R.B. Ellis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cael Brenion is an accomplished and deadly fighter. He does not just kill for pleasure, but to protect his younger brother. Cael eventually becomes a target and a pawn in a much bigger game than just the game for survival. Agenayus is a high priest who has be living among humans for a long time, struggling to keep that barrier that protects the humans from falling. That magical barrier protects the human world from much sinister creatures than they could imagine. When the two happen to meet, they discover each other’s motives and drives and eventually join forces to fight for the safety of their charges.
Plenty of references to Rome and gladiator games were made by other reviewers and they are not wrong. Throw in actual magic to the Roman empire and the volatile time that was full of intrigue, politics and violence and you will have an explosive mix just waiting for the write set of characters to shine. The author certainly delivered, and I truly enjoyed this book.


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A Kite at the Edge of the World by Katy Grant
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An old man in the last moments of his life reminisces about a time in his youth. He lived in a village by the ocean and met a boy named Ilio. Ilio has but one wish, to live his life fully before he passes away. He is sick, deadly so and hopes to enjoy the time he has left. Our narrator decides that he will help Ilio and the two set out to find money so they can purchase supplies to build this kite. When they finally manage the task (despite opposition from some adults), they find that an adventure in their pursuit of the Kite flying, one they very well may not have found if they had not met each other.
A thoughtful tale, that approached the hard topic of a child’s death with tact and care. The author has obviously put much thought into her writing and how she portrayed each character. The book was sad due to the choice of topic, but the youthful exuberant in pursuit of something as simple as a kite is a welcome balance.


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Voices of the 21st Century: Bold, Brave, and Brilliant Women Who Make a Difference by Gail Watson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gail Watson (the author), compiled this book is short stories that highlight 40 extraordinary women. Women who have taken their passions and used it to make a difference in their and others lives. The stories are meant to be shared, to be uplifting and messages full of hope for others who may be struggling with their own worlds. Most of the stories are short, some area bit longer but they all showcase a woman’s tenacity, courage and their bravery in surviving a hard situation, following their intuition or simply having the guts to stay a course regardless of what others say.
I liked the book, the uplifting message was well presented by each writer, and while the stories mirror each other in some way, they were all unique enough that it was not repetitive. They were all well written and easy to read. An excellent book for these troubled times.


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Hedge Witch by Simon Kewin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cait Weerd is a teenager with the typical teenager problems. But when she visits her grandmother at the public library one day, she is accidentally thrust into a world that she never knew existed. Witches (along with a whole set of paranormal creatures), are real and she is from a long line of powerful witches. Cait will have to figure out who her allies are and who she can trust if she wants to stay alive.
It took me a little bit to get into the story, and once I was comfortable, the author switched us to a different world with different characters whose fight was interconnected with the one Cait was undergoing in our world. However, I didn't connect to Hellen as I did to Cait, and I forced myself to read the portions of her story so I wouldn't lose anything of the overall plot. If there were maybe more alternating POV throughout the book it might have read better? Other than that, it was still a good book, and the series does seem to be promising. I will certainly read the next book and hope I will connect with it more.

I received an advance review copy from BookSirens for free, and voluntarily decided to leave a review.

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The Night Drop by Ian D. Wright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is set in two eras. One portion plays out in 1943, when Jack Ross, a British Special Forces recruit is tasked with infiltrating a Nazi Base and examine the success or failure of a recent Allied bombing raid that was carried out. It becomes clear a mole is in operation from events that occur and Jack, along with the other operative’s race to find out just who they can truly trust. The other portion is set in 1965, when one of the suspects (I cannot tell you who without spoilers) returns to the town and seeks to clear his name. A murder prompts two investigative journalists to do their thing and when they come across Jack, they agree to help him find the real mole.
A very absorbing tale full of military maneuvers, stealth missions, who done it mystery and even a smidgen of romance. Against the backdrop of the Nazi era, this book is well researched, well written and certainly the complex characters highlight the plot twists by helping redirect our attentions until the story has twisted.


