Category Archives: Reviews

Tales of Apocalyptic Vision: Future Tense by Michaelbrent Collings @mbcollings

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Future Tense: Tales of Apocalyptic Vision

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The introduction had me cracking up. Michaelbrent Collings writes some fantastic horror stories and he has a rapier wit. I love his twisted sense of humor.

I love the twisted ‘Ground Hog Day’ type story.

Could make you question technology. Love the references to current times. May have you asking yourself, who am I? What if your characters came to life, coming to you for answers.

Khonra…oh man, I love that ending!

Who would do a better job of running the world, men or women?

The Button Man is thought provoking.

The novella, The Stranger Inside was what I was really excited about, though I love anything Michaelbrent Collings writes. I have read his Legion series, with the Stranger as the star, and I am excited to see how he came to be.

‘God’s chosen his vessel, anointed by blood and fear to purge men and women of their sins.’

The tools of the trade: some electronics and pharmaceuticals, some rope and a knife. He is very hands on. If that doesn’t tell you there is some evil coming someone’s way, I don’t know what will. It was…..grrrrreat for me. LOL

I love all the personal tidbits Michaelbrent Collings shared about himself. I love that he can make be laugh, gasp, shiver, and feel like tI want to puke, all in the same story. He lets his characters be real….making mistakes, paying for them, and they are able to redeem themselves…if he chooses to let them live. LOL

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Future Tense by Michaelbrent Collings.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS

Worldwide bestseller and master of terror Michaelbrent Collings invites you to peer into the future, to uncover things long hidden, and to experience worlds of a Future Tense…

A world where suicide is illegal – unless you agree to kill yourself over and over again…

A place where childhood games turn back the clock – and bring with them monsters long forgotten…

A home where secrets abound – until the killing begins…

A reality where a writer’s dreams can make her rich – if she’s willing to sacrifice the universe…

All these, and more: stories of darkness and of light.
Stories of despair, and lingering hope.

Stories of a future unknown, where ignorance feeds our souls, and where the only hope that remains in a world gone dim… resides in Tales of Apocalyptic Vision!

Michaelbrent Collings, a double Bram Stoker Award finalist and voted one of the Top 100 All-Time Greatest Horror Writers by Ranker, invites you to brave a future unlike any you have experienced. Because the future is what we make of it… and we have made a monster.

ABOUT MICHAELBRENT COLLINGS

Michaelbrent Collings

Michaelbrent Collings is an internationally-bestselling novelist, multiple Bram Stoker Award nominee, produced screenwriter, and one of the top indie horror writers in the United States.

He hopes someday to develop superpowers, or, if that is out of the question, then at least to get a cool robot arm.

Michaelbrent has a wife and several kids, all of whom are much better looking than he is (though he admits that’s a low bar to set), and also cooler than he is.

Michaelbrent also has a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MichaelbrentC… and can be followed on Twitter through his username @mbcollings. Follow him for cool news, updates, and advance notice of sales. You will also be kept safe when the Glorious Revolution begins!

STALK MICHAELBRENT: Website / Twitter

MY MICHAELBRENT COLLINGS REVIEWS

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Graphic Novel – The Nightmare Brigade by Franck Thillez #FranckThillez #Papercutz

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I haven’t done many, if any, graphic novels, but The Nightmare Brigade by Franck Thillez, with Yomgui Dumont (Illustrations) made me think of Scooby Doo and the gang, so I had to have it.

Do you read grahic novels?

The Nightmare Brigade #1: The Case of The Girl from Deja Vu

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I jumped at a chance to read The Nightmare Brigade by Franck Thillez because it made me think of Scooby Doo and the gang and I love them.

I haven’t read a lot of graphic novels, but I used to read a lot of comics as a kid. Reading The Nightmare Brigade brought back those memories. The illustrations are awesome, so richly detailed that I found myself investigating each panel for clues as to what is terrifying Sarah in her nightmare. That’s when I found out that what happens to the dream brigade in the dream, happens for real, whether it’s an injury, death, or anything else. But, they do have special powers, whether it is walking for someone who can’t walk, being able to go through walls, or flying. Each power will be needed to help those who are having the nightmares…and, eventually getting rid of their nightmare permanently.

