Category Archives: Reviews

Giveway & Review – The Immortal Detective by D B Woodling @partnersincr1me @DBWoodling

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Beginning tomorrow, November 28th the ebook will only cost 99₵. Be sure to share this great deal … and grab yourself a copy before it ends on December 8th!

Amazon / Kindle Unlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Immortal Detective by D B Woodling is the total package. At first it was the title that drew be into Celeste’s vampiric world, then I saw the amazing cover, then I read the blurb, and I loved every minute I spent there.

Celeste never would have chosen her undead life. Her mother, father, and brother, as well as her lover, Tristan were all vampires…and she hated them all. Because she is a decorated detective, her family petitioned the powers that be to imbue her with many of their gifts. With all the calamity in the world, she could fulfill a purpose. She would also be tasked with bringing those deserving into the fold, increasing their numbers. Their actions can, and will, change the world.

I love how they can morph into fantastical creatives, teleport, time travel, fly, read minds, implant suggestions, and so much more. It takes Celeste some time to get a handle on her powers, but the Elders will be there to assist her when necessary.

Celeste has an adopted daughter, Raina, and a flamboyant, gay vampire nanny, Fane, who live with her in her beloved Victorian home. Even baby vampires are children, frightened by nightmares…or premonitions. I became enamored with these characters and want more of them.

I love the dialogue between Raina and Fane…fun, fun, fun. He knows how to distract her from the bad, put a smile on her face, and entertain her while her mommy is fighting crime. I love that Celeste and Raina sleep together in the same coffer. Talk about cuddle time.

Celeste is a detective with the Kansas City Police. She will put her powers to the test as she endeavors to eliminate a sex trafficking ring. Lots of action. A choice will be made and I love it. The choice can definitely lead to another book in the series.

I missed reading the first book in the series, The Immortal Twin, and I feel I would have connected to the characters better if I knew their back story. Sometimes I forget to check and see if a book is part of a series and I wish I would have read the the books in order, but I can still recommend The Immortal Detective. I just recommend reading The Immortal Twin first.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

ABOUT THE IMMORTAL DETECTIVE

Sometimes being immortal makes you wish you were dead.

Celeste Crenshaw has survived her parents’ grisly murders, grueling and gender-biased police training, a battle with rogue vampires, and even her own death. While immortality might seem a dream come true, can she accept the strings attached?

Celeste spends the start of her immortal life being mentored by the Elders of the Hollow Earth. They release her once they feel certain Celeste has honed her supernatural powers. But little do they know, Celeste isn’t wholly committed to granting eternal life to those deserving. Upon a return home to her immortal lover, and the Kansas City Detective Squad, she battles mortal foes, not so unlike the demonic undead. And when a fellow detective falls victim to a murderous gang member, Celeste faces a gut-wrenching decision and the possible wrath of the Elders.

Praise for The Immortal Detective:

“…impressive vampiric worldbuilding {with} a fascinating cast.”
~Publishers Weekly

“A new, original, fresh, fascinating and fun take on the Vampire genre. THE IMMORTAL DETECTIVE by D. B. Woodling is a “must read” pick for the legions of vampire fiction fans and an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Fantasy Fiction collections. Exceptionally well written…”
~Midwest Book Review

Book Details:

Genre: Paranormal, Detective Mystery, Fantasy Hybrid
Published by: CamCat Books
Publication Date: March 2023
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780744308013 (ISBN10: 0744308011)
Series: The Immortal Detective, 1
Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | CamCat Books

ABOUT D B WOODLING

D. B. Woodling

Acquiring an early appreciation of prose written by Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, and the audacious Stephen King, Woodling chose to follow in their intimidating footsteps, evidenced by The Immortal Twin (CamCat Books 2020) and The Immortal Detective, released by CamCat Books, March 2023. She recently completed a supernatural small-town murder mystery and has a Hollywood whodunit in the works, with Book Two of The Immortal Detective series vying for her attention. Woodling is a multi-genre author, and The Immortal Detective is her eighth novel.

Catch Up With D. B. Woodling:
www.DBWoodling.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @DBWoodling
Instagram – @DBWoodling
Twitter/X – @DBWoodling
Facebook – @DBWoodling
Pinterest – @DBWoodling

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Vampire Romance – Bloody Billionaire by Kay Widow @KayWidow @booksirens

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I keep getting confused about all the Bloody Billionaire’s by Kay Widow, but I keep grabbing the books. They are quick reads, filled with vampires and romance. Right up my alley.

