Category Archives: Reviews

Review – The Great Decay by Steven Jenkins #thegreatdecay @Author_Jenkins

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GOODREADS

MY REVIEW

Zombies are not your friend!

Ruby and her friends find what may be the last zombie on earth, and they make him their friend. They hang out at the cave with him, until…

The group of friends are too young to remember The Great Decay, a zombie apocalypse that nearly wiped out the human race.

Of course, I know what’s coming. I mean, look at that cover. Is there anything good about it?

The towering walls that had been built fifteen years ago during The Great Decay…Are they there to keep the zombies or the humans, in or out?

The short chapters and shifting points of view make The Great Decay an easy, fast paced read.

I’ve read enough zombie stories to be on the lookout for one that I can’t predict who will live and who will die. I want to be surprised. AND, I don’t mind if it’s one that has me wanting to throw my ereader at the wall. In fact, that gets my emotions riled up and makes if even better. Then I know, I have to be on my toes, and so do they.

My thanks go out to Steven Jenkins for the opportunity to share The Great Decay with you.

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4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“Stand By Me meets World War Z.”

Like so many towns and cities, the giant walls around Camberwood stand as silent reminders of humanity’s darkest hour—The Great Decay: a zombie invasion that nearly wiped-out mankind.

For seventeen-year-old Ruby and her friends, these walls are nothing more than relics of a history they’re too young to remember, monuments to their parents’ trauma.

Ruby dreams of a better life away from this small, soul-crushing town. Away from her alcoholic mother who still grieves the loss of her husband.

But boredom suddenly lifts when Ruby and her friends discover what seems impossible: a lone, emaciated zombie, perhaps the last of its kind, trapped in an abandoned coal mine. The creature appears docile, almost pitiful—a living artifact begging to be studied. Against all reason, they keep it secret, drawn to this rotting piece of forbidden history.

But their dangerous game of friendship with the undead is about to shatter their safe, uneventful world.

As a new wave of infection erupts within Camberwood’s walls, Ruby faces a devastating realization: she and her friends haven’t just unearthed a scientific curiosity—they’ve unleashed the very nightmare the last generation barely survived.

As the shadows of the past rise again, Ruby must fight to prevent a second Great Decay—or watch everything she loves crumble into ruin.

  • Genre: Fiction, Horror, Zombies

ABOUT STEVEN JENKINS

Born in the small Welsh town of Llanelli, Steven began writing stories at the age of eight. His inspiration came from his love for ‘80s horror movies, and novels by Stephen King and the late Richard Matheson.

During Steven’s teenage years, as well as being a black-belt kickboxer, he became a great lover of writing dark and twisted poems – six of which gained him publications with Poetry Now, Brownstone Books, and Strong Words.

Over the next few years, and after becoming a father and a husband, Steven’s passion drove him towards writing short stories, gaining him further publication with Dark Moon Digest: an American horror magazine. His terrifying tales of the afterlife and zombies gained him positive reviews, particularly his story, Burning Ambition, which also came runner up in a Five-stop-story contest.

Finally, in 2013, after years of hard work (and countless rejection letters), Steven got his debut novel, Fourteen Days, published by Barking Rain Press.

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Review – Pearl’s Fight by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor #romanticsuspense

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MY REVIEW

Jane Blythe is always a must read author for me. I love her romantic suspense novels where enemies become lovers. They go through hell to find their happy ever after…and this time it’s Pearl’s turn.

Pearl is one of four women who were stolen when they were young girls. They were used, abused and tortured. They consider themselves family and Pearl knew that without Ivory, Lacey and Opal, she never would have made it. Pearl had a mission. She had just recovered from a gun shot wound and was determined to find the six little girls that she had left behind.

DEA Special Agent Jesse Masters will have to work with Pearl, who works with Prey Security. He holds them responsible for his brother’s death, so it won’t be an easy alliance.

I had some issues with Pearl’s Fight, but I was already invested in her welfare from prior novels, so I knew I would enjoy it anyway. Jane Blythe always has me ripping through her stories having to know what hell she will put her characters through…and how they will manage to survive. I love her kickass ladies and her hunkalicious men. I am eager to dive into the next book in the series, Lacey’s Fight.