There is even more danger than them being real in the dream, they must prevent anyone or anything from following them out and, if things go terribly wrong, they could be stuck in someone’s dream…forever. The Nightmare Brigade deals with real issues, mystery and danger.

I think this is a fantastic glimpse into an adventure series that will delight middle graders. You will not get all the answers, but when I found out about Esteban it only whet my appetite for more. There is more going on than first meets the eye.

To sum it all up…I loved it. I think the youngsters will too. And, they will get a bit of knowledge on the brain, nightmares and dreams.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Nightmare Brigade by Franck Thillez.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

The Nightmare Brigade is a dream team led by Professor Angus. With his two young sidekicks, 14 year-olds Esteban and Tristan, they have one goal: help people get rid of their worst nightmares. With unique skills, the team members can literally infiltrate their patient’s nightmare to seek its root and destroy the cause. Things are shaken up a bit, however, when they meet the young Sarah. The Brigade has a feeling they have seen her before… Then, an insomniac is invading other’s dreams. How does he do it and how can he be stopped? It’s a paranormal story you won’t want to sleep on!

This first volume in The NIghtmare Brigade features a diverse cast of adolescents tackling themes that everyone faces as they grow up: fears of aging, abandonment, and death. It creates page turning intrigue by weaving outer mysteries with character secrets. Intended for readers eight and up, this dazzling horror mix is perfect for fans of Stranger Things, Tim Burton, and Inception, and is sure to become a reader favorite for school and home libraries alike.

ABOUT FRANK THILLEZ

Franck Thillez, a former engineer in new technologies, is the author of about fifteen successful crime novels. With the adaptation of his novel “Room of Death” (wonner of the SNCF prize for French crime fiction), Franck Thilez is also a screenwriter.

ABOUT YOMGUI DUMONT

After having completed his studies in applied arts, Yomgui Dumont has worked wherever he was able to move a mouse and a pencil: cartoons, multimedia, advertising, and the press. His first series are Raph’ and Potetoz, Chamres noires, and E;cole de PAN. He has published around twenty graphic novels and teen novels.

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Series Finale – The Immortals by Jeff Altabef @jeffaltabef

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The Immortals

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

‘Better to die with light than live in the darkness.’

“All great revolutions and movements start with a few people meeting in secret, hatching plans to change their worlds. More often than not, it ended in failure and the death of those involved.”

A prophecy: A boy made of light will end Eden from the darkness and break the curse that strangles it and the world.

It has been a while since I read the last book in the series, Ghost King, but everything came back to me pretty quick. It all began when someone dreamed up The Red Death (Book I), a plague that quickly took over the world.

“…We treated the world so shabbily that is was bound to fight back…”

I love books that hint at the real world, yet keep me living the fantasy.

I have almost two pages of notes and I know I can’t use them all. It would spoil everything for those who want to enter the world of The Red Death. The Red Death kills all those who were in their twenties and older. Everything is connected. If one world falls, they all fall, so the darkness must be faced head on. It starts with Eden.

We first meet Thorn and Rose, as they look out at Eden, hoping to have found a home, but it was not to be. As they travel through life, they are complete opposites and end up with opposing goals. Thorn had grown tired of war, but Rose was so driven to take Eden, he wondered why?

Thorn and Rose are the Immortals…chosen by the Devil. Wilky has come a long way, from a bumbling young man who couldn’t communicate, to a king. The Painted Ones, The Cursed Tribe…they were counting on Wilky and Aaliss to save them, and what they would do would cross all realms.

Aaliss had felt the Creator had deserted her because she was surrounded by death and then, Wilky returns from the Ghost Rider’s realm, a grown man. They needed to return to Eden to stop her uncle and his evil plans. He was a traitor. Aaliss is in love with Eamon, but when his father died, he became king and they both had a different road to take. Would they come together in the end?

I love this: Man had their chance and had screwed up the world so badly, it would take a girl to set things right. Could that apply to today?

“…for all who passed, so we can live in the light.”

I know not all will survive and when they called off the names of those who had fallen, I shared their sorrow. Much was sacrificed for those who chose to do the right thing.