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Saving Day by J. Marianna
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In the future, most of the world has been wiped out by a plague. The remaining human population has retreated into “The Bubble”. In order to survive, strict population control measures are in place, including a VR game called Depopulation-17 Challenge. Every member must undergo this Challenge when they turn 17. If they pass the Simulation, they are accepted into the Bubble as permanent members. If they fail the challenge, a lethal injection “culls” them from the herd. Today it Trimba’s saving day and the bets are in whether she will pass or fail. Her family is a prestigious one, but Trimba is headstrong and a bit wild, so it is anyone’s guess what will happen.
I really wanted to like this one more than I did. I adore post-apocalyptic novels, but the writing was too disjointed for me to comfortably enjoy the story. The slang that was used straight from the first page was wild and cluttered and frustrated me more than it allowed me to immerse myself into the story. I think maybe another round of editing to clear up the writing and at the least a glossary in the front of the book to help identify what the slang means, would do wonders to clear up the book.


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The Savage War by Esther Wallace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Savage War is a book that will take you a while to read. It is no quick book, and so with that being said, it is still a well written and fascinating fantasy adventure waiting for you to discover its world. Amacin grew up on the Enchantress Islands but chooses to venture out and eventually lands in Mira where he befriends the Heir Princess Valoretta. The two have very interesting conversations about the meaning of honor and justice and compassion. The War that rages seemingly never ending is destroying Mira from both outside and within. Will Amacin be able to help Valoretta turn the fate of the kingdom around?
I liked the story; it was immersive, and the deeper meanings underneath were pleasant to behold and certainly provoked thoughts about honor and the morals we have. Valoretta came to consider Amacin a valued and thoughtful advisor, even with his background from a small island.


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Bonsai: A Comprehensive Guide to Growing, Pruning, Wiring and Caring for Your Bonsai Trees by Daiki Sato
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Growing a Bonsai tree can seem very daunting, but this book lays out the basics of growing healthy and gorgeous Bonsai trees all on your own. Detailing the 5 basic styles of bonsai gardening along with the 3 essential styles of growing perfect for beginners, Mr. Daiki Sato gives us a great guide to follow along step by step in selecting trees, pots, and even soils to give you the best possible base to start from. Mr. Sato also gives us insights in the unexpected benefits of Bonsai gardening, namely a deeper sense of calm, stress relief and even a sense of accomplishment when you see your masterpiece coming to life.
I think this is a great book for beginners starting their journey into Bonsai gardening. I liked the brief history of Bonsai gardening, how it came from Buddhist monks and their meanings. What was really good were the pictures depicting the different tools needed. I am sure you could just google it, but I like to see a depiction along with the description for something I will have to go find to ensure I have it on hand.


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Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In 24AD, the British empire is at war with greater Britannia. Catrin, the Kings daughter finds out that she, along with her half brother are at the center of a curse designed to bring about the fall of King Amren. Catrin seeks to use her warrior training to alter the curse but realizes that her heart will complicate matters when she falls in love with Marcellus, an enemy soldier. Torn between her heart and her people, Catrin turns to the powerful magic of the ancient druids to help her.
A love story full of intrigue, power struggles, choosing ones fate and a doomed love, this story reminds me somewhat of an old book called “The Silver Land” by Nancy Harding or even “The Forest House” by Marion Zimmer Bradley. The undercurrents are the same as they are set in similar times, but the finer details are different enough that it only feels the same while still being uniquely its own. Very well done!


