I read the first book, The Reservoir Man (he gives you the illusion of reality instead of reality itself), and loved it, BUT Reflections on the Boulevard by L J Ambrosio BLEW ME AWAY. It was so thought provoking, that I had to stop at times and let it simmer. My mind was overwhelmed by the writing of L J. I laughed and I cried.
I love car trips and we (Michael, Ron and I) traveled the west, hitting new to me places. I loved seeing it through the eyes of an innocent, absorbing the wonder of our parks. I have never been to Europe, but seeing it through Michael and Ron’s eyes, and L J’s vivid descriptions, the world came alive and we knocked out his bucket list.
Ron is on a journey of intellectual awareness without knowing it.
Find your truth, then you will find your freedom.
Michael’s heart has no limits. He strives to see the good in people and shares his life lessons frreely. He is gay, but his relationship with Ron is one of friendship. Helping someone who needs a hand can leave him open to those who want to take advantage, but not so with Ron. His help pays off as Ron creates a life he never envisioned. When he met Michael, he was just looking for a safe place to lay his head and food in his belly. Michael took a lost boy and helped him to become a man. The journey was amazing, and I am so glad I was able to be there with them.
When Michael talks about sitting at his friends side while they struggle through the final stages of Aids, his words rang true, sometimes a person needs permission to go. I sat at my father’s side in the hospital and said those words. Within moments, I heard his final breath. My older sister was in hospice and, for some reason, I got up in the middle of the night to sit by her side for a while. I told her she could go, and she passed in the night. There were more moments like that in Reflections on the Boulevard by L J Ambrosio and I took them all in.
At the end, I saw what was coming and knew it would break my heart. I fought it as long as I could, before tears began streaming down my face as I struggled to see the words. I got so deep into the story, I felt I was sitting on the bench with them. Michael and I both have an appreciation of the power of benches, the incentive to sit a while and watch life happen.
I have never thought of myself as an intellectual reader, but L J, you can put me on your super fan list.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Reflections On The Boulevard by L J Ambrosio.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Michael’s story continues from “A Reservoir Man” (2022) where we find him teaching at a university ready to retire. He unexpectedly meets a young man named Ron who becomes his protege and journeys in a haphazard adventure with him throughout America and Europe in Michael’s final journey in life, each twist and turn of the road bringing unexpected adventures. The journey taken is one of joy, friendship and discovery.
Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedic Drama & Plays, Coming Of Age
238 pages, Paperback
Published April 23, 2023 by Film Valor
ABOUT L J AMBROSIO
Louis J. Ambrosio ran one of the most nurturing bi-coastal talent agencies in Los Angeles and New York. He started his career as a theatrical producer, running two major regional theaters for eight seasons. Ambrosio taught at seven universities. Ambrosio also distinguished himself as an award-winning film producer and novelist over the course of his impressive career.
The Valkyrie’s Shadow by Tiana Warner is up for preorder and will be released on 7.25.23. I want to thank NetGalley and Entangled Teen Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The Valkyrie’s Shadow.
The Sigrid and the Valkyrie’s series by Tiana Warner has become an epic saga for me. I loved the first book, The Valkyrie’s Daughter, but got lost in The Valkyrie’s Shadow. The characters came to life on the pages in this coming of age story and, even though it is a long book, 435 Kindle pages, I read and read and read…
Because the series needs to be read in order, I will do my best to include NO spoilers.
We have some familiar characters and creatures. Royal politics are complicated and the lines of loyalty are often blurred. I am glad that Sigrid stayed leery, and even though she is a young woman, she does know the difference between right and wrong. Each individual is as important as any other.
Sigrid wants the best for everyone and slowly builds her self confidence as she is forced to make decisions that will affect the lives of many. She is an lgbtq character and I love that Tiana Warner adds that extra something to make her character stand out. The romance with Mariam was sweet and innocent.
Tora, what a fabulous character. She made me smile. Fisk is another outstanding and unique character that stuck with me.
I loved all the supernatural characters and creatures.
The Valkrie’s Shadow by Tiana Warner has so much depth and detail to the world she has vividly created. I traveled miles with the characters, and not all will survive. We walked, we flew, we sailed…We have valkyries, elves, humans, winged mares (so how do they reproduce), and an eight legged horse that once belonged to a god…We have loyalty and betrayal, friends and lovers…
There is 435 pages of deliciousness and I hated to read the final word. I was left with a feeling of happiness and hope. Tiana, you blew my mind with this awesome story! I don’t feel my review conveyed how much I loved this book, but, maybe I shared enough to make you want to read it for yourself. I do want to stress that it is best to read The Valkyrie’s Daughter first.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Valkyrie’s Shadow by Tiana Warner.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Being both a valkyrie and a princess isn’t turning out quite the way Sigrid imagined. The other valkyries still treat her like a stable hand. Her relationship with Mariam is less “long-distance” and more “worlds apart.” And lately, she’s been wondering if Sleipnir, her new horse, isn’t making her a little bit…well, evil .
But Sigrid’s first official valkyrie mission sends ripples through the Nine Worlds. She’s attracted the wrath of not only the Night Elves but their sinister king, who wants nothing more than to bring darkness down on everyone. Worse yet, Loki might just be interfering with the balance of light and dark…
When war threatens the shores of Vanaheim and her friends are in danger of being exiled, Sigrid makes a deal with the new queen. She will ride Sleipnir against their enemies and use his might to defeat them, even as he pulls her closer to that line between good and evil.
What she becomes will either save everyone…or unleash disaster upon them all.