The story was unpredictable, the battles crossed realms, the characters ranged from evil to angelic, the magic crossed all boundaries, the prophecy came to life and The Red Death…well, you will need to get the details for yourself. The series is complete, the story told and the characters live on…in everyone’s mind who has read it.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of The Immortals by Jeff Altabef.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Most believe the Immortals are a myth, a folk story meant to frighten children, but Wilky and Aaliss discover the truth is even more frightening than the myths.

Wilky, once a boy filled with light and a healer, is now the Ghost King, drawn to darkness and violence. As powerful enemies descend on Eden, he must find another, the true child of light, to help him save Eden and keep the world from descending into darkness. Does he have time? Can he still be trusted? Will he instead succumb to power and darkness?

Meanwhile, Aaliss is pushed to the limit to bring justice to Eden, and joins with the most unlikely of allies. In the end, she must accept the magic inside her, or all will be lost. Will she pass her ultimate test?

EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS the thrilling conclusion to the multiple award-winning “Red Death” series of epic fantasy/dystopian adventures, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very last page.

ABOUT JEFF ALTABEF (from Amazon)

Jeff Altabef lives in New York with his wife, two daughters, and Charlie the dog. He spends time volunteering at the writing center in the local community college. After years of being accused of “telling stories,” he thought he would make it official. He writes in both the thriller and young adult genres. Fourteenth Colony, a political thriller, was his debut novel. Shatter Point, a thriller, published by Evolved Publishing was his second novel. It won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for Best Thriller, Fall 2014.

Jeff’s first Young Adult novel, Wind Catcher: A Chosen Novel, is being published on March 23rd by Evolved Publishing. He’s very happy and proud that his co-author is his teenaged daughter, Erynn Altabef. Wind Catcher has won the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for Coming of Age Novels, the 2015 Beverly Hills Book Award for Best YA Fiction and a Mom’s Choice Award.

As an avid Knicks fan, Jeff is prone to long periods of melancholy during hoops season. Jeff has a column on The Examiner focused on writing and a blog designed to encourage writing by those who like telling stories.

You can follow Jeff on Facebook, Twitter, or join his newsletter!

MY JEFF ALTABEF REVIEWS

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Review – Bag of Tricks by Carmen Webster Buxton @CarmenWBuxton

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Carmen Webster Buxton is a fabulous storyteller. The wonderful cover fits the story inside perfectly, seeing they spend a lot of time on the road, so to speak.

Bag of Tricks

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Bag of Tricks was so well written, with original twists and turns that, even though for most of the book it would be a three star review, I had to give it four. The characters came to life in the magical, fantastical world that Carmen Webster Buxton created and I was lost. Though I never felt an urgent need to read on with white knuckles, my curiousity would not let me put it down. Another plus, no series. You get the complete story!!!!!!

When I went to write the review, I found I forgot to take notes. I was swept along with Aveline and Zarek. These two characters took the spotlight and I so wanted a happy ever after for them. They are selfless, loyal, giving, willing to put their life on the line to do the right thing.

We have royal machinations going on, betrayals and danger. The story is written with a lightness, no in depth details, with wars and blood and guts everywhere. Even the tragic events are written for young adults and I love all the little nuggets of wisdom woven throughout the story.

I feel Carmen Webster Buxton is such a fantastic writer, that no genre is beyond her. I feel she would be a success no matter what story she wanted to tell. I highly recommend any of her work and I hope you give her books a shot. I feel you won’t regret it and may even find a new favorite author for your bookshelf.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Bag of Tricks by Carmen Webster Buxton.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Aveline is a trained magician, but Princess Inessa, the Heiress of Mazuria, hired her to pose as a lady-in-waiting, to protect her from court intrigues and literally sniff out lies. When a wicked duke tries to force Inessa into marriage, Aveline uses a spell to hide the princess. But even magic has limits, and when Aveline stumbles over Zarek, a man whose life has been cursed by more than one tragedy, she demands his help in getting the princess back to the capital. Zarek is on his own errand, and he’s suspicious of Aveline — magicians are feared — but he does help. As he and Aveline travel Mazuria in company with the princess and his wolf-dog Burden, they come to rely on each other and to respect each other’s skills. After Zarek leaves the two women in what he thinks is a safe refuge, he learns they’re in more danger than ever. So of course he and Burden go back to save them.