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EMPIRE PALADIN: Realm of the Dead by M.S. Valdez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In 1241 the Hole Roman Empire is under siege from outside and within. The death of the Pope further throws the Empire into chaos, setting the stage for ambitious men seeking to consolidate their power. In this tumultuous age, a lone Paladin Knight by name of Camila Chastaine is set on a dangerous mission with fellow Paladins. They must seek out and stop one of their own who has been corrupted by Satan and taught the powers that will allow him to raise the dead for his own purpose. This is only the first in a series, so you can bet on the fact that there will be plenty of action, intrigue, horror (zombies) and grand battles.
As the first book, this one set the stage nicely. The worldbuilding was done well, we have a clear picture of where we are in history with the added bonus of magic being real and used on a regular basis to either protect the masses or to hurt them. The story is written very well, I was sucked in quickly and the pacing held my attention with a quick, but steady race towards the end.


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Beauregard and the Beast by Evie Drae
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Adam Littrell is a Champion MMA Fighter about to go up against his biggest foe, a literal make or break moment in his epic career. In this hectic time of preparing and training, he has the added issue of hiring a new personal assistant and gets shy, awkward Bo Wilkins. After a rocky start, the two bond over unexpected things, such as their love for books, or their determination to get their GED. As the two grow closer and closer, Bo drops everything to attend a family emergency and Adam, has to decide which is more important to him, Bo or his career?
I really liked this book, as I am fairly new to the MM romance category (only started reading it this year), I liked the clear departure of the stereotypical behavior and the revealing of a gentler, blossoming romance between Bo and Adam. The book was very well written and edited and the focus being on the two main characters means we didn’t get too much into the MMA scene or other potential areas that could have dragged the story down.


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No One Else by M K Tracy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hannah Martin has the wedding of her dreams. She married the love of her life Gavin and vows that they will be one of those couples together forever. However, her optimism is short lived. Seven years and three kids later, the stresses of family life wear heavily on both Hannah and Gavin. When Gavin is laid off things seem at their lowest point, until Hannah becomes determined to make ends meet. She lands a job in a new city and takes charge of the family. Gavin, despondent that his role as head of the house is suddenly cut out from under him has taken to alleviate his male ego with the lady next door.
I was not terribly impressed by the book. It had a promising plot and start and the “everything goes wrong” is not an unheard-of setup in the literary world. I would have liked to see more world-building, or character development. Hannah goes through little growth other than in the beginning when she decides to get a job. The rest of the plot points feel a bit rehashed and overused with no new or fresh spins o them. The twist towards the end was out of nowhere which can work well, but only seemed to get this book further off track. It was okay, but nothing that I would re-read.


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The Way In: 5 Winning Strategies to Lose Weight, Get Strong and Lift Your Life by Andrea Marcellus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Andrea Marcellus is a Fitness Expert with more than 20 years’ experience and she is daring you to pick up this book and believe in yourself. Believe in yourself enough that with her coaching, you WILL be able to achieve that weight loss and keep it off, and you will be healthier and feel better every day. With thoughtful guidance along the way, Marcellus lays out an easy to follow plan that has the potential to change how you view your body, and how much you critic yourself, forever.
I must admit, when I first picked up this book, I was skeptical. A book that tells me I can eat whatever I want and not have to work out like a crazy person? This has to be a gimmick, right? What I found was a thoughtfully and detailed laid out plan that gives you six weeks of nutrition, hydration (very important), and even emotional tips and directions that will help you change your habits to reflect a healthier you.


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Diary of a Roblox Noob: Ultimate Box Set by Robloxia Kid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This boxset is perfect for those kids who are fascinated by all things Roblox. My 7-year old, while not allowed to play the game (she was introduced by her older cousins), devours al tv shows and books she can, and this box set was no different. She said that it was funny and interesting to see the adventures that the various characters got into in the different stories. Anything that is kid-approved and keeps her entertained and reading is a big plus. Broken up into 7 books, we can read the stories of various characters, like Granny, Bee Swarm Simulator, Mad City and Ro Ghoul. The stories are well written with plenty of dialogue and descriptive narrations to set the scenes in a way that the intended younger audience can appreciate.
I purchased the Kindle edition, and I received 7 different books in that purchase of the box set. I am unsure what the various reviews are for that say they did not receive all books.


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