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3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Their anger will either bring them together or destroy what could have been. Pearl Smith is angry at the world. Stolen as a baby and raised under torturous conditions now she uses those same skills to save other innocents, but it doesn’t abate her anger. Nothing does, until a random encounter with a DEA Agent. Now the two are undercover with only each other to rely on, problem is they don’t like each other. DEA Agent Jesse Masters needs answers. A cartel sold his little sister and he lives for one purpose, to find out who she was sold to and if she’s still alive. The last thing he wants is someone from Prey Security getting in his way. He blames the company for what happened to his family and he has no intentions of getting along with their operative. Easier said than done when he can’t stop obsessing over her.

  • Genre: Fiction, Military, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Thriller
  • 346 pages, Kindle Edition
  • First published July 11, 2023
  • Series: Prey Security: Artemis #2

ABOUT JANE BLYTHE

USA Today bestselling author Jane Blythe writes action-packed romantic suspense and military romance featuring protective heroes and heroines who are survivors. One of Jane’s most popular series includes Saving SEALs, part of Susan Stoker’s OPERATION ALPHA world! Writing in that world alongside authors such as Janie Crouch and Riley Edwards has been a blast, and she looks forward to bringing more books to this genre, both within and outside of Stoker’s world. When Jane isn’t binge-reading she’s counting down to Christmas and adding to her 200+ teddy bear collection!

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MY REVIEWS FOR JANE BLYTHE’S BOOKS

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Review – Rejected by M C Frank @mcfrank_author #rejected

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MY REVIEW

M C Frank’s books have some eye catching covers and Rejected is no exception.

As Josephine St Claire and her two sisters grow older, her sisters leave the next. Josephine is fine right where she is, but she also knows that her best friend, Theodore Lawrence, will leave her too. She spends a lot of time feeling sorry for herself…and I think she is in denial.

Sometimes what we want is right in front of us, we just aren’t able to see it.

I have been enjoying the Rakes and Ruin series, but Rejected is not one of my favorites. That’s okay, it as still worth the reading to find out more about Josephine and what she wants out of life. 

The POVs switch from her writing letters to her deceased sister, Beth, and current events. Sometimes I felt her despair and other times I just wanted to tell her to get over herself. The pages ooze angst, and I guess, if you think of the times, it may be more realistic than I originally thought. At least Josephine was able to live her life the way she wanted, not being forced into a marriage she didn’t want. Love is messy and it takes her the entire book to figure it out. I’m glad Rejected was a quick read, because it lacked the depth of plot that I love so much, yet I was satisfied with the end result.

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3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“Everyone I love will leave me,” Josephine St. Claire whispered to herself.

“Wrong,” an annoying voice said behind her ear. “ I won’t leave you.”

She turned around to behold the unbearably handsome yet immensely irritating face of Theodore Lawrence, Lord Lowry, or ‘Teddy’ to his long-suffering friends.

“You don’t count, Teddy—wait, is your mouth full?”

“Indeed it is,” Teddy replied, with said mouth spitting crumbs of cake. “And, may I ask, why do I not count?”

Josephine sighed. “Because you are my best friend.”

He was wrong; she’d been right. He did leave her. But not before he had ruined everything by kissing her.



Josephine St. Claire prefers to be called ‘Jo’.

Unruly, with more interest in books, writing, and swordfights than in corsets and slippers, she is struggling to find her place in Regency London’s marriage mart. Her one comfort in life, her three sisters and one roguish brother, are slowly slipping away into adulthood, leaving her behind. And she, at nineteen, is horrified by the idea of looming romance and marriage.

At least she still has her best friend, Laurie. Or, as he now likes to be called, ‘Teddy’. She can rely on him not to succumb to any silly romantic ideas.



Theodore Lawrence, Lord Lowry, used to be called ‘Laurie’ when he was a child.

He is not a child any longer. He is about to step into his title and his responsibilities, and leave away the comfort of his early boyhood for good. Orphaned at infancy, he has been blessed with a found the St. Claires. Four sisters and a boy slightly older than him were the ones who saved his life when he was lost and alone. And his friendship with Jo has continued to save him, every day since.

Too bad he is about to utterly wreck it.

Because Laurie has a he has been in love with his best friend for years. And if he doesn’t do something about it soon, he is going to lose his mind.

Laurie is about to propose to Jo.