Now if only Aveline can bring herself to believe that Zarek wants to save her even more than he wants to save the princess — and admit to herself that what she feels for him goes way beyond gratitude.

ABOUT CARMEN WEBSTER BUXTON

Carmen Webster Buxton

Carmen Webster Buxton spent her youth reading every book published by Ursula LeGuin, Robert Heinlein and Georgette Heyer. This combination of far-future worlds, alien cultures, and old-fashioned courting customs influenced her writing, especially in her ThreeCon series.

Carmen was born in Hawaii and experienced a peripatetic childhood, as her father was in the US Navy. Having raised two wonderful children, she now lives in Maryland with her husband Charlie, and a beagle named Cosmo. She writes science fiction (often including a romance, and mostly set in the far future), and the occasional fantasy.

Carmen has published many books:

WAKANREO SERIES
Alien Bonds
Alien Vows
Alien Skies

HAVEN SERIES
The Sixth Discipline
No Safe Haven

THREECON SERIES (can be read in any order)
The Nostalgia Gambit
Saronna’s Gift
Shades of Empire
Tribes
Worlds Apart

ALTERNATE HISTORY
King of Trees

YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE FICTION
Turnabout
Drifters

FANTASY
Where Magic Rules
Bag of Tricks
Hidden Magic

THE NAMELESS WORLD SAGA (coming in 2021)
The North Edge of Nowhere
Oaths and Promises

Carmen often blogs about ereaders, digital publishing, writing, and speculative fiction. Visit her blog to see what’s coming out next! To ask questions or to provide feedback on her books, send email to carmen.webster.buxton (at) gmail.com.

Website / Twitter / Facebook

MY CARMEN WEBSTER BUXTON REVIEWS

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One Sentence Review for Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan @camphalfblood

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I won a hardcover copy of The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard) by Rick Riordan.

The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, #1)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I know Rick Riordan has written 200+ books, but I think this is the first one I have read and this epic fantasy, with a vividly detailed world and characters come alive through his words, making this a wild action packed adventure…and you will be forced to pick a side.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Magnus Chase has seen his share of trouble. Ever since that terrible night two years ago when his mother told him to run, he has lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, staying one step ahead of the police and the truant officers.

One day, Magnus learns that someone else is trying to track him down—his uncle Randolph, a man his mother had always warned him about. When Magnus tries to outmaneuver his uncle, he falls right into his clutches. Randolph starts rambling about Norse history and Magnus’s birthright: a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years.

The more Randolph talks, the more puzzle pieces fall into place. Stories about the gods of Asgard, wolves, and Doomsday bubble up from Magnus’s memory. But he doesn’t have time to consider it all before a fire giant attacks the city, forcing him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents. . . .

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

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He’ll Prove Her Worthy – Deserving You By Amanda Siegrist @amanda_siegrist

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Deserving You (McCord Family #3)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I met Deja in Book II, Trust In Love and I am excited to hear her story and watch Emmet work his magic to win her over.

Deja was waiting, wishing for her sixteenth birthday so she could get the hell out of Dodge. She was sick of the shaming from her classmates. A knock on the door…and now we find ourselves HERE…with Sophie. I love how they meet. Two lost souls team up, never judging, always steadfast in their support for each other.

Sometimes I wonder why people even have kids, when they throw them away so easily. Yeah, this is a novel, but Amanda Siegrist makes her characters and situations read true.

Her brother, Dare, reenters her life. Now she has to two men that are giving her a headache. LOL Dare and Emmet. What’s a girl to do?

The McCord family’s interaction with Dare, especially Ethan’s, had me cracking up. I totally get Dare’s confusion, but seeing I know the family, it was no surprise to me. One for all and all for one.

Even though it was love at first sight, at least for Emmet, the romance was on a very slow burn. We not only get Deja’s story, but wrap on the loose ends of Sophie’s as well.

Want a sweet romance? Maybe a dash of danger? Hunkalicious men? Strong women? Look no further. This series has it all, and though I feel each story can stand alone, I highly recommend beginning at the beginning.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Deserving You by Amanda Siegrist.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

From USA Today bestselling author Amanda Siegrist comes a heartwarming series that will make you swoon…and maybe even shed a few tears.