The Sigrid and The Valkyries series is best enjoyed in order. Reading Book #1 The Valkyrie’s Daughter Book #2 The Valkyrie’s Shadow
Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, LGBTQ, Myths and Legends, Queer, Teen and Young Adult
435 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 25, 2023 Entangled: Teen
ABOUT TIANA WARNER
Tiana Warner is an LGBTQ+ author from British Columbia, Canada, best known for her critically acclaimed “Mermaids of Eriana Kwai” trilogy and its comic adaptation. Tiana is a lifelong horseback rider, a former programmer with a Computer Science degree, and an outdoor enthusiast who loves to explore nature with her musician boyfriend and their hyperactive rescue mutt, Joey. Find her online at tianawarner.com.
The first book in the series, Wings Of Mayhem is free. Go ahead. Grab a copy. You will see why I am so hooked on this series and these characters.
I am so excited to have Sue Coletta visiting fundinmenal today. I have all of her books and eagerly await whatever she writes next. Her books speak to me and Mr Mayhem is one of my all time favorite villains…but his story has changed and I asked Sue about it. Here is what she had to say:
Sherry asked me a valid question that many readers might be wondering about:
“I am curious about how you got so involved in the eco part and why it became the crux of your Mayhem novels. Was that the intent from the beginning or what Mayhem morphed into?”
The short answer to the latter question is no, it was not my intent from the beginning. When I created Mr. Mayhem, I knew he was special. Yes, he’s a killer, but he’s no ordinary killer. From the first time he walked onstage in Blessed Mayhem, I hinted for readers to hold their judgment until they got to know him better. I wanted them to think big picture, even though I hadn’t unraveled all his layers yet. Little by little, as I finished writing that book, I began to understand him on a deeper level.
In that same year (2015), a wealthy and entitled Caucasian trophy hunter shot Cecil the lion with a crossbow and let him suffer FOR HOURS before death while he posed for photos beside him. To help illustrate my rage and devastation, I need to rewind to my childhood.
I grew up with a houseful of animals. My mother rescued injured wildlife and pet-sat for anyone who needed a haven for their furred and feathered babies. At one point, she even cared for an opossum for a solid year while his human traveled. Throughout my childhood, Mom shared stories about Ruthie, the blue-eyed elephant. For years, every time the circus came to town, Mom spent her days with Ruthie, tortured by the mistreatment by Barnum & Bailey.
There came a time when Mom couldn’t bring herself to say goodbye to Ruthie. So, she followed Ruthie to her next stop. And the next. And the next. The bond they shared reached deep, their souls entwining as one. Ruthie knew her heart, she knew Ruthie’s. Mom tried everything to save her. The circus even offered her job riding Ruthie while she performed, but Mom turned them down. She refused to be part of the slow destruction of her best friend. After years of sleepless nights and sick with worry, one morning Ruthie’s pen sat empty. She died during the night. In hindsight, Mom recalled Ruthie stroking her cheek more than usual the day before—one final goodbye to last a lifetime.
The story still kills me. At a young age, these stories taught me how some unlucky animals endured horrendous treatment by humans. My brother and I both grew up to respect the Natural World around us and to cherish every being in the Animal Kingdom. So, you can see how protection of animals is imbedded in soul, perhaps even in my DNA.
While writing Silent Mayhem in 2017, I left a few breadcrumbs to explore later. Around this same time, I also tossed around ideas for a new series set in Kenya about a conservationist who murders poachers.
Also in 2017, I learned about a three-year-old Orca named Lolita, who was ripped away from her family in 1970, transported to Miami Seaquarium, and forced to perform for food. For over 50 years, Lolita’s been imprisoned in a tank the size of a hotel pool, isolated and depressed, withering away until she dies or commits suicide, which many Orcas do in captivity.
How can anyone think imprisoning an animal is okay?
In 2018, news hit about the death of Sudan, the last male white rhino on earth. I’d been watching Sudan’s live feed for months. His death shattered me. There were still two living female white rhinos and Sudan’s protectors saved his sperm but come on! How did we, as a society, let this happen?
For the first time, I witnessed firsthand how human greed and selfishness wiped out an entire species. And that changed me in such a profound way. No longer could I look away or pretend this crisis didn’t exist. I had to do something, anything, to stop this. But what could I do? I wasn’t a celebrity, nor did I have a massive worldwide platform. The audience I’d amassed expected pure psychological thrillers from me. How could I lead them into a new genre with a strong focus on wildlife conservation?
This passage from Unnatural Mayhem explains how I’d been feeling for years…
Imagine a world without animals. No pattering of paws, no wingbeats, no singing in the treetops, no howls at the moon, no buzzing in flower blossoms, no slithering through garden beds, no sympathetic eyes begging for a treat, no unconditional love and companionship, and the oceans, ponds, and lakes devoid of life. The Natural World as we know it would forever be silenced. For eternity.
All trees and plants would also disappear—they depend on animals to reproduce—a dead empty landscape left in the wake.
Does that sound like a world you want to live in? I sure don’t.
With passion driving my every step while writing I AM MAYHEM, I pulled that thread from Silent Mayhem and introduced Jacy Lee, a Diné Medicine Man. I fell in love with his purity and kindness. Sparks flew between Shawnee, Mayhem, and Jacy Lee. On their own, they’re strong and well-developed enough to take the lead. What I didn’t expect was how well they worked as a team.
Once Jacy Lee hit the page, it dawned on me—I didn’t need to create a new series; I already had the perfect characters primed and ready. Though readers loved my Mayhem Series, did they love the cast enough to transition into a new genre of eco-thrillers imbued with metaphysical elements of Native American spirituality and culture? To my surprise, everyone loved Jacy Lee as much as I did.