Quinn is the king and feels like he can do as he pleases, slaughtering humans left and right, leaving them for others to clean up. One of the problems, he eliminates their food supply and his inability to control his thirst could be his downfall.

In comes Tessa, his blood therapist, but she has an ulterior motive. She wants immortality for her and her sisters, and she must kill the king to get it. There is one problem….her attraction to the king.

The steamy sex scenes are smoking hot, even when its only in her head. The violence is graphic and gruesome.

Become a servant they said. It will be fun they said. And gods, they had no idea how fun it had become.

They fight their attraction for different reasons. Quinn because he cannot marry a commoner and Tessa because she must kill or be killed. I love the twist that Kay Widow throws into the mix and I wondered how she would do it. Do what, you ask? Well, if I told you, it would give too much away, so you’ll have t find out for yourself.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“My blood has never burned like this before…”

Tessa knows her mission: Infiltrate the estate of vampire king Quinn Rodin and end his undead life.

This deal with the ruthless King Marr will grant her and her sisters immortality, but only if Tessa kills Quinn, Marr’s enemy.

As Quinn’s personal “bloodbag,” Tessa lives in the vampire’s mansion while spying on her target.

Yet when Quinn sinks his fangs into her flesh, Tessa discovers unexpected heat raging through her veins. His bite stirs a dangerous longing that clouds her judgment and threatens her task.

The vampire king’s allure captivates her, even as his unearthly powers put her life at risk.
And Tessa struggles between restoring her focus and indulging the enemy’s temptation.

Each night Quinn’s bite unravels her and carnal hunger replaces duty. But at what cost?

Her sisters are counting on her, and King Marr does not tolerate failure.

With immortality on the line, Tessa must master her thirst for Quinn’s embrace and regain her wits before his wicked bite destroys her from within.

Bloody Billionaire is a supernatural romantic thriller that will keep you turning pages until the breathtaking end. For fans of dangerous trysts, forbidden passions, and lethal creatures of the night.

ABOUT KAY WIDOW

Kay Widow is a paranormal romance author. She writes page-turning romances that readers consume faster than she can produce.
If you love spicy romances with protective and dominant alphas who fall for sassy curvy women, then you might just love Kay’s novels.
Kay lives in Kansas with her husband, Irish twins, and all her book boyfriends.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

MY KAY WIDOW REVIEWS

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A SciFi Western Novella – Sunset On Maior Pales by Benjamin X Wretlind @bxwretlind

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Law 1: Not to kill

Law 2: Obey

Law 3: And here is the conundrum…Cletus, a robot, cannot harm a human, but he cannot let humans come to harm by not acting, and that is where he falls into the trap.

I have read several of Benjamin X Wretlind’s in depth novels and loved them, so when I saw Sunset On Maior Pales, a SciFi, western novella, I had to give it a shot. I love the cover, but the story fell a bit short for me. Is it because my expectations were very high, or it wasn’t a good fit for me, but I loved the ending. Regardless, I will read anything Benjamin writes.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

CYN-4329-2316-ACBS-092134853a–known to itself as Cletus and assigned a male gender in one of its first acts as an AI consciousness–has a bug in its programming. Against all logic, the ghost of a young man has muddled its circuits and promised to give it a soul…provided one small thing that only a self-aware robot with a yearning to self-actualize can do.

After centuries of exploration, humans are finally on the move to settle new worlds. To better facilitate settlement, advance teams of sentient robots have been sent ahead to build new towns and roll out the red carpet for the arrival of their masters. Now, just one month before the big event known as Arrival, Cletus is about to mess it all up.

The ghost of Boone Richards claims his family was murdered hundreds of years ago, and on board the shuttle that will deliver the humans to the western-themed town of Free Point, the direct descendant of that murderer has put together a gang of other outlaws to wreak havoc on the newly dubbed planet Maior Pales. When the ghost of Boone’s sister, Delphine, speaks up, Cletus finds himself faced with a dilemma for which its programming is incapable of processing.

How do you follow orders when doing so would break one law but not doing so would break another? And just how does a robot gain a soul?

  • Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction, Novellas and Short Stories, Western
  • 115 pages, Paperback
  • Published January 16, 2022

ABOUT BENJAMIN X WRETLIND (from Amazon)

Benjamin, a multi-genre author, ran with scissors when he was five. He now writes, paints, uses sharp woodworking tools and plays with glue. Sometimes he does these things at the same time.

He is the author of the dystopian novel Beneath Gehenna, the psychological horror Castles, Sketches from the Spanish Mustang (literary fiction), Sunset on Maior Pales (a sci-fi western) and other novels and novellas.

Benjamin lives with his wife Jesse in Colorado.

Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Etsy

MY BENJAMIN X WRETLIND REVIEWS

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Review – If The Light Escapes Us by Brenda Marie Smith @GoddessFish @bsmithnovelist

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

If The Light Escapes Us by Brenda Marie Smith can be read as a stand alone, but I highly recommend beginning with Book I in the Braving The Light Series, If The Darkness Takes Us. An electromagnetic pulse has created an apocalypse and their Austin, Texas neighborhood has become dangerous and unable to sustain their small community long term. Decisions will need to me made, and disagreements will arise.

It’s four months after If The Darkness Takes Us.

The story is told through Keno’s voice, a teenager forced into adulthood before his time. He is not the only one, and when his wife, Alma, becomes pregnant he vows to protect her with his life. The choices seem monumental and his nightmares haunt him. Alma, grounds him and helps him see that everything is a process. One step leads to the next and the next and the next….

Milo can be reckless and I saw what was coming. I hated it, but, thank goodness, Mazie has a connection with him that nobody understands. I also knew there would be another character or two that would cause trouble.

We shall see, in If The Sun Spares Us and I can hardly wait!

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The standalone sequel to IF DARKNESS TAKES US. A solar electromagnetic pulse has fried the US grid. Now, northern lights are in Texas—three thousand miles farther south than where they belong. The universe won’t stop screwing with eighteen-year-old Keno Simms. All that’s left for him and his broken family is farming their Austin subdivision, trying to eke out a living on poor soil in the scorching heat. Keno’s one solace is his love for Alma, who has her own secret sorrows. When he gets her pregnant, he vows to keep her alive no matter what. Yet armed marauders and nature itself collude against him, forcing him to make choices that rip at his conscience. If the Light Escapes is post-apocalyptic science fiction set in a near-future reality, a coming-of-age story told in the voice of a heroic teen who’s forced into manhood too soon

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Science Fiction
  • 257 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published August 24, 2021 by Southern Fried Karma
  • Series: Braving The Light, Book 2

ABOUT BRENDA MARIE SMITH

2018-10-18_Brenda Marie Smith

BRENDA MARIE SMITH is attracted to stories where everyday characters transcend their limitations to find their inner heroism. She lived off the grid for years in a farming collective where her sons were delivered by midwives. A lifelong community activist, Brenda has managed student co-op housing, produced concerts, and raised a small herd of boys. She and her husband live in Kyle, Texas. They have more grown kids and grandkids than they can count.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

  • Website: https://brendamariesmith.com
  • Blog: https://brendamariesmith.tumblr.com
  • Twitter: @bsmithnovelist
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJlLSnORIyoaygvZ1j49ZKw

Buy Links for the Braving the Light Series:

  • IF DARKNESS TAKES US (Book One): https://amzn.to/3Q6TvKU
  • For IF THE LIGHT ESCAPES (Book Two): https://amzn.to/464zPOD
  • IF THE SUN SPARES US (Book Three): https://amzn.to/3LzIpwA

MY BRENDA MARIE SMITH REVIEWS

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Curse Of The Brides – Inheritance by Nora Roberts #NetGalley #Inheritance #NoraRoberts

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Inheritance Nora Roberts
Inheritance Nora Roberts

I want to thank NetGalley and St Martins Press for the opportunity to read and review Inheritance by Nora Roberts.

https://amzn.to/45Z0VGq

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

“You will never have him,” she says. “Die a bride, and know he’ll come to me. He will come to me, or by your blood on my tongue, bride after bride will join you in death.”

And the curse begins. It will be up to Sonya MacTavish, a graphic designer who inherited the manor from her unknown uncle, Collin Poole, to solve the mystery and lift the curse.

