Sunday Reviews

Sunday Reviews

It begins as a lark — a harmless diversion initiated by Washington, D.C., hostess Ruth Bennett as a means of entertaining her visiting niece, Sara. But the seance conducted in Ruth’s elegant Georgetown home calls something back; something unwelcome … and palpably evil. Suddenly Sara is speaking in a voice not her own, transformed into a miserable, whimpering creature so unlike her normal, sensible self. No tricks or talismans will dispel the malevolence that now plagues the inhabitants of this haunted place — until a dark history of treachery, lust, and violence is exposed. But the cost might well be the sanity and the lives of the living.

Barbara Michaels is an excellent writer but this is the first one I read by her. My grandma recommended it to me and I have read it several times since. it is an amazing ghost story.

I will probably go back to Steven King next week but I had this planned a few weeks ago.

Sunday Reviews

Sunday Reviews


Following the events of Return of the Jedi: Star Wars: Episode VI, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia find themselves once again at the center of rebellion.
 
Five years after the Death Star was destroyed and Darth Vader and the Emperor were defeated, the galaxy is struggling to heal the wounds of war, Leia and Han are married and expecting twins, and Luke has become the first in a long-awaited line of new Jedi Knights.
 
But thousands of light-years away, the last of the Emperor’s warlords—the brilliant and deadly Grand Admiral Thrawn—has taken command of the shattered Imperial fleet, readied it for war, and pointed it at the fragile heart of the New Republic.
 
Meanwhile, Han and Lando Calrissian race against time to find proof of treason inside the highest Republic Council—only to discover instead a ghostly fleet of warships that could bring doom to their friends and victory to their enemies.
 
Yet most dangerous of all is a new Dark Jedi, risen from the ashes of a shrouded past, consumed by bitterness, and scheming to corrupt Luke to the dark side.

I read this series for the first time in middle/high school. This felt like a natural continuation of the story. Admittedly I dislike the third trilogy of movies because it strayed too far from what I felt was the original story. I have reread this trilogy multiple times over the years and enjoy it every time. I usually grab the original covers but for the review it was easier to grab the set version. I am not always into Sci-Fi books but these felt like visiting family. For me the Sci-fi must make sense. These books do.

I have a eclectic taste in books as well as music. The reviews are likely to be for everything from Spicy romance to scary Horror. Young adult and so much more. So, the warning is here – I will be reviewing books that you might want to use caution in reading, and those appropriate for all. Use discretion when reading what I do. 😉

Sunday Reviews

Sunday Reviews

The land of Terre d’Ange is a place of unsurpassing beauty and grace. It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good…and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt.

Phèdre nó Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission…and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel’s Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one. Phèdre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, Phèdre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair…and beyond.

Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phèdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear. Set in a world of cunning poets, deadly courtiers, heroic traitors, and a truly Machiavellian villainess, this is a novel of grandeur, luxuriance, sacrifice, betrayal, and deeply laid conspiracies. Not since Dune has there been an epic on the scale of Kushiel’s Dart – a massive tale about the violent death of an old age and the birth of a new.

Yeah I just copied the blurb. I probably am going to continue to do that as it is easier for me to just give my thoughts on a book and not have to explain what the book is about.

This is the first of a nine book set. ALL are worth the read. There is a wee bit of spice in them, but it is well done. This series is in my often reread group. A friend introduced me to it and I have read it more than a dozen times since. It has themes of BDSM, Religion, and survival. The series has strong characters and good world building. The first three books are focused on Phedre and her adventures. The next three are focused on her adopted son. The last three are focused on Moirin…a half deity from the land of Alba. Though you probably could read each trilogy separate and be fine…I wouldn’t. They are richly connected and bring a world together worthy of diving into.

I have a eclectic taste in books as well as music. The reviews are likely to be for everything from Spicy romance to scary Horror. Young adult and so much more. So, the warning is here – I will be reviewing books that you might want to use caution in reading, and those appropriate for all. Use discretion when reading what I do. 😉

Sunday Reviews

Sunday Reviews

Only Alexander knows why the barn is haunted—-and by what
 
When Alexander notices an eerie light coming out of the barn,. He thinks his friend Blossom Culp is trying to spook him. But strange things really are happening there. Slimy footprints appear out of nowhere, and whimpering sounds float down from the hayloft. And when he ventures into the barn in the dark of night, his breath catches in his throat. Suddenly Blossom’s words come back to him: “You can make contact with the Unseen….” Now there’s a girl ghost standing right in front of him, telling him of great danger ahead. But is there time for Alexander to act on her warning? 

Yeah I just copied the blurb. I looked through my blog at the reviews I have done…and realized last week was a duplicate. I need to do a standard to make this easier. There is too many books I can put here. So I guess I should start with books that I end up reading over and over again for the comfort. This is one of those. I have to have this as an e-book because I have worn out several copies of the paperback. The writing is good, but that is not what draws me in. I honestly saw myself in Blossom. The bumbling, not quite socially proper young girl who seems to make the story worth reading. There is more to her story. You can find other volumes if you look.

I have a eclectic taste in books as well as music. The reviews are likely to be for everything from Spicy romance to scary Horror. Young adult and so much more. So, the warning is here – I will be reviewing books that you might want to use caution in reading, and those appropriate for all. Use discretion when reading what I do. 😉

Sunday Reviews

Sunday Reviews

This one was recommended to me, and I am so happy to have listened. It’s a fantastic read. The world has progressed to see powers develop… But just like now the powerful don’t always have the right world views. And for a dude going into high school this is a fairly difficult amount of pressure. I love the complex characters and the way the story unfolds.