Then Covid hit in 2020. Friends from LA told me they’d never seen stars before the lockdown. Imagine the amount of pollution it takes to block stars in the night sky?
Without humans, wildlife thrilled. I could see it unfold out my window. Moose, black bear, wolf, fox all visited my yard. They could finally roam freely. What did that say about us? Well, it spoke volumes to me. So, when I wrote Unnatural Mayhem, I figured it was now or never. Silence was no longer an option. So, I went for it, willing to risk losing some readers for the greater good. To my surprise, my audience loved it. The feedback and emails I received brought me to tears. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who felt strongly about saving the voiceless.
From a career standpoint, I’m finally living my truth, fulfilled by a lifelong passion for animal protection. Along the way, I kill a ton of poachers, animal traffickers, and trophy hunters. There’s something so deeply satisfying about erasing the worst of society. If I can include a karmic twist like endangered animals feeding on the meat of their would-be killers, all the better. The Mayhem Series means a lot to me. They educate and entertain while still delivering an action-packed plot.
That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy writing any of my previous books. I did. I just reached an age where I wanted—needed—more. And that passion drives me to the keyboard every single morning. My goal from the very beginning was to help fight animal trafficking through donations from the proceeds. Equally strong is my hunger to touch lives through Native spirituality, culture, and a beautiful connection to Mother Earth. The more Shawnee learns about her heritage, the more I learn about mine (that’s a whole other conversation).
I hope this helps explain why I took the Mayhem Series to where it is today. Thank you, Sherry, for posing the question.
It is my pleasure, Sue. I am overwhelmed. I don’t think anything I can say will top what you said. WELL DONE! and thank you so much for you touching and inspiring post.
Sue Coletta outdid herself in Tracking Mayhem. The characters came to life on the pages. The action was intense and I found myself constantly trying to picture the characters…whether kicking the shit out of the traffickers, climbing trees, or dressing for dinner. The interaction between Shawnee and the crows is both sweet and filled with sibling rivalry. I found myself laughing out loud at her antics with Poe and awwing with the sweetness and love between her and Spirit Dove.
I found myself constantly surfing the web because of the information that Sue Coletta shared and my need to know how accurate her research was and I wanted to know more. How much is fact, how much is fiction? So much of it is truly frightening, angering and shows man’s lack of humanity and disrespect to the Innocent Ones. Everyone and everything has a place in this world. It takes all of us to make it complete.
I love all the indigenous lore and the chapter headings that are filled with Native prayers and saying. I love all the practices and training scenes that Sue Coletta described in such vivid detail, I could almost see Shawnee running, weaving in and out of the trees, trying to keep up with Mayhem. I could hear the chatter of the animals. I could smell the pungent scent of the earth, and felt the touch of the bark of the trees as they scaled them, using them as a lookout. Mayhem is always on the alert, seeing so much more than Shawnee, teaching her to see it too.
I love that the characters have come so far, from a serial killer and thief to eco warriors. In Tracking Mayhem, we are out to protect the polar bears. By doing so and taking out the KillzMe corporation, they will save many more species’ lives in the process. Help will come from an unexpected source and I loved it.
Sue Coletta’s detailed, sickening, disgusting descriptions of butchered animals and the killing rooms is enough to turn my stomach, making me want to puke. Sometimes, visualization….well, it makes me want to reach into my ereader and do more than punch someone. Sue doesn’t get all preachy, she just says things how she and her characters, see them.
I love an author who can blend fact and fiction into an epic read, making me want more. I want to go on another adventure. An eco warriors mission is never over. There will always be another trafficker to take out, another animal to save…and that is real life.
Tons of action and bloodshed keep the pacing intense.
I could go on and on and on, and maybe I did, but I want to impress on you, the reader, that these characters are amazing. Sure, we have their mission, but it is them, together, Shawnee, Mayhem, Jay Cee, Poe and Spirit Dove, who make the story shine.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Tracking Mayhem by Sue Coletta.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Three unconventional eco-warriors are on a mission to save polar bears from the nation’s largest animal trafficking organization—one dead poacher at a time.
When eco-warriors, Shawnee, Mayhem, and Jacy Lee race across the country, dodging bullets and fighting their way through a gauntlet of danger, they soon realize they must risk everything to protect the bears before it’s too late. With courage, conviction, Native spirituality, and an innate connection to Mother Earth, the trio faces off against the notorious Killzme Corporation to stop the killing of Innocent Ones, the voiceless who can’t fight for themselves. But the stakes are high—blood will spill.
The war to save polar bears begins now. Can the eco-warriors evade Killzme’s relentless pursuit in time to make a difference?
Genre:
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2023 by Crow Talons Publishing
ABOUT SUE COLETTA
Sue Coletta is an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as one of the “Top 100 Crime Blogs on the Net” (Murder Blog sits at #5) for four years in a row. And recently, she appeared on an Emmy award-winning true crime show.
Sue also blogs at the Kill Zone, a multi-award-winning writing blog, and writes two serial killer thriller series (Tirgearr Publishing) and narrative nonfiction/true crime for Globe Pequot, trade division of Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group.
For readers, she has the Crime Lover’s Lounge, where members will be the first to know about free giveaways, contests, and have inside access to deleted scenes (if available). As an added bonus, members get to play in the lounge. Your secret code will unlock the virtual door.
BONUS: When you join Sue’s community you’ll receive two free killer reads!
Sue lives in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire with her husband, and begins each by feeding all the wildlife in her yard. Her favorite “pets” are a murder of crows who live free but come when called by name.
