Review – The Sleepy Hollow Incident #1 by P D Alleva @PdallevaAuthor #thesleepyhollowincident

Posted on October 7, 2025 by fundinmental

MY REVIEW

We are in Sleepy Hollow, NY in February, so it is appropriate we start out with a winter storm. The snow doesn’t cover up the mutilated, dead bodies that began to appear right out of the gate. I love a story that grabs my attention and never lets it go, and P D Alleva has the ability to do that with his latest horror novel series, The Sleepy Hollow Incident.

FBI Agent Henry Clavell is on the case. He hadn’t planned on coming to Sleepy Hollow, but a request from a friend brought him to town. He’ll be working closely with Captain Flannery and Detective Stephen Carver.

Marc Saduj was in love with Lori Francon, so when she was at death’s door, he made a deal with a demon, or shall we say, A Man In Black. He traded his soul to save her life.

Initium Novum

Humanity’s end as a new beginning.

What the fuck does that mean.

I felt the same way. I believe the demons are bringing hell to earth and they are just getting started. The bodies are piling up as the darkness descends over the town. P D Alleva has an incredible ability to fill the pages with a sense of menace, a feeling of doom and gloom that I can’t shake lose. As Marc descends into madness I feel empathy for his loss, and wonder…can good win out? Is he totally lost to the demon?

I want to let you know that there are four books in The Sleepy Hollow Incident series and they will need to be read in order. They will all be available in October, so no worry about waiting for publication. If you are a fan of horror, a fan of Stephen King, then I can’t help but think you could be a fan of P D Alleva too.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos — 4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In a small town shrouded in shadows, a sinister alliance between love and darkness is forged. Winter, 1997. Marc Saduj, a romance writer, watches his beloved Lori Francon slip away after a car crash. Desperate to save her, he makes a deal with the mysterious Man in Black – his soul in exchange for her life. But as Lori miraculously recovers and returns to Long Island, Marc retreats to a foreboding mansion in Sleepy Hollow’s western woods.

As mutilated bodies start appearing in town, Detective Stephen Carver follows a trail of medieval torture and satanic worship, all leading to Marc. But the truth is far more terrifying than anyone could imagine. When Lori discovers Marc’s notebook detailing the murders, she rushes back to save him, only to find herself at the center of an ancient evil’s resurgence. The Man in Black is no ordinary demon, and Marc’s bargain has set in motion a chain of events that could unleash hell on earth.

As a celestial portal threatens to open and Marc’s possession deepens, Lori must face the ultimate question – when someone sells their soul to save your life, what are you willing to sacrifice to save theirs?

Some bargains are sealed with a kiss. Others with a scream.

Genre: Angels and Demons, Dark Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Paranormal, Supernatural
Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 7, 2025 by Chamber Door Publishing, LLC
Series: The Sleepy Hollow Incident #1

ABOUT P D ALLEVA

I write books, that’s what I do. Horror, scifi, thrillers, fantasy, and sometimes a literary gem. Good ones, crazy ones, fun books, entertaining books, terrifying books that are absolutely insane, books with depth and thrills, and stories that rip out the heart of humanity and tosses it on a slab to be feasted on. Yeah, that’s what I do, I write books. Any questions?

My current projects include: the Pulp Fiction, Sci-Fi/Fantasy series, The Dark Veil: The Rose Vol. III; the horror thriller novella series, Girl on a Mission; the supernatural thriller series, The Hypnotist; and a follow up to Jigglyspot and the Zero Intellect, tentatively titled The Sleepy Hollow Incident.

Your free book is waiting. Join the PD Newsletter at https://pdalleva.com and score a free book.

WEBSITE LINKS

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdalleva_author/
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TikTok: @horrorbookclub
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PdallevaAuthor
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/pdalleva
Website: www.pdalleva.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7634126.P_D_Alleva
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/p-d-alleva
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gxKH7P

MY P D ALLEVA REVIEWS

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Review – Cry Of Blood And Joy by M Guida #mguida #cryofbloodandjoy

Posted on October 2, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

M Guida had put out a call through her newsletter for ARC readers, for Cry Of Blood And Joy. When I read the blurb and saw the eye catching cover, I knew it was for me. That prompted me to buy the first book in the series, Oath Of Blood And Joy. I didn’t hesitate at the $.99 price. A steal, because Joy’s story just keeps getting better and better. The big thing is to not spoil anything for you. I am sure you will want to discover all the goodness between the pages for yourself.