It is going to be a resounding disaster.

And that, by far, is not the worst thing that’s about to happen.



Rejected is a Jo and Laurie rewriting. This story is not a retelling of the book in its Just of the Jo and Laurie part. We are going to remake their story into a Regency era swoon-fest. And we are going to get it right this time.

Or not.

Bring tissues

……

This short and dark Regency retelling of Jo and Laurie’s story is for everyone who has shipped them so hard, they wished for a better ending. Do you think we might get it with this story?

Rejected is a quick, short read, but don’t let its length fool It’s packed with drama, romance, heat, darkness and light, and it will make you cry and swoon, and then cry again.

This one is for the Jo and Laurie endgame fans.

  • Genre: Enemies to Lovers, Fiction, Regency Romance, Romance
  • 257 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published May 11, 2025
  • Series: Rakes And Ruin

ABOUT M C FRANK

Welcome to the world of M.C. FRANK’s books, where characters aren’t going to have an easy time of it: They will find themselves in icy-cold dystopian worlds where kissing is forbidden (among other things), or in green forests ruled by evil Sheriffs. If they’re in Jane Austen’s England, they have to be running away from a traumatic childhood, or if they are in our contemporary world, they’re scared they’ll die before they have finished high school. That sort of thing.
Don’t worry, though, she knows we all need a little hope and joy in our lives, so there’s a good dose of those as well in everything she writes.
M.C. Frank (writer, reader, designer, physicist and teacher, to name a few) has been living in a world of stories ever since she can remember (that’s before she knew how to write). She started writing them down when she could no longer stand the characters in her head screaming at her to give them life, and while those first scribblings weren’t exactly good (nor were they books, although she insisted on calling them that), they were enough for her to discover her passion in life.
She got her university degree in physics a few years ago (yes, she’s like Sheldon, only a bit crazier!) and is now free to pursue her love of reading and writing, as well her free-lance job as editor-in-chief. She lives with her ‘dude’ in a home filled with candles, laptops and notebooks, where she rearranges her overflowing bookshelves every time she feels stressed.
Which is often, since (as you might have noticed) she doesn’t pick the easiest subjects for her novels.
Learn more about her and her New Adult, Young Adult, scifi, Greek mythology and historical novels at mcfrankauthor.com

  • Website: mcfrankauthor.com
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Review Fatal Intrusion by Jeffrey Deaver & Isabella Maldonado @jefferydeaver @isabellambooks

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A SERIAL KILLER SPINS A WEB OF DECEPTION

GOODREADS

MY REVIEW

I have read numerous novels by Jeffrey Deaver, but this is my first experience with Isabella Maldonado and I was not disappointed. Fatal Intrusion brings together Carmen Sanchez, a Homeland Security agent, and Jake Heron, a security expert. Carmen is by the book, but Jake…not so much. I love the combination.

Jake owes Carmen a favor and she is calling it in. The peripheral characters who surround them are all important players and each has their own talent to contribute to the investigation.

I love a book that draws me in from the opening pages, making it impossible to put the book down and Jeffrey and Isabella make it look easy. I love a feisty, kickass female lead. The tension was high and the pacing furious. Danger oozes off the pages and I rapidly flip them, having to know what comes next…and I sure didn’t anticipate where they took me. I do love a story that twists and turns and keeps me guessing.

I want to thank Thomas & Mercer and MB Communications for the opportunity to read and review Fatal Intrusion by Jeffrey Deaver and Isabella Maldonado.

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4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

As a wave of murders grips Southern California, an unlikely pair must untangle the mysterious patterns of an elusive killer. A propulsive new series by New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Isabella Maldonado.

Carmen Sanchez is a tough Homeland Security agent who plays by the rules. But when her sister is attacked, revealing a connection to a series of murders across Southern California, she realizes a conventional investigation will not be enough to stop the ruthless perpetrator.

With nowhere else to turn, Sanchez enlists the aid of Professor Jake Heron, a brilliant and quirky private security expert who, unlike Sanchez, believes rules are merely suggestions. The two have a troubled past, but he owes her a favor and she’s cashing in. They team up to catch the assailant, who, mystifyingly, has no discernable motive and fits no classic criminal profile. All they have to go on is a distinctive tattoo and a singular obsession that gives this chillingly efficient tactician his nickname: Spider.