Darcy Coates had me until the last head rolled and that was fantastic and very unusual. This dark and disturbing, graphically suspenseful novel had me so wrapped up I couldn’t stop reading until the last word was read.
I don’t even have the breath to scream. My face is to the sky, my back to the empty white void beneath me as I plunge, carrying a wave of snow in my wake.
And that is only the beginning of Christa’s nightmare. Nine people begin the tour and only one person will be left standing. I figure…it has to be her…doesn’t it? But, how will the others be taken out and who is the one doing it that is the question.
At first I rated Dead Of Winter by Darcy Coates a four, but as I wrote this review, seeing the novel had everything I could want in a suspense novel and an ending that deserves a star of it’s own, I had to raise my rating to a 5. I mean, I love a good storm, whether in the cold climes leading to a blizzard or the warm climes leading to a hurricane, an isolated location, a killer amongst them, bloody, gruesome and graphic deaths…I mean, what more could I possibly require for a mind numbing thrill ride into the depths of depravity and revenge?
We have those ‘don’t go out there’ moments…and I love it.
The writing and pacing keeps the suspense at a high level, the story flowing seamlessly. The list of suspects included all of the tour goers, Darcy Coates making me suspicious of them all, at one time or another. I couldn’t eliminate anyone, except Christa. Did I see who the villain was and the need for revenge? Sure, there was a hint or two here and there of the reason, but it did not lead me to the villain…until Darcy Coates exposed him. I bow to her for a job WELL DONE.
OH, I forgot to mention the gorgeous cover and the intriguing title that screams, “Read me!”.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Dead of Winter by Darcy Coates.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
From bestselling author Darcy Coates comes Dead of Winter, a remote cabin in the snowy wilderness thriller that will teach you to trust no one. There are eight strangers. One killer. Nowhere left to run.
When Christa joins a tour group heading deep into the snowy expanse of the Rocky Mountains, she’s hopeful this will be her chance to put the ghosts of her past to rest. But when a bitterly cold snowstorm sweeps the region, the small group is forced to take shelter in an abandoned hunting cabin. Despite the uncomfortably claustrophobic quarters and rapidly dropping temperature, Christa believes they’ll be safe as they wait out the storm.
She couldn’t be more wrong.
Deep in the night, their tour guide goes missing…only to be discovered the following morning, his severed head impaled on a tree outside the cabin. Terrified, and completely isolated by the storm, Christa finds herself trapped with eight total strangers. One of them kills for sport…and they’re far from finished. As the storm grows more dangerous and the number of survivors dwindles one by one, Christa must decide who she can trust before this frozen mountain becomes her tomb.
Expected publication July 11, 2023 by Poisoned Pen Press
ABOUT DARCY COATES
Darcy Coates is the USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen horror and suspense novels.
She lives in the Central Coast of Australia with her family, cat, and a collection of chickens. Her home is surrounded by rolling wilderness on all sides, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Toymaker by Chuck Barrett is a continuation of The Savannah Project, so this review will be short and sweet.
I LOVED IT.
Jake Pendleton will learn the all the grisly details of the ills that have befallen him, as he faces his worst foes. One is familiar, Ian Collings, the assassin. One is new, a terrorist, and will test all his skills. He will travel the world, dodging death with colleagues old and new.
The more I read, the more lost I got in the story, wondering who would live and who would die. Hopefully, it will be the villains, but with Chuck Barrett, you can never be sure.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Former NTSB Investigator Jake Pendleton faces a dilemma as the line blurs between right and wrong. After his judgment comes into question, Jake is entrusted to his new mentor, an eccentric old man who sees beyond Jake’s flaws. A man who makes ‘toys for spies.’
A man known as The Toymaker.
Jake’s first assignment reunites him with Gregg Kaplan in a daredevil mission to rescue a fellow agent held captive in Yemen. He risks his life to stop the first attack of an al Qaeda mastermind. But now, with no one to trust but himself, can Jake stop the terrorist from destroying what is most precious to the free world?
Unfortunately, more trouble comes his way as a killer from his past threatens something more important to Jake than his own life, leaving him to make the hardest decision any man ever has to make—
Who to sacrifice.
Fiction, Action and Adventure, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Terrorism, Espionage
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2011
ABOUT CHUCK BARRETT
Chuck Barrett is the award-winning author of The Savannah Project, The Toymaker, Breach of Power, and Disruption of his Jake Pendleton series, and Blown, and Last Chance of his blockbuster Gregg Kaplan series. He is a graduate of Auburn University and retired air traffic controller. He also holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate.
He and his wife, DJ Steele (also an author) currently reside in Northern Colorado.
Awards: —BLOWN 2016 Writers Digest Self-Published Book Awards
—Breach of Power Winner of the 2013 Indie Excellence Award in Political Thrillers. Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category.
—The Toymaker Finalist in the 2013 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure & Mystery/Suspense categories.
—The Savannah Project Finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards Thriller/Adventure category. Second Place in the 2011 Reviewers Choice Awards Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror category. Honorable Mention in the 2011 ForeWord Reviews Book-Of-The-Year Awards Thriller/Suspense category.
I knew I was tackling an epic read when I began The Phoenix Project Compendium by M R Pritchard, but I eagerly ‘cracked open’ my ereader and never quit until the last book was read. I will break them down, book by book, but I highly recommend the Compendium for the value. It is worth every penny.
Book I, The Phoenix Project:
The Phoenix Project, Book I, lays the foundation for the series. I quickly became involved in the character’s lives. Andie Somers worked in genetics, but left to become a nurse. Her family includes her husband, Ian, and a five year old sweetie pie, Lina. When her world falls apart, Andie finds out she is considered special, indisposable. She meets Adam, who at times I couldn’t decide if he was good or bad. The more I read, the more involved I became. I love apocalyptic/dystopian novels and I am eager to see where M R Pritchard plans to take me. Utopia? Or is a madman making the world in his own image?