The lead male character is able to control undead. He developed a dangerous ability and is now scared of what the government will do with him. His family and friends circle around him as he learns to control his abilities.

This is the first of eight, I am at around five in the series. The books have a lot of good characters and a lot of work in the world building. it is not hard to see the world we are currently living in going this direction.

I recommend you pick up the first book and see if you get as pulled in as I did .

Books I have read

Book reviews

This is the first book from an amazing author. It is science fiction with wonderful world building. It has queer representation in the characters and also good representation of neuro divergent characters. The sequel is in the works and I am looking forward to buying it.

The book has telepathic/telekinetic flying wolves, religion and the trauma from it, fanatics, humanity in its best form, and so much more. She has a lot of herbal remedies used and it really feels like she has researched the herbs she chose. The main female character is a mute autistic. Alongi has made it feel like the character is very 3 dimensional person.

I highly recommend this one and all of Alongi’s books which I will admit that I have read at this point.

Books I have read

Book reviews

So I debated about posting this review as Serena has a story in it. I felt like it might seem like I was biased about it.

I must say that in my opinion it is filled with amazing stories. The stories are all extremely rich romance stories that are based in the Cthulhu mythos. The publisher did a great job with it. I will warn that the spice is high in this one.

The authors in this are all top tier and the editing was done by a true professional. The stories are are all worth reading. I highly recommend the monster I love.

Book I Have Read

For Whom The Belle Tolls by Jaysea Lynn

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

From Hell’s Belles BookTok sensation Jaysea Lynn comes a hotter-than-hell romantasy about love, magic, and found family in the Afterlife, perfect for fans of Sarah A. Parker and Callie Hart.

They told her to go to Hell.
She went, but on her own terms.


Lily isn’t exactly thrilled with her arrival in the Afterlife, but what awaits her there is more fantastical than she ever could have imagined: Deities wait in line at the coffee shop. Fae flit between realms. Souls find ways to make death a beginning.

As she explores the many corners of the Afterlife, Lily finds herself surprisingly drawn to a place most people would avoid at all costs: Hell. Armed with years of customer service experience and pent-up sarcasm, Lily carves a job out for herself amongst Hell’s demons, sending souls to their rightful circles with more than a hint of sass.

Lily’s expectations are subverted every day in Hell—especially by Bel, a demon general with a distractingly sexy voice. The two meet by chance and form an immediate, deeply healing friendship, but the undeniable heat between them threatens to combust.

Meanwhile, something stirs beyond the boundaries of their world, threatening to destroy everything they’ve known and everything that could be…unless they fight like Hell to stop it.

This debut novel from BookTok sensation Jaysea Lynn invites you to lose yourself in a world where love ignites in the unlikeliest of places, magic defies the rules, and the Afterlife proves more thrilling than anyone could imagine.

My 2 cents –

I was lucky enough to read this when it was on AOC. The actual book has a lot of differences. She did a wonderful job of cleaning it up. The world is richly designed. The characters are well written. And you are just drawn into the story. I highly recommend anyone read this.

Book Review

Book Review

I have to admit I love Rachel Wiley’s Poetry. It feels like she gets where I have been. This was an impulse buy for me, as I rarely buy the paperback versions. I enjoy paperbacks but I don’t often read them. I find it easier to curl up with my phone and enjoy what I want to read. So for me Paperbacks are a luxury item. This one lives up to the hype. The poems tug at the heart, and are well written. The book is lovely. Not the largest volume, but it feels just right. I bought it on the Zon but it is available on B&N, Google and a few of the usual suspects.

Book Review

BOOK LINKS
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRY1N9MV
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223127560-secret-guard
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/secret-guard-rise-of-the-loti-book-1-by-cait-marie

CAIT’S LINKS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/c8_marie/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cait.marie.h
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cait.marie.h

BLURB
Eighteen years ago, the Great War ended and magic was outlawed to create a more peaceful world.
But it’s still in ruins, and the people need a new hero.
Per the rules set forth at the reformation of their country, Princess Emmalyn must choose a betrothed by her eighteenth birthday in order to claim her place as heir. The problem is, her heart belongs to her best friend, Cayden, and he’s not on the list of approved suitors.
But that turns out to be the least of her troubles.
Before she can make her announcement, a violent rebel faction invades. Barely managing to escape with Cayden’s help, the princess is forced to leave her family in the hands of their biggest enemy—Charles Lamden, former friend of her parents and war hero-named traitor.
Emma will do whatever it takes to save her family, even if that means working with the very people she’s been taught to fear. Those with magic who’ve gone into hiding because of the laws
her parents helped put in place.
However, in doing so, she starts to see that the world isn’t what she once thought. And as she learns one painful truth after another, she struggles to know what to do or believe.
Because there’s a reason Lamden took the royals hostage beyond his need for revenge, and Emma’s at the very center of it.
After all, that’s why a group of secret guards has sworn to protect her above all others.

My Review:

This one is a delightful read. I honestly couldn’t put it down until it was done. the characters are richly written and the world building is top shelf. The plot twists will keep you engaged. I plan to reread this one often.