Over the next seventy-two hours, Sanchez and Heron find themselves in the midst of a lethal chess match with the killer as they race to stop the carnage. As the victims mount, so do the risks. Because this spider’s web of intrigue is more sinister—and goes far deeper—than anyone could possibly anticipate.

  • Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
  • 434 pages, Kindle Edition
  • First published August 6, 2024 by Thomas & Mercer
  • Series: Sanchez & Heron, Book I

ABOUT JEFFREY DEAVER

#1 international bestselling author of over thirty novels and three collections of short stories. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into 25 languages. His first novel featuring Lincoln Rhyme, The Bone Collector, was made into a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. He’s received or been shortlisted for a number of awards around the world.

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ABOUT ISABELLA MALDONADO

Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author Isabella Maldonado wore a gun and badge in real life before turning to crime writing. A graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico and the first Latina to attain the rank of captain in her police department, she retired as the Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics. During more than two decades on the force, her assignments included hostage negotiator, department spokesperson, and precinct commander. She uses her law enforcement background to bring a realistic edge to her writing, which includes the Special Agent Nina Guerrera series, the Special Agent Dani Vega series, the Detective Veranda Cruz series, and the Sanchez and Heron series (co-authored with Jeffery Deaver). Her books are published in 24 languages. For more information, visit www.isabellamaldonado.com.

MY JEFFREY DEAVER & ISABELLA MALDONADO REVIEWS

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Review – The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark #julieclark #netgalley #theghostwriter

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NEW RELEASE – 6.3.25

GOODREADS

MY REVIEW

I was scrolling through NetGalley, checking out the new arrivals and saw The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark. I haven’t read any of her work, but I was intrigued by the premise of the story. Julie Clark was able to grab my attention from the opening pages and keep me engrossed in Olivia’s story until the very end.

Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont is having financial problems, so when she was approached to ghost write her father’s memoirs, she said yes.

Her father, Vincent Taylor, a famous horror writer, has Lewy body dementia, which creates difficulties when it comes to figuring out what is true and what is false. Olivia will have to face her father’s past. His family had been murdered and he was the only one left standing. That fed the rumor mill. Was he involved? Did he kill them himself?

We float from past to present and I loved Poppy as much as I loved spending time with Olivia.

I quickly became involved in Olivia’s story, watching the past unfold, wondering what was true and, even when the story was finished, was it the truth? I love an author that can keep me flipping pages, unable to put the book down, having to know, having to reach the end and have all the secrets exposed.

I love when I find a new author to love, keeping my eyes open for new books to come.

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5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of legendary horror author Vincent Taylor, famous not only for his novels but for being the prime suspect in the brutal slaying of his siblings. On the brink of financial ruin, Olivia reluctantly agrees to ghostwrite her father’s last book, not realising she will be forced to reckon with the ghosts that live at the centre of her family.

  • Genre: Mystery, Psychological, Suspense, Thriller
  • 368 pages, Hardcover
  • Expected publication: June 3, 2025 by Sourcebooks Landmark

ABOUT JULIE CLARK

Julie Clark is the New York Times bestselling author of The Ones We Choose and The Last Flight, which was also a #1 international bestseller and has been translated into more than twenty languages. She lives in Los Angeles with her family and a golden doodle with poor impulse control.

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Review – Lucid by Michael S Milano #michaelsmilano #lucid

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FREE TO BE SAFE (Surveillance cameras and Pansophical Corporation flags)
SAFE TO BE FREE (Surveillance cameras and Pansophical Corporation flags)

 

GOODREADS

MY REVIEW

Lucid by Michael S Milano is a combination apocalyptic, dystopian and technothriller.

Antony Sartori is the star of the show. Since the death of his wife, things have changed for him. He began to question the regime, and that can be very dangerous, seeing they are watching…all the time. It will take him on a perilous journey.

I thought I would love Lucid, but it was hard for me to get into it. I don’t know if I was burnt out on reading or if the writing style didn’t work for me. The character didn’t speak to me. It did have its moments, there just wasn’t enough of them.

My thanks go out to Michael for the opportunity to read a copy of Lucid.

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3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

A mind-altering regime. Unity and loyalty dictated. Can one man resist the machine and rip away the veil to reveal the truth?