Book II, The Reformation:
“It’s starting. I thought we had more time.”
“It’s the Reformation.”
“They’re overthrowing the United States.”
“Someone is hellbent on starting the human race over and they’ve found the means to do it…”
“The Districts are the only safe havens for those who were lucky enough to be chosen.”
Andie has been chosen. She is special, because she is the only way that knows how to perform the genetic engineering that the Districts require. But….
The book follows the normal pattern of an apocalyptic/dystopian novel with a special science fiction twist and a drastic and grotesque form of population control. Earth is fighting back and this is the solution. We have the struggle to find supplies, avoid people that want to kill you, and find a safe haven.
Crane is the man of the hour and his cruelty knows no bounds. I hated him and wanted to see his demise. He uses Andie’s love of Lina to control her. Could there be a method to his madness that is required for the survival of humanity? How far is too far?
I love that Andie’s daughter, Lina, reads her a story, instead of the usual, mother reading to daughter. Lina is a sweetie pie and when M R Pritchard shares her moments, they put a smile on my face. The children are the future and I am eager to see what she will become in the future books.
Andie is romantically torn between her husband, Ian, who has been drugged and taken from her, paired with another, or Adam, the Volker soldier that puts his life on the line to keep her safe.
I love the Guardians, genetically altered dogs.
Andie had tried to escape the District and paid a heavy price. I thought WTH…Now, she is being sent to travel the country, visiting the five other Districts. It turns about to be something other than what both Andie and I thought, and I love it.
By the end of The Reformation, things become clearer and my heart is broken.
Book III, Revelation:
The characters struggle to find their place and there is always a plan running in the background, that the higher powers refuse to share.
We have a lot of action as Andie is forced to leave the safety of Phoenix.
A surprise pops up, but my spidey senses told me that would happen. Things are not as they appear to be and by the end of Revelation we will find out why and I did not see that coming.
Revelation, Book III of The Phoenix Project by M R Prichard had me gobbling up the words, each chapter leading me deeper into the story, wanting….no…having to know what comes next. I couldn’t stop reading. At times I thought of The Walking Dead, without zombies, other times I thought of The 100, because of all the scientific angles, other times I thought of The Stepford Wives, because of what they have done to the Residents. It’s still a case of the have nots wanting what the haves are determined to keep for themselves.
Revelation does provide a lot of food for thought.
Book IV, Inception:
We bounced from one point of view to another in Book IV of The Phoenix Project: Inception by M R Pritchard. Each book is filled with tension and action with a pace that pulls me along, never wanting to stop reading, having to know what happens next to who. M R Prichard is not afraid to kill off her characters. I knew not all of them could make it, even thought of one or two who would be lost, but couldn’t be sure until it was in front of my eyes. The characters are growing, changing, struggling to survive, facing insurmountable odds that will test them to their very limits. There is an underlying current of danger throughout, wondering who to trust and who will betray them. I have devoured one book right after the other and won’t quite until the last page is turned and the last word read.
Book V, Origins:
We have learned the Origins of the principal characters, how they came to be what they are, their superpowers included. Each has a gift, or a curse, it depends on how you look at it. I was surprised by many things and it seems no one is all good or all bad, but playing God can backfire. Manipulating people and nature to get the result you want may not work out the way it was planned.
The more I read, the more lost I become in this epic story of science fiction and an apocalyptic/dystopian world. I am invested in these children’s lives as they grow into adulthood, along with all the other characters I have been with throughout The Phoenix Project, and am curious to see how M R Prichard will end the story.
I was able to visualize some of the action and characters and, I must admit, Norah and Jill stole my heart in this one. Imagine a two year old child, riding a goat, talking like an adult….and so much more. She is just the latest character that I have become infatuated with.
The end is near as I crack open the sixth book, Resurrection, in this compendium.
Book VI, Resurrection:
I have loved every step I took with the characters of The Phoenix Project and read the sixth book in the series, Resurrection, with feelings of regret. I have spent so much time with them, I will miss them dearly.
Much of the book is like a synopsis of the previous books, filling in the blanks with more details of what has happened to the characters, explaining how they got to where they are now. I learned a lot about their motivations and the horror that they have been put through because of those who wish to play God, thinking they know what is best for the world and how to accomplish their goals. They will use whatever horrendous methods they can create to make man in the image they wish, and they don’t stop there. Want a Pegasus? A flying pig? How about a child that can fly? Want to live forever?
Through all the angst, torture, terror and struggle to survive, there were light moments of sweetness and laughter. How about Andromeda and Adam:
She picks up a large stick and throws it at the shadows….She hears a thud and a grunt…
“That was not nice….”
I laughed out loud and it is something that you may have had to be there to enjoy. Talk about push/pull, these two have had a hellacious relationship and I am curious to see how it will all pan out, seeing they are immortal.
“No one has ever come back for me,” his voice is weak. “Not once.” His voice is breathless. “Not in all of my time on this earth…”
“No grave can hold me. I’ll crawl back to you. Always.
How far do you believe man should go to change the world for the better? Are there no limits?
“…to build a new world you’ve got to tear the old on down.”
And they did.
I loved the ending and never saw it coming. I am sad to say goodbye to the characters I have come to know and love. I want to commend M R Pritchard for a job well done!
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Phoenix Project Compendium by M R Pritchard.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
*The Phoenix Project complete six book series*
Love, deception, and conspiracies in a post-apocalyptic America, this is how dystopia is created.