She doesn’t think she’s worthy of his love. He’ll prove her wrong.

Emmett McCord has wanted Deja since the moment he met her, despite how she came into their lives. It didn’t take long for him, and the family, to forgive her and see just what kind of woman she is. Strong. Determined. Remorseful. Faithful to a fault. He wants to declare his feelings, but he knows she’ll resist him. He can’t risk losing her friendship. When her brother walks back into her life, causing her pain, he’s done keeping his feelings to himself. He wants her, and she’ll just have to get used to it.

The entire McCord Family Novel series: (Each book in this series can be read as a standalone.)

Protecting You (Book 1): Zane & Ava
Trust in Love (Book 2): Austin & Sophie
Deserving You (Book 3): Emmett & Deja
Always Kind of Love (Book 4): Ethan & Penelope
Finding You (Book 5): Gabe & Olivia

ABOUT AMANDA SIEGRIST

Amanda Siegrist

Love! Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship, and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a happy camper:)

I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.

Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*

Website  /  Twitter  /  Facebook

MY AMANDA SIEGRIST REVIEWS

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MOTHMAN – Below by Laurel Hightower #LaurelHightower

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I love creature features, and Mothman, I have read numerous books about Mothman and am always eager to add another. So, let’s check out Below by Lauren Hightower. I have read one other book by her, Whispers In The Dark and Loved it.

Below

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I love the simple old time feel of the cover and creature features. Below, a terrifying novella by Laurel HIghtower, has all the requirements for a B movie. Whenever I come across a story like this, it unrolls through my mind like a piece of film, each frame worse than the last. I love it!

Mothman and a snowstorm! YAY! A whoosh in the air, a blackness…oh yeah.

I must say, she is a much nicer (or dumber) person than I am. I would have got the hell out of there. Something isn’t right. I can’t imagine how she feels, but I can see it through Laurel Hightower’s words. I love when an author can paint a picture through words.

She’s alone. In the dark. Something is out there. What is it and what does it want? She keeps on going. Pushing forward. What else is there to do? She won’t quit.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Below by Laurel Hightower.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO HELP A STRANGER?

While driving through the mountains of West Virginia during a late-night snowstorm, a recently divorced woman experiences bizarre electrical problems, leaving her with little choice but to place her trust with a charismatic truck driver. But when an unexplainable creature with haunting red eyes gets between them, she is forced to make one of the toughest decisions of her life. Will she abandon the stranger who kept her safe—or will she climb down below, where reality has shapeshifted into a living nightmare?

ABOUT LAUREL HIGHTOWER

Laurel Hightower

Laurel Hightower grew up in Kentucky, attending college in California and Tennessee before returning home to horse country, where she lives with her husband, son, and two rescue animals. She works as a paralegal in a mid-sized firm, wrangling litigators by day and writing at night. A bourbon and beer girl, she’s a fan of horror movies and true life ghost stories. Whispers in the Dark is her first novel.

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Work of Art II: A Reflection of Masks by Ken La Salle @KenLaSalle

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I love the cover for Work of Art by Ken La Salle. It fits the story to a T.

A Reflection of Masks (Work of Art, #2)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

“Art can be many things, a flower, a stage, and even a mask. We all wear masks. It takes an artist to see a reflection.”

Think about it…are you one person when at home alone, another when with a spouse or child, another at work…

Andy wondered, “Had I done it? Had I really taught kids something?” He hadn’t believed in art, but he is learning as much…or maybe even more…than the kids in his class.

It had all started with Joseph and one flower, blooming into a garden, gathering an unlikely cast of characters. It transcends the art. It was mutually beneficial as they all learn some of life’s lessons.

“…when has life ever been fair…?” Has it treated you fairly?

How do you teach, inspire, create without killing a child’s dreams? And what about the parents. Granted, this is not the best neighborhood, or the best school, but who’s raising the children? Even more important, who is feeding the children? My heart breaks for Joseph…and the others.

I have gotten to know the characters better in this second book and am more invested in their lives, their futures. These kids are labeled and I am sure some of them are considered ‘throwaway’ kids. What I loved the most about them, was how they came together, doing what they felt needed to be done, and figured it out on their own. Andy is drug along for the ride.