Seattle, 2084. Antony Sartori hides his grief. Struggling to find a sense of purpose after losing his wife to a deadly pandemic, the former engineer silently suffers while surviving on welfare payments. Out past curfew after a long night of drinking, the devoted citizen is detained, put on trial, and assaulted by the authority he once served.

Plagued by flashbacks that feel more real than the world around him, the fifty-four-year-old begins to question whether his mind or reality itself is unraveling. And though bombarded by reminders to leave the past behind and to live for his fellow man, the seeds of defiance take root in his heart.

With every move watched and judged, can Antony wake up before all is lost?

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction, Political, Technothriller, Suspense, Thriller
  • 292 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published December 10, 2024 by Praxis Books

ABOUT MICHAEL S MILANO

For over a decade, Lucid has consumed Michael S. Milano’s waking hours. Finally, he is an author. Michael earned his PhD from The Ohio State University. His articles have been published by the Mises Institute and the Libertarian Institute. Michael is a hammock enthusiast who enjoys the Madness of March and drinking wine. He lives somewhere in the observable universe.

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Review – I Am Jayvyn by Peter D Brown #peterdbrown #iamjayvyn

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MY REVIEW

WOW! I had high hopes going into I Am Jayvyn by Peter D Brown and he did not disappoint. His research and the ability to create a storyline that rivals any other Black & African American Historical Fiction novel is at the top of the list.

We start off in Africa. Jayvyn is twelve years old, looking forward to his right of passage ceremony coming up, when his village is raided by English slavers. The trek to the slave ship left many dead and there would be many more that would succumb to the ocean voyage. Jayvyn kept telling himself, just stay alive and, maybe, some day…

I Am Jayvyn is 509 pages of raw emotion. I laughed and I cried with the characters. The brutality was savage. I cannot understand why one human being thinks they are better than another. The slaves were treated like chattel. How much work can you get out of someone that is being beaten and starved?

Every time something good happened to the slaves, I waited for something horrid to follow. What an emotional roller coaster. I felt all the emotions, happiness and sadness, disgust and anger, sorrow and rage. I love that, no matter how much they tried to beat him down, Jayvyn held on. There were those around him that helped him grow into a man that persevered, learning life’s lessons.

I Am Jayvyn by Peter D Brown is an in your face, thought provoking novel. An historical novel that blends truth with fiction, showing the slaves ability to believe in something larger than themselves, seeing the good amongst the evil.

I highly recommend I Am Javyyn by Peter D Brown. It was everything I anticipated and more. This is Peter’s first book, but I now have him in my sights and look forward to reading more of his work.

Thank you, Peter, for the opportunity to read I Am Jayvyn. Well done.

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5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“I AM JAYVYN,” is a compelling work of historical fiction positioned to remind readers, at a critical time, of the key role that the enslaved played in the development of America and the systemic racism that still plagues the US today.

Cir. 1710: On a beautiful morning full of hope and promise, twelve-year-old Javyn’s world is suddenly shattered when English slavers raid his peaceful village. His father is killed, he is separated from his mother and little sister, and his home is left in flames. In a whirlwind of change, Jayvyn survives the horrors of the middle passage alone, landing in Barbados, where he endures two years of ‘seasoning’ on a sugar plantation. His adolescent development progresses under the tutelage of Andrew, a fellow enslaved African, in desperate circumstances he could never have imagined.

In time, Jayvyn is sold again and survives another harrowing ocean voyage to South Carolina, where he is auctioned off to the owner of a growing rice plantation. Jayvyn lives his life amongst a diverse cast of fellow enslaved in a world where love, hate, and cruelty coexist as families are formed and separated at the whim of masters who see the enslaved as nothing more than chattel property. Colonial history unfolds while this resilient community of enslaved Africans adapt to an ever-changing world of oppression and subjugation.

Over the course of his life, Jayvyn gains a healthy perspective on the virtues and flaws of humanity—even transcending the high threshold of forgiveness—leaving readers with abundant food for thought delivered in an appalling tale of pain and suffering, but also one of true faith and deliverance told through the clear lens of history.