Andie is searching for her family. The Reformation is blocking her every move. She must alter the populations genetic code or never see them again.
Expected publication June 13, 2023 by Midnight Ledger
ABOUT M R PRITCHARD (from Amazon)
M. R. Pritchard is a two-time Kindle Scout winning author, her short story “Glitch” has been featured in the 2017 winter edition of THE FIRST LINE literary journal, and her short story “Moon Lord” has been featured in Chronicle Worlds: Half Way Home (Part of the Future Chronicles). M. R. Pritchard holds degrees in Biochemistry and Nursing. She is a northern New Yorker transplanted to the Gulf Coast of Florida who enjoys coffee, mint chocolate, cloudy days, and reading on the lanai.
Visit her website MRPritchard.com and sign up for her newsletter. You’ll get a monthly newsletter with updates, day to day shenanigans, and book deals.
I was scrolling through a list of my books and saw Tears Of Endurance by D G Torrens. I am constantly surprised with the free books I pick up…and this one blew my mind. Tissues will be required. I think I had tears in my eyes for the last twenty to twenty five percent of the book. I was heartbroken and want to congratulate D G Torrens on the ability to rip my heart right out of my chest.
I was expecting more suspense, but the romance of Arianna and Ben is the star that shines in the sky and the darkness that brings devastation.
I felt something like this was coming and I could not stop reading because of it. I had to know. I can hardly believe how quickly D G Torrens brought me into their lives. They are characters that made me care about what happened to them. I wanted the fairy tale. I wanted the happy ever after. I don’t know what an author is thinking when they take that away from me…………but, great job D G! You took my heart, ripped it from my chest and stomped on it……..repeatedly.
When a single tear fell from Ben’s eyes, that was the beginning of the end for me. Before I was done, I had tears streaming down my face, trying to hide it from my hubby. Crying over a book. Crying over a made up story. LOL I did it and I am not ashamed to admit it. Love can be the highest high and the lowest low! Is it the worth the price?
What do you think? Maybe by reading Tears Of Endurance by D G Torrens it can help you decide to take that leap of faith and go for it, if you haven’t already.
I added this to my reading list in Januray of 2015 and I am soooo happy I did.
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5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A SECRET CAN TEAR YOU APART OR BIND YOU FOREVER…
For Arianna Ferria, a satisfying and challenging life as an art gallery owner takes an unexpected turn into burning romance when she falls for the handsome and successful Ben Fielding. Soon, their relationship blossoms into more than she could ever imagine. However, when a black secret comes crashing down around them, their love faces the ultimate test of endurance while they come to grips with a tragic fate that changes the course of their lives forever…
D.G. Torrens is a UK & USA bestselling Author/Poet. D.G. has written and published 19 books to date and is currently penning book 20 – AMNESIA due for release 2021. The author is represented in the USA by Hershman Rights Management (HRM Literary Agents) A prolific writer with a deep passion for the written word, D.G is also a founding member of bestsellingreads.com and AuthorCityUK.
Her first book, Amelia’s Story, inspired people the world over and has been downloaded over 500k times worldwide. Amelia’s Story is the author’s true-life story. It was never intended for publication. Originally, D.G wrote it for her daughter. D.G. then went on to write military romance, romantic suspense, romantic drama, contemporary romance novels, and poetry books, which have all been received well. The success of Amelia’s Story led the author to the BBC RADIO WM 95.6 FM, in 2014/15 on the Adrian Goldberg breakfast show, where she lent her time as a weekly Headline Reviewer for 12 months. A quote from the author, “It can be quite daunting discussing the day’s headlines knowing thousands of people are tuning in… You never know when you are going to mess up! Thankfully, with lady luck on my side, I managed to wing it… “ Following on from BBC Radio, D.G has since been interviewed by, Award-Winning Radio DJ, Graham Torrington on the late-night show at BBC Radio WM and David Driver Author & DJ at Drystone Radio FM. Most recently, D.G was fortunate to be interviewed By American Radio Host/author/actor, Cyrus Webb at CoversationsLive.com Radio for Mississippi. The author’s first TV appearance was recently aired on AuthorPaedia TV Live hosted by Christopher Douglas author/host/interviewer/director. You can view all four episodes on YouTube (link below) to learn more about the author, her life and books: AuthorPaedia TV Link: https://youtu.be/e_2Affw7CtU D.G is exceptionally driven and throws herself into all the projects that she takes on. D.G is a full-time author.
Quote by D.G. Torrens: ‘Don’t tell me to reach for the stars when there is a whole universe out there.’ (That is how she walks through life.)
Quote by D.G. Torrens: “Not everyone will understand your journey what matters is that you do.”
D.G. Torrens lives by the motto, “The child first and foremost.”
I love the fabulous cover for The Deadening by Kerry Peresta. Everything about the book appealed to me. I got so much more than I expected, from the Prologue that set the hook until the final page I read.
Olivia Callahan ‘claws at the bars of her paralysis.’
I screamed and screamed, but my useless lips refused to utter a sound.
Super creepy. Her mind is screaming, but no one can hear her. She can’t move a muscle, not a finger, not an eyelid, to let them know she can hear them. I can’t imagine how terrifying that would be, but Kerry Peresta made me feel her confusion and terror.
As Olivia talks to her friends about her divorce from Monty and her lawyers suggestions, they question her decisions to buckle under to his demands. As I learn about Monty, I question who her lawyer is really working for. She is meek and mild, worse than a doormat, telling everyone her life is hunky dory. I can only hope she becomes rabid at some point.