Sonya had a bad breakup with a huge douche bag, and I love what her best friend, Cleo had to say:

“What do you want me to do?…Tell me what you want, and it’s done. Murder? Decapitation? Castration?”

I think we could all use a best friend like that. LOL

Sonya had been thinking about branching out on her own and now was the time. Would the ghosts of the manor be a help or a hindrance. Most of them are on her side, but there is always one, isn’t there? I would love to have some help around the house, and Sonya has her very own ghostly maid. She leaves her bedroom and comes back, the bed is made. She leaves the kitchen a mess, comes back and it is cleaned up. Forget to charge your phone, they have you covered. Even ghosts want a purpose.

Those around Sonya accept the ghosts, but Sonya hesitates.

The point of view flashes past to present and back again. We get all of their histories, ghosts and humans, and Sonya will need all the help she can get to break the curse. We have a combination of modern and gothic.

This light and fun mystery is full of surprises and I loved each and every one. The characters quickly won me over, ghosts and human alike…even the dogs have a place of honor. Cold pizza, I love it too, even for breakfast. Little things that I can relate to on a personal level add that little bit extra that I love so much. I had plenty of smiles to go along with the creepy.

The mirror…made me think of Charmed and Grimm. TV shows make it easy for me to visualize the action as it is happening.

NO NO NO a cliffhanger. So wrong!!!!! But I couldn’t put it down and I HAVE TO HAVE the next one, and the next one. I knew it was a trilogy going in and the story would not be told in one book, but when I came to the end, I wasn’t expecting it. That is how involved I was in the story. I foresee good things for the next two books and I can hardly wait to visit the manor again.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Inheritance is the first in The Lost Bride Trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts―a tale of tragedies, loves found and lost, and a family haunted for generations.

1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him…

Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about―and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth―and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light.

Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya’s unease―and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted…but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle’s office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as “the first lost bride.” It’s becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it…

  • Genres: Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller
  • Format: 448 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Expected publication: November 21, 2023 by St. Martin’s Press
  • Series: The Lost Bride Trilogy, Book I

ABOUT NORA ROBERTS

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 — The Becoming — the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

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Giveaway & Review – Maya’s Tiny Warriors by Manasi Vegesna @ireadbooktours

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I Read children’s books off and on, along with teen, young adult, right up to the dark and gritty, but especially during the holiday season I like to share books that make good gift ideas for the holiday season.


Book Details:

Book Title:  Maya’s Tiny Warriors by Manasi Vegesna
Category:  Children’s Fiction (ages 4 to 8), 32 pages
Genre:  Children’s Picture Book
Publisher:  Manasi Vegesna
Release date:   Oct 2023
Content Rating:  G.  Suitable for everyone.



MY REVIEW

Maya’s Tiny Warrior’s by Manasi Vegesna is a wonderful introduction to science for a young child. It is recommended for ages 4 – 8, and though they may not grasp the concept in full, the colorful, fun illustrations may capture their curiosity. I strongly believe in education and feel that learning something new is always a good thing, even if they don’t understand it all. It will come to them as they reread the book, or pick up another with science as the topic. It is never too early to learn about our bodies and how they function. Small steps…

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

Book Description:

On the first day of school, Maya wakes up with a terrible flu. As she sneezes, coughs, and burns up with a fever, she can’t quite understand why she is sick. And why isn’t she getting better?

Thankfully for her, there are tiny warriors in her body that are battling for her well-being. Follow these warriors as they fight to keep Maya safe in this epic showdown between the immune system and the flu.

For ages 4-8, this book is perfect for young kids learning how their body works. By accompanying Maya’s warriors on their journey, readers will better understand their immune systems and illnesses.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N
add to Goodreads


Meet the Author:

Manasi Vegesna is a passionate author from Arizona who is interested in biology and medicine. She has utilized her love for immunology in order to help future young generations face their sickness with courage. In the future, she hopes to further dive into the wonders of science through more imaginative stories. Currently a high school senior, she continues to remain curious. When she’s not doing her homework, you can catch her playing the violin or reading a book. Or, she’s probably binging Disney movies.

connect with author: website ~ X/twitter ~ instagram ~ goodreads
Enter the Giveaway:
MAYAS TINY WARRIORS by Manasi Vegasna Book Tour Giveaway



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Psychic Immunity – The Color Of Shame by Hollie Smurthwaite @H_Smurthwaite

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Killing with kindness always baffled jerks.