  • Genre: Black & African American Historical Fiction
  • 505 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published January 12, 2025, Independent

ABOUT PETER D BROWN

Peter D. Brown is a Maine-based author of historical fiction with a deep interest in social justice and a passion for preserving history. His writing relies on a deep commitment to historical accuracy while aiming to illuminate stories of the oppressed or misunderstood. Presented alongside proclivities typical of the human condition, he challenges his readers to confront uncomfortable truths and engage with the complexities of the human experience.

Retired now from formal enterprise, Peter lives in a quiet, pastoral township in Maine with his loving wife and two dogs, where he enjoys ample quietude and peace to gain inspiration, sort out his thoughts, and bring them to life.

Through his work, Peter hopes to promote thoughtful conversations about the enduring impact of history on contemporary society.

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Flying High…Above The Clouds by Tim Vee @_Tim_Vee_

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MY REVIEW

Tim Vee writes some interesting stories, and Above The Clouds had me intrigued. This unique apocalyptic/dystopian novel takes place deep underground, in long unused subway tunnels and sewers. No one knows what came before .

Everyone has their duties to perform, whether it’s raising the young, hunt or work to provide necessities. When their usefulness comes to and end, whether through injury or old age, they are sent to the surface to fend for themselves.

Dara and her sister, Squirt, are the main characters in Above The Clouds. Squirt is still young enough that she helps where she can and not much is expected of her. Dara is a hunter. She is expected to bring back from the hunt a dozen rats or three cats or a dog.

The world Tim Vee has created is bleak and dangerous. It is a world I haven’t visited before and I have read many apocalyptic and dystopian fiction novels. We go from the depths of the earth to the clouds in the sky, where Squirt will find a life she could never have envisioned. I like the twist from dark to light, from despair to hope. I was suitably creeped out and that is always a good thing. LOL

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4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In a ruined, distant future of our world, filled with rain, gloom, and danger, Squirt and her sister Dara fight to survive as part of the underground clan, hunting meat to survive and clinging to the edges of existence. When Squirt encounters a mysterious figure above ground, her life is upended. Taken to a gleaming paradise above the clouds, she finds herself trapped in an idyllic prison, where everything seems perfect—but is danger hiding in plain sight? Does Charlotte, her enigmatic and gentle companion, hide secrets behind her perfect smile? Does Mrs Wallis, the tower’s cold matriarch, watch Squirt with a predator’s patience?

Below, Dara hunts alone, trying to find meaning in her life and haunted by her sister’s disappearance while whispers of betrayal within the clan force her to choose between being a victim or fighting for her survival.

As the sisters’ paths converge, truths are exposed: immortality comes at a terrible price, and the ones they’ve trusted most may be their greatest enemies. Above the Clouds is a haunting tale of the fight for survival and identity, asking the question: What does it truly mean to be human?

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fiction
  • 190 pages, Kindle Edition
  • First published February 14, 2025 by Tim Vee

ABOUT TIM VEE

My books are always free over at Smash Words. Download and have a read – and don’t forget to leave a review! https://www.smashwords.com/profile/vi…

Tim works in digital marketing in Toronto and is well-traveled, having visited over 80 countries. When he is not working or writing he likes to spend time with his family and German Shepherd – and to go cycling.

Tim has written ten books; The Secret Policemen and The Secret Service – both dystopian dark comedies; as well as seven science fiction novels – Extinction, Annabelle, Fission, The Children of the Third Reich, The Child of Mars, and The Children of Andaalwaald.

Tim has also written Magpie – a dark and intense journey into the world of international espionage and terrorism.

Tim mostly enjoys writing transgressive fiction – mainly about aliens and psychopaths.

Comments and feedback are always welcome.

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A New Series – Save Her Life by Carolyn Arnold @Carolyn_Arnold #NetGalley #saveherlife

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Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Carolyn Arnold is a must read author for me, so I am super excited to share the first book in her new series, Save Her Life (Sandra Vos #1).

If it turned out to be nothing, she’d look the fool.

I wonder how often someone has thought of that when something bad is coming their way.

Sandra Vos is part of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group and the Crisis Negotiation Unit. When not in the field, she’s manhunting criminals. She keeps her family’s wealth a secret. She’s forty seven years old, not a youngster, and I kinda like that. When she is called into a hostage situation, it makes her a target. The villain wants her to suffer and will use her teenage daughter, Olivia, to force her cooperation.