Cry Of Blood And Joy by M Guida picks up where Oath Of Blood And Joy left off. Joy has no control over her powers, and when she hurts her best friend because of it, the vampire mafia king goes on a rampage . Serenity may be her best friend, but she is the vampire king’s wife. Joy, Enzo, and Joy’s brother, Steve, are running for their lives.

We have alternating points of view with Joy and Enzo.

There is nonstop action. The story unfolded at a rapid pace. The danger and suspense is off the charts, filled with nail biting moments, and times where I felt like yelling at the characters, don’t go there, don’t do that. Unputdownable. Amazing story with a fast tempo. Once it grabbed me, it never let me go.

I had saved the man I loved by potentially dooming the entire world.

We end with another cliffhanger, of sorts. If we have to have a stopping point, this is a good spot. BUT, when do we get a glimpse of Pride Of Blood And Joy? I do see it coming soon and I can hardly wait to get my hands on it.

GOODREADS BLURB

He fell first. She fell harder. Now they’re both falling into hell.
When Joy’s powers exploded and wounded the vampire mafia king’s mate, she signed their death warrant. Now she and her ruthless enforcer protector are the most hunted fugitives in New Orleans—and he’d burn the world down before letting anyone touch her.

Desperate, he makes a deal with the Dark Fae Mafia king. But when the fae’s prized stone disappears, every bloody death gets pinned on the enforcer. Someone’s playing puppet master, and they’re the perfect fall guys.

Then they take Joy’s brother.

Come alone or he dies.

She runs. He follows. They both get captured.

Big mistake.

Because now they’ve uncovered a conspiracy that makes vampire mafia politics look like child’s play—and the enemy has been pulling their strings from the very beginning.
Touch her and die was never just a threat. It was a promise.

Cry of Blood and Joy is the explosive second book in the French Quarter Vampire Enforcer series. A forbidden romance where star-crossed lovers collide with vampire mafia vendettas in a deadly game that will leave you breathless and craving more.

Genre: Angels And Demons, Fantasy, Louisiana, Nephilim, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Vampires, Werewolves
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2025
Series: French Quarter Vampire Enforcer #2

ABOUT M GUIDA

M Guida has always loved fantasy and romance, especially dragons. Growing up, she devoured fantasy books and all kinds of young adult books. And then she found romance and a whole new world opened up to her.

Now as an adult, she fell in love with academy romance and has blended all of her past loves into one compelling series. Dragons, vampires, elves, demons, and shifters all attend Legacy Academy.

When she’s not writing, she lives in the colorful Rocky Mountains with her fur baby, Raven, and enjoys taking her for walks.

Would you like to become a Legacy? Sign up for her mailing list and enter a world of the supernatural. https://geni.us/akJn

You can also join her private Facebook page-Legacy Academy https://geni.us/aksDhUZ You’ll become a legacy and find out about your special power and maybe even find some romance!

MY M GUIDA REVIEWS

Oath Of Blood And Joy

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Review – Oath Of Blood And Joy by M Guida #mguida #oathofbloodandjoy

Posted on September 30, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / KindleUnlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am so happy I am following M Guida, because she put out a call for ARC readers for Cry Of Blood And Joy. I jumped all over it…because, I love vampires! Seeing it’s Book II in the series, I had to see about Book I, Oath Of Blood And Joy. It was on sale for $.99. Yeah.

I love books that take place in familiar places and I have spent a lot of time in New Orleans. Sorry to say, I haven’t run across any supernatural creatures…yet. I do have my fingers crossed.

Girls are going missing in New Orleans and when Joy’s best friend, Stephanie was kidnapped, she made it her personal mission to find her. Unfortunately, during the process, she, herself, was kidnapped. Enzo is the vampire mafia’s most feared enforcer and he knows he has to save her. She doesn’t realize why, but he will burn everything down if he must.

For Joy I would burn the world to ashes.

The vivid, detailed descriptions had