I love that quote from the book and Sara is spot on. She knows a jerk when she sees one, and she has seen plenty of them. Sara works for The Agency, or she did until a mission went wrong. Terribly wrong. It left her scarred, inside and out. Because of that, they had let her go, but does a shadow agency ever let anyone go?

Psychic groups collide when Sara meets Beckett, a stiff English professor, and it is discovered that she has immunity to being read. Beckett, well, when push comes to shove, his love and loyalty will shine…BUT it will be a rough road to get there.

Hollie Smurthwaite’s vivid descriptions bring the characters to life. I can see them through her words, feel their emotions, join in their fight for life and love.

I met Sara in The Color Of Betrayal, Jolene and Cass’s story. Sara is a diverse character, suffering from dyslexia. She is vivacious, has a snappy wit, and people are drawn to her beauty. She trusts no one, except, possibly, Jolene, Cass and Kiera, but they have not seen each other for years. She does not want to take her troubles to their door, so she tries to handle the situation on her own. As the danger rises and betrayals take her down, I fear for her. The tension and pacing pick up, making me flip the pages…rapidly.

I love when Sara brings Ren into the story. Ren has a level of innocence that makes me want to shelter her, protect her. I love when Sara brings a level of fun and companionship to the others in the group.

I have had my eye on one character in particular, waiting for him to show his ugly side. When he does…Hollie creates a twist that had me smiling. I love when an author throws something totally unexpected my way.

I wouldn’t change a thing about The Color Of Shame by Hollie Smurthwaite. My question is: Will Ren get her own story? The series could end here and I would be satisfied, but when a find a fascinating character, I want more. I want them to have their happy ever after.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

When her immunity to psychics is discovered, Sara is sucked back into spying for the criminal organization she was poised to escape.

The worst scars are hidden . . .

For years, Sara served the shadowy Agency, until a mission gone wrong left her physically and emotionally wounded. Haunted by these scars, Sara is counting down the days to her reconstructive surgery, the final step towards freedom from the Agency’s clutches.

Just as she’s close to escaping, Sara’s path crosses with Beckett, an uptight English professor with the uncanny ability to delve into people’s minds with a mere touch.

Anyone’s mind except Sara’s.

Unbeknownst to her, Beckett is a member of a clandestine society of memory magicians, and he sees in Sara the perfect instrument to catapult his career within their ranks.

Sara and Beckett clash fiercely, both determined to follow their own paths. But the Agency’s grip on Sara is tighter than she realized, and they give her one more assignment: work for Beckett and his program to help budding memory magicians. And report back all the details.

While forced to work side by side, Sara and Beckett soon discover that first impressions can be misleading, and animosity can transform into an intoxicating mix of frustration and fascination.

As the lines blur between loyalty and self-preservation, Sara finds herself torn between protecting Beckett and his students or safeguarding her own precarious freedom.

Will Sara’s immunity be her salvation or her downfall? Can she navigate the treacherous landscape of spies and memory magic while protecting her heart?

  • Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Psychics, Romance, Supernatural, Suspense
  • 370 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published November 1, 2023
  • Series: The Psychic Colors, Book 2

ABOUT HOLLIE SMURTHWAITE

Hollie Smurthwaite is a paranormal romantic suspense author of The Color of Trauma and The Color of Betrayal. The Color of Trauma was the winner of the 2020 Soon to Be Famous Illinois Author Project in adult fiction. She lives in Chicago with her husband, son, and too few pets. In past lives, she’s been a checkout clerk, massage therapist, office manager, recruiter, magazine staff writer, pepper spray hawker, and belly dancer.

MY HOLLIE SMURTHWAITE REVIEWS

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Christmas Cheers – Scrapper’s Christmas Story by Maria J Andrade @birdchat @pumpupyourbook

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Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

A wonderfully illustrated story about a small dog with a big heart and a man with an even bigger one. I loved it. The illustrations are colorful and detailed. I feel a child would love to reach out and touch them. A story that is sure to capture anyone’s heart and spread the Christmas spirit.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

An Angel tells the story of a good hearted street dog named, “Scrapper,” who longs to find a love and a home. An amazing turn of events makes his dream come true on Christmas Day!