Carolyn Arnold uses a Prologue to set the hook right out of the gate. That’s why I love prologues. I love stories that get my heart pounding, unable to put the book down and Save Her Life does that very well. And that ending…WOWZA…love it. I can hardly wait to see what Sandra Vos will have to deal with next.

I want to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Save Her Life by Carolyn Arnold.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The tears fall down the girl’s pale face as she desperately tries to struggle free from the ties around her wrists. The only sound in the room other than her muffled cries is the ticking of a clock. Her mother has less than one hour to find her alive.

It’s been more than thirty years since Special Agent Sandra Vos’s twin brother was shot dead, an innocent victim caught in a kidnap gone wrong. It devastated Sandra’s family, but it made her who she is today, one of the FBI’s most successful negotiators.

After dropping her teenage daughter, Olivia, at school, Sandra is alerted to a potential hostage situation at her local grocery store and races to the scene. A man has pulled out a gun and is refusing to talk or let anyone out of the building until his demands are met. The fate of dozens of lives rests in Sandra’s hands.

But as Sandra starts to make a breakthrough with the hostage taker, she receives a call that makes her blood run cold. Someone has taken Olivia, and their demand will push Sandra to her absolute limit. If it’s not met within twenty-four hours, she will never see her daughter again.

Sandra knows she should step aside, letting her team take over, but she doesn’t trust anyone else to bring Olivia home alive. Breaking every rule in the book, Sandra is ready to go into her most personal negotiation yet. But how much will she have to sacrifice to save her daughter?

A totally gripping new series which will have you turning the pages long into the night. Perfect for fans of Kendra Elliot’s Mercy Kilpatrick series, Mary Stone and Elle Gray.

What readers are saying about Carolyn Arnold:

“OH MY GOSH!… Had me reading late into the night… I was caught up in the story from the first page to the last… So addictive!” Shortbookthyme, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I was not going to sleep until I finished this book. Wow!… The hits just kept coming, and I never saw most of them until they hit… You will not be able to put it down because you will have to know what happened… Keep[s] you glued to the pages as you race to the end.” Escapetobooks1503, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Wonderful… I love this series… Fantastic… Kept me unable to put the book down… Fantastic… Gripping… Wonderful… Edge-of-your-seat thriller.” The Reading Café, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I was absolutely obsessed with this book… Loved… Amazing.” Read_and_rescue, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“It kept me rapidly turning the pages… Gripping… It’s a must-read.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Had me totally hooked. I love this series.” Karen4013, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Gripping… Page-turning… Nail-biting… This book is a must-read.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  • Genre: Kidnapping, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller
  • 346 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication May 27, 2025 by Bookouture

ABOUT CAROLYN ARNOLD

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from police procedurals, hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.

Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

MY REVIEWS FOR CAROLYN ARNOLD

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Review – The Hunting Trip by Katherine Villyard #katherinevillyard #thehuntingtrip

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GOODREADS

MY REVIEW

The Hunting Trip by Katherine Villyard was a short read, and I had already read Immortal Gifts, so it couldn’t spoil anything for me. I did enjoy watching the Nazis that were hiding because of the war crimes they had committed get their comeuppance. Who doesn’t like seeing criminals get what they deserve, though I don’t think getting bitten happens that often. LOL

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Nazis. The Big Bad of the 20th century. But for Abraham and Ludwig, it’s personal. Ludwig had to flee Germany with Abraham in disguise.

Now it’s 1977. Abraham and Ludwig have heard that there are Nazis hiding from justice in South America. Perhaps they’ll even find the most notorious war criminal of all.

Vampires vs. Nazis. Contains spoilers for Immortal Gifts.

  • Genre: Fiction, Horror, Paranormal, Supernatural, Vampires
  • 44 pages, ebook
  • Published February 1, 2025 by Katherine Villyard

ABOUT KATHERINE VILLYARD

My parents met singing opera and started taking me to choir practice when I was six weeks old. I attended four elementary schools and four high schools before getting master’s degrees in art and library science. So naturally I work in IT, abusing SQL Server for fun and profit. When I’m not working or writing, I’m probably playing the Sims or spoiling cats. My greatest ambition is to rule the world.

If you’re looking for “Becoming,” you can find it here.

Be sure to follow me on Bookbub!

Website

MY KATHERINE VILLYARD REVIEWS

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
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