When Olivia awakens from her coma, she doesn’t remember how she came to be there…or anything else for that matter. Who are the people in her room? Even worse, who is she?
Even though it is terrible how she came to be there, I love the changes the brain injury caused in her. The brain is amazing. Even a smell could bring back a memory, and it would crush her. Maybe some memories are better off forgotten, but I too would want to know.
Mom leaned over and whispered, “See? If you faint occasionally, they’ll do whatever you want without arguing about it.”
Olivia Callhan’s changes have a ripple affect, changing everyone else’s life along with it. There are moments of levity along with the devastation wreaked on her friends and family.
“You’re coming back to life, and we are so excited for you.”
“I never even knew I was dead.”
Niles, I wondered how the author would handle that whole situation. Is he deserving of a second chance? I was afraid that Kerry Peresta would use a trite solution, but no, she surprised me and I loved how she dealt with him.
There is the beginning of a romance between Olivia and Hunter, the detective that handled her investigation, and I love that there was no instalove, but a mutual attraction. Of course, I might have felt different if I didn’t know there was another book on my Kindle so I can find out what happens next in, The Rising.
I loved the ending!
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Deadening by Kerry Peresta.
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
Olivia Callahan’s quiet, orderly life is shattered when she regains consciousness in a hospital and discovers she is paralyzed and cannot remember a thing. The fragmented voices she hears around her help her piece together that an apparent assault landed her in the hospital, but nobody knows who attacked her, or why. After a chilling struggle to survive, she awakens from a coma unable to remember what happened to her or anything at all, except she has been told she is an entirely different person. Or is she?
Now, in spite of a brain injury that has rewired her personality, Olivia is on a mission to reclaim her life. As clarity surfaces and she starts to understand who she was, she is shocked. Had she really been that person? And if so, does she want her old life back?
Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
310 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2021 by Level Best Books
ABOUT KERRY PERESTA
Kerry Peresta’s publishing credits include a popular newspaper and e-zine humor column, “The Lighter Side,” and short stories in the published anthology, “That One Left Shoe,” and her first novel released in 2013 by Pen-L Publishing, “The Hunting,” contemporary women’s fiction. She spent twenty-five years in advertising as an account manager, creative director, and copywriter before deciding to devote more of her time to writing. She is currently working on her next novel, and the most current one, The Deadening, fiction, suspense; releases Feb. 23, 2021 and will be available for pre-order mid-January. Kerry has been published in several local magazines, including Local Life, Island Events, Bluffton Breeze, and Lady Lowcountry. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Island Writers Network of Hilton Head. She enjoys participating in writing conferences, and has served as chapter president of the Maryland Writers’ Association. Learn more about Kerry at www.kerryperesta.net, https://www.facebook.com/klperesta or https://www.instagram.com/kerryperesta
Book Title: Shadow Grizzly of the Rocky Mountains by Natascha Birovljev Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 352 pages Genre: Adventure Publisher: North Raven Books Release date: March 27, 2023 Content Rating: PG for romantic elements
MY REVIEW
Shadow Grizzly Of The Rocky Mountains by Natascha Birovjlev is the third book in the Rocky Mountain series and the best one…so far. The characters lives are moving forward as they face obstacles placed in their paths.
Each book starts with a Prologue, sharing a Native legend. The Great Bear is based on an Iroquois legend and, of course, I think most of us know of the constellation.
Natascha Birovjlev had me chuckling right off the bat. These are a couple of my favorite quotes:
“Wash it off, put a bandage around it, and I think you’ll live, Boss.”
He bent over and grabbed an apple and took a bite. “Hmm, these would make a great apple pie.”
“If you make it, I’ll eat it,” replied Lyla.
Rosie is a new character that has come to Willow Ranch. She is the niece of Eric LaForge, a trapper and friend of Lee’s father. We also have Woodwind, coming to join us. He is Lonefeather’s brother, recently released from prison. He will face some challenges, and I wondered what his story was. We will also meet Dorothy and Sam. OMG. This nine year old girl stole my heart. Her mother calls her Starshine. It is a fitting name, seeing she lights up the world around her. She is much older than her age, being raised by a single mother who shares the important things with her, preparing her…
“Seeing the world through the yes of a child can make us adults start to believe in dreams again.”
I love learning the history of the Natives and can see why they feel so much resentment and confusion when Natascha Birovjlev shares their story of the residential schools. I love when an author has me surfing the web, doing my own research, wanting to know more. I can feel their anger and disgust as I learn. But that is the past. Now, WE must figure out where we go from here.
He put his arm around Sam, who was also crying softly and pulled her tight. “Thank you for being here,” he whispered to the girl. “A shared burden is easier to bear.”
OK, here come the waterworks, even though I knew this was going to happen.
“Okay, but can I have whipped cream on top?” Sam replied between sobs, wiping her eyes.
The innocence of this sweet, sweet child breaks my heart and puts it back together again.
Shadow Grizzly Of The Smoky Mountains by Natascha Birovjlev is the third book of the Smoky Mountain series and the one that has hit me the hardest. I laughed with the characters, I cried with the characters, and, at the end, I felt all was right with the world. I am excited to find out what comes next for the Spruce View residents.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Shadow Grizzly by Natascha Birovljev.
5 Stars
Book Description:
Can love triumph in the face of adversity and the shadows of the past?
In the shadows of the Canadian Rockies, a gripping tale of love, danger, and destiny awaits.
Discover the enthralling story of rancher Lee, who finally gets permission to lead horseback tours in the wilds of Canada. His dreams of family and shaping the future of Willow Ranch hang in the balance. If he fails, he loses everything.