  • Format 36 pages, Paperback
  • Published November 18, 2022 by Clara Publishing
  • ISBN 9781734290004 (ISBN10: 1734290005)

ABOUT MARIA J ANDRADE

Maria Andrade is a Latinx author of adult and children’s books. She was born in the middle of the earth in Ecuador South America and raised in NY. and California. She was a licensed psycotherapist for thirty years.. She traveled with the Four Winds Society where she studied and was initiated into Andean shamanism in 1990

As a psychotherapist she specialized in relationship and women’s issues and founded the Wise Women’s Circle a ritualistic and transpersonal study group where women support each other in healing and growth of mind, body, and spirit. It is still active today.

Some of Maria books for children and adults are translated into Spanish.www.booksasfriends.com
Like her Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/mariaandrade…

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Political Intrgue – The Vitruvian Heir: The Awakening by L S Kilroy #TheVitruvianHeir #LSKilroy

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https://amzn.to/46kXdaH

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am blown away by this epic saga, The Vitruvian Heir by L S Kilroy, When I read she had no intention of making this a series, I was so surprised. I guess the characters kept talking, telling her they had a lot more to say, and boy do they ever.

The political intrigue and betrayals had my head spinning. The world grew larger, new characters made an appearance and I was lost, reveling in the treachery. I don’t know who to trust and I hope Lorana is up to the task. She really doesn’t have much of a choice, fate or destiny be damned.

Stepping back in time to the 1800s is sickening. No women’s rights. Child slavery…To think there are those that want to keep it that way shows their fear. That to keep control, they have to step on the neck of the peasants…and anyone else that gets in the way of what they want.

How far is too far when trying to save a people?

I love that the characters are individuals, walking to the beat of their own drum in their personal life, yet stepping outside themselves, willing to sacrifice their life in the service of what they feel is right.

I am able to compare the events in The Vitruvian Heir to our own current events and see TOO MANY similarities. I love when I find novels that speak to me on a personal level, opening my eyes to possibilities, good and bad, in fiction and reality. I am so invested in the characters. I fear when they fear. I weep when they weep. I love when they love.

I read for hours, not wanting to quit…for anything…I can hardly wait to see what comes next.

At the end are Book Club Discussion questions.

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5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

“Once again, Kilroy has swept us right off our feet and into the richly imagined world of Vitruvia. This second installment of the series is positively dripping with palace intrigues, unforgettable new characters, and masterful world-building. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to step inside a truly magical imagination, just pick up this series, turn the pages, and get wildly, deliciously lost.”

– E.E. HOLMES, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE GATEWAY TRILOGY , THE GATEWAY TRACKERS SERIES , AND THE RIFTMAGIC SAGA “If you find yourself attracted to a villain, it doesn’t mean that you are one.” With the fate of Vitruvia resting in her hands, young Lore has decisions to make. And one of her first is to strike up a deal with none other than Ursula, her former mentor and current prisoner. Now that the country has once again made contact beyond its borders, the fledgling empress finds herself invited to an annual summit in Orsia where she’ll take her place among the world’s most powerful leaders. But what awaits her there is far more dangerous than anything even Ursula can prepare her for – or Avery can protect her from. Meanwhile, back in Vitruvia, Sawyer and the formidable vigilante, Lucy Shaw, try to keep a more sinister force at bay. From faraway palaces and a mysteriously alluring foe to a traitorous uprising and fierce new allies, see what happens when a young woman steps into the role she’s both doomed and destined to play.

  • Genre: Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Teen, Young Adult
  • 372 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published July 7, 2023 by Little Tree Press
  • Series: The Vitruvian Heir, Book II, The Awakening

ABOUT L S KILROY

“The first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth and sharpen my tongue.” – Dorothy Parker

L.S. Kilroy is an irreverent sort of person who likes to write about things. Growing up an asthmatic only child in a neighborhood of geriatrics, she made friends with books at a young age because she had to – luckily, she also really liked them. Early exposure to the classics fueled her own writing. At fifteen, a man in a bookstore asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up and she replied, “Writer,” without hesitation.

Writer is a title that has driven her both personally and professionally. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Merrimack College and a Master’s degree in Writing, Literature & Publishing from Emerson College. By day, she’s a communications professional; by night, she’s an award-winning indie author.