“Don’t ever say I don’t help. Do I back into it most of the time with no idea how I got there? Sure. But I do help.” And that describes Andy Hollis. He has his own struggles, has been to jail, been homeless…

I have so many notes for Work of Art by Ken La Salle. This is a difficult book for me to review. I am having a hard time expressing my feelings. I feel it is an indepth glimpse into humanity, showing the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I hope there are a lot more of these kids out there, refusing to acknowledge that ‘you can’t do that.’

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Work of Art by Ken La Salle.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Joseph has painted his flowers.
A masterpiece sits in concrete.
Andy Hollis, ersatz instructor of art at Santa Ana High School, has won… if slightly.
He has inspired a classroom of artists, leaving him to decide who will be chosen for the next work of art. Can one high school art club keep shaking the world with its creations or will the art destroy the club? Every brush stroke is crucial and Andy doesn’t know how to paint.
Meanwhile, in a certain parking lot, Joseph’s flowers have taken on a life of their own, garnering unexpected interest with unbelievable results. Andy is faced with a restless artist with a surprising, new following and a work of art that refuses to stay put.
And what about the mysterious artist, Tom? Where has he disappeared to? How can he keep all of his promises? Or does he have something else in mind for the artists? For Andy? Something dark and devastating?
Andy Hollis is no artist but he may need to become one in ways he could never expect. Art can be many things, a flower, a stage, and even a mask.
We all wear masks.
It takes an artist to see their reflection.

ABOUT KEN LA SALLE

Ken La Salle

Born on an 18th century mining ship, Ken La Salle is not his name. He just likes it. He writes about whatever he damn well pleases, hoping to build more of a cult following than a readership just for a cut on the robes. Looking for the mainstream but sticking to the shore, you can find out more about Ken La Salle at the imaginatively named www.kenlasalle.com.

MY KEN LA SALLE REVIEWS

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He’s All About The Fun – Trust In Love by Amanda Siegrist @amanda_siegrist

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Trust in Love (The McCord Family #2)

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am loving this family, but I wonder if I would have enjoyed the next couple of books more if I would have read something else in between. That being said, I am going to love to see Austin meet his match.

Sophie kept telling herself she wasn’t running from an old life, but to a new one. Her father had left her a rundown house, but it was hers. And, she moved in next door to Austin. With the house being in need of repair, he will find many excuses to visit.

Ava had been determined to find Austin’s love, seeing she had found hers. When she heard what happened when Austin introduced himself to Sophie, Ava thought…she’s the one. Ava is back to her old self, sorta, and I am loving this side of her. She is humorous and her witty dialogue has me smiling. Ava and Zane are so sweet and playful, in the honeymoon phase of their marriage.

Sophie is the creative type. I love her character, because she is so different from myself. She repurposes objects and sells them online. Because of her past, you might think Sophie would be a doormat, but not so. And a man who is honest? Is it possible? Will Austin wile his way into her life? Patience is the key, and persistence.

I do enjoy the push pull of new romance. When the right person comes your way, you can fight attraction all you want, but they will slowly break down your barriers.

The way to a McCord man’s heart is with pie…and Austin’s favorite is Grape Nut Pie. They are a tight family. When one hurts, they all hurt.

Shivers spread across my body when she killed the spider. OMG. I hate spiders.

The characters seem so real, even though they have many ‘things’ come their way. The story is predictable, except I did not see Deja coming.

I love how we have two stories really, Ava settling in and getting her groove back and Sophie, the star of the show…and an introduction to Deja. The smiles, outright laughter and a bit of fear, as a slow burning romance and danger played out, kept me reading.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Trust In Love by Amanda Siegrist.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

From USA Today bestselling author Amanda Siegrist comes a heartwarming series that will make you swoon…and maybe even shed a few tears.

He didn’t want to fall in love. And then he met her.

Austin McCord has always enjoyed women…to an extent. He’s all about the fun. Anything beyond that, not so much. Until he meets his neighbor, Sophie. He knows he can’t touch her. She has marriage written all over her. Except temptation overwhelms him every time he sees her beautiful, angelic face. It doesn’t matter. Because whenever he tries to take two steps toward her, she keeps taking three steps back. Someone hurt her, that’s obvious. For the first time, he’s thinking a happily ever after sounds nice. Now his only obstacle is convincing her of the same thing…and keeping her safe before her past tears her apart.

The entire McCord Family Novel series: (Each book in this series can be read as a standalone.)

Protecting You (Book 1): Zane & Ava
Trust in Love (Book 2): Austin & Sophie
Deserving You (Book 3): Emmett & Deja
Always Kind of Love (Book 4): Ethan & Penelope
Finding You (Book 5): Gabe & Olivia

ABOUT AMANDA SIEGRIST

Amanda Siegrist

Love! Gimme some love and heaps of romance. I have a sappy heart that just loves two people meeting, going through the cycles of a relationship, and ultimately, falling in love. Give me a good book like that and I’m a happy camper:)

I write contemporary and romantic suspense, but I am partial to suspense. I just love a good mystery.

Besides writing, I love baking, crafts, and baseball…oh, and meeting new people. *smiles*

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MY AMANDA SIEGRIST REVIEWS

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Caroline & Mordecai the Gand by Jeff Gunhus @jeffgunhus

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Selected as a 2021 Kirkus Top 100 Indie Books of the Year

Caroline and Mordecai the Gand

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Jeff Gunhus writes some fabulous horror novels and when I saw this one in his newsletter I realized it was different than what I was used to from him. It is personal, written from the heart, and I LOVED IT. Caroline & Mordecai The Gand sends a subtle message through a fabulous adventure with a girl that wants things to be like they were before her father died.

Thirteen year old Caroline lost her father, her friend, and her grief is overwhelming. She does have her mother, who has her own struggles with her own loss, Abby and her Aunt Betty, but nothing fills the void.

When she fell from the tree, she entered a world that would open her eyes as she finds her way through her sorrow. Her adventure will take her back to herself.

I feel this is a book everyone who has suffered a loss would benefit from. Even in sadness there is happiness, smiles with the tears…

May you feast on your dreams

If you check out Jeff Gunhus, you will see why this book came to be. It may be a middle grade read, but I feel it holds a wonderful message for us all.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Caroline & Mordecai The Gand by Jeff Gunhus.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

Caroline loses her spark. It takes a great adventure for her to find it again.

When Caroline loses her father in a car accident, she can’t shake the feeling that it was her fault. Consumed by grief, she has a difficult time readjusting to a world that has changed so dramatically for her. Not long after her father’s death, a strange window opens in the middle of the small lake behind her house. She climbs up an old oak to peer inside, but falls out of the tree and discovers that the window also serves as a door into a different world.

Enter Mordecai the Gand, a mysterious traveler who befriends Caroline and promises to help her find a way back home since the window she fell through has disappeared. The two set out on a series of adventures that include visiting a tree village populated by a tribe known for eating travelers, running into a witch under a spell of her own making, hiding in a cave with a dragon encased in a wall of ice (prone to melting by campfire), all the while being pursued by a mysterious entity call the Creach which promises to devour Caroline and trap her in an eternity of despair.

As they navigate these adventures and this new world, Caroline slowly discovers that she is meant to help each of the characters she meets. As she battles internally whether to stay or return home to the sadness and grief waiting for her there, she must regain perspective and open her heart to the act of caring and to the joy of love itself. In the end, she must demonstrate great courage, loyalty, and caring as the plot unfolds, becoming the active hero of her own story

ABOUT JEFF GUNHUS

Jeff Gunhus

Jeff Gunhus is the USA TODAY bestselling author of thriller and horror novels for adults and the middle grade/YA series, The Templar Chronicles. The first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year-old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His books for adults have reached the Top 30 on Amazon, have been recognized as Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalists and reached the USA TODAY bestseller list.

After his experience with his son, he is passionate about helping parents reach young reluctant readers and is active in child literacy issues. As a father of five, he leads an active life in Maryland with his wife Nicole by trying to constantly keep up with their kids. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of the City Dock Cafe in Annapolis working on his next novel or on JeffGunhus.com.

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MY JEFF GUNHUS REVIEWS

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  • 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’.
  • Thanks for visiting fundinmental!