As Lee embarks on his quest, his sister Lyla returns from the Yukon to take charge of the wildlife station. Destiny reunites her with Lonefeather Jones, a Native American dreamcatcher weaver grappling with demons from his past. As the flames of their long-hidden feelings spark to life, they must confront the shadows that threaten to keep them apart.
Amidst the untamed beauty of the Rocky Mountains, new challenges test the courage and unity of Willow Ranch’s residents and friends. As relationships falter, death looms, and darkness threatens to consume the light, can the power of love prevail?
Join the unforgettable characters of the Willow Ranch series in this heart-stopping third installment. In a breathtaking landscape where mysteries lurk around every corner, you’ll be captivated by tales of love, adventure, and the unbreakable human spirit.
Uncover the secrets hidden in the shadows of the Rockies. Will love conquer the darkness before the last light on the horizon fades? The answer lies within these pages.
Natascha Birovljev is a storyteller at heart and author of the “Willow Ranch” book series.
Growing up in Germany, horses were always part of her life. After getting her Master degree in Religious Studies and German Literature, adventure was calling and she traveled to Alberta. She fell in love with the wild beauty of the Rocky Mountains and immigrated from Germany to Canada in 2005.
Here she worked the first years as a guide for horseback vacations, exploring mountain trails and spending the summer months in tent camps in the wilderness.
Inspired by her adventures and connections to ranchers, cowboys and First Nation communities, she started writing her books. Natascha lives on her ranch in Alberta with her horses and dogs.
Her stories show her fascination with the beauty of the Rocky Mountain wilderness and her love for the people she encounters.
WOW! I mean…WOW. I love romantic suspense novels, and from the blurbs, I thought I would enjoy the McKay Series by W L Brooks, but Let The Dead Lie is a novel that keeps on giving. I couldn’t stop reading. I know this is romantic suspense, but the girls stole the show! The excellent characters are outstanding and outshine the wonderful mystery and danger.
“Daddy, it was all a big misunderstanding. Things were said, and then one thing led to another, and well, here we are.” Alexandra explained in the wispy voice he knew she’d been practicing in the mirror.
The girls, all adopted at the same time by Emmit McKay and his, now deceased wife, Gracie: Casey, who is ten years old, prideful with a superiority complex. Alexandra, who is eight years old and a girlie girl with an attitude. Fletcher is seven. Her name was Jamie, but the tomboy demanded her name be changed. Any idea where the name came from? Charlie, the peacekeeper comes to the fold later. Their large personalities are only eclipsed by their hearts.
When the social worker is due for an inspection prior to the adoption of Charlie:
“They want a fight?” asked Casey, nodding her head. “Is that it, Pops? We gotta fight for what’s ours?”
“Seems that way. If that’s what we all agree on.” He looked at each of his daughters, Casey and Alexandra nodded. Fletcher peered up at him and grinned It was the mischievous grin that made him want to swallow.
“We’s ain’t nos sissies. They want a fight, we’s’ll fight!” Fletcher whooped.
“What?”
“I thought we agreed on a dress.”
“I’s ain’t got a dress! And possession’s nine tenths of the law,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Savannah comes to the small town of Blue Creek. She is the principal of the girl’s school and is put to the test when they are brought to her office for discipline. As the days unfold, she learns more about the girls and how the town looks…down…at them.
The girls are wise beyond their years, working as a team. They are secretive, plotting and planning…and when danger comes to their home, they will rise to the occasion.
The Widow Sadie had told them to Let The Dead Lie.
The writing made the situations easy to visualize, the dialogue making me feel as if I am there, hearing the words spoken live. Let The Dead Lie by W L Brooks would make a fabulous movie or TV series. I was smiling, laughing, cowering in fear, tearing up, all my emotions coming into play.
“We’s tried to keep the blood in, but it won’t stop,” Fletcher told her.”
The ending is heartwrenching, yet I did have a smile or two. I hate to pick favorites, but Fletcher spoke to me. She will do whatever it takes to protect what is hers. These girls are more than capable of doing exactly that.
At times, I had to take a break, the book was so intense and I was overwhelmed.
I could go on and on and I quickly grabbed the next book, The Secrets That Shape Us by W L Brooks, to see what the secret was that would make one of them leave Blue Creek.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Let The Dead Lie by W L Brooks
5 Stars
GOODREADS BLURB
A widower with four adopted daughters, Emmit McKay likes to keep a handle on things. But nothing can prepare the former FBI sharpshooter for the battles coming to his small hometown. Especially the one which arrives in such a tempting package.
Savannah Walker moves to Blue Creek to take over as principal of the school Emmit’s daughters attend. With a masters’ degree in education and a no-nonsense attitude, she is caught off guard by the behavior of the McKay girls and never expects to fall in love with them—or in lust with their father. But her intimacy with the family stirs up rumors and unearths secrets.
Savannah and Emmit cannot deny the chemistry which draws them together, but the closer they get, the more dangerous the stakes become. When a murderer is hidden amongst you, you can’t let the dead lie.
Fiction, Romance, Suspense, Thriller
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2017 by The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Original title: Let the Dead Lie Series: McKay (#1)
ABOUT W L BROOKS (from her website)
W.L. Brooks was born with an active imagination. When characters come into her mind, she has to give them a life- a chance to tell their stories. With a coffee cup in her hand and a cat by her side, she spends her days letting the ideas flow onto paper. A voracious reader, she draws her inspiration from mystery, romance, suspense and a dash of the paranormal.
A native of Virginia Beach, she is currently living in Western North Carolina. Check out the latest book in her McKay Series, The Truth Behind the Mask, and stay tuned to see what’s next!