She lives in a rural community in Massachusetts with her husband, stepson, and three naughty cats. Aside from writing, she loves being creative in the kitchen, belting out show tunes, traveling, throwing epic dinner parties, reading, and scouting out vintage finds at consignment shops.

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MY L S KILROY REVIEWS

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Mouse Is In The House – Lethal Risk by Jane Blythe @jblytheauthor #romanticsuspense

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MY REVIEW

I have read many, many books by Jane Blythe and have never been disappointed, so adding Lethal Risk to that list was a no brainer. Chock full of romance and danger, I especially loved the addition of Lolly to the mix. I love how the tension and pacing are off and running from the beginning pages. Jane Blythe’s writing fits me so well, I zip through the pages on pins and needles, stopping for some romance now and then. After all, gotta smell those roses, right?

Jane Blythe has the ability to make me believe the characters are real, with her vivid, true to life descriptions. I guess that is why she is able to draw all the feels from me. I fear for the characters, laugh with the characters and they linger long after the book is finished. She approaches each novel with a fresh outlook, often avoiding the pitfalls of romantic suspense.

We begin with the attempted abduction of Asher’s (Mouse’s) daughter, Lolly. Could this have something to do with the organization that Storm Gallagher belonged to? Just because he is no longer a threat, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a bigger plan in motion.

Mouse had only taken his eyes off his daughter for a few seconds. There are people all around, but when he looks for her, she is nowhere to be seen. I think every parent can imagine his panic and desperation. When he sees Lolly with Phoebe Lynch, he doesn’t hesitate to take her down…and their story begins.

Phoebe feels she is being watched and Mouse, along with Prey Security are at her side. No one had any idea of who her psychopathic ex boyfriend really was, but as they learn more about it, the danger rises. His obsession makes Phoebe realize he will do anything to get her back, to make her into the person he believes she should be…for him. The only way out…death.

It’s a small world, and as everything comes together, the romance begins. And Lolly…sweet, precious Lolly. I looked forward to her dialogue that put a smile on my face. Her capacity for love is as big as her personality.

“Did you have someone to hold at night?” Lolly asked.

“No, sweetie.” Lolly’s brow furrowed. “I don’t want you to be alone. Come to my room.” Lolly jumped to her feet, took Phoebe’s hand, and pulled her along after her.

“I brought Baby Kitty,” she told Asher (Mouse), pulling the stuffed animal from her bag. Lolly had insisted that since she had Mrs. Fuzzy to keep her safe at night, Phoebe had to take Baby Kitty home with her to cuddle in bed.

Damn, this woman can write. She still surprises me, when I think it is no longer possible to surprise me, because I have read so many of her books. Her words and her characters speak to me, making a home in my heart. Her stories feel so real…and she has already set the hook for the next book in the series.

Oh man, it’s a cliffhanger, but the next book is available, so, thank you Jane, no waiting.

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5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

He already lost one woman he loves he won’t lose another.

Phoebe Lynch doesn’t want to be her boyfriend’s punching bag any longer so she runs to the other side of the country to get away from him. Lying to her family about why she’s really there, all she wants to do is find the woman she used to be before she got beaten down and lost all her self esteem. What she doesn’t want is to fall for another alpha male. Especially one who could crush her battered heart.

When Asher “Mouse” Whitman’s daughter disappears from the park he assumes the strange woman he spots her with is the culprit. Instead he learns she saved Lolly’s life. Now all he wants to do is protect her and chase away the fear in her eyes. Convincing Phoebe to give him a chance won’t be easy especially with her abusive ex still sniffing around.

But her ex is far more dangerous than any of them realize and Mouse might wind up losing not just the woman he’s falling for but his daughter as well.

If you loved USA today bestselling author Jane Blythe’s inclusions in Susan Stoker’s Operation Alpha world, you’ll be thrilled with LETHAL RISK, the second book in the Prey Alpha Team series.

Scroll up and one click to start this thrilling military romantic suspense filled with alpha heroes, tough heroines, danger, action, and love! HEA guaranteed!

  • Genre: Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Military, Suspense, Thriller
  • 266 pages, Kindle Edition
  • Published February 21, 2023
  • Series: Prey Security, Alpha Team, #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

  • You can see my Giveaways HERE.
  • You can see my Reviews HERE.
  • If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
  • Look on the right sidebar and let’ talk.
  • Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
  • I am an Amazon affiliate/product images are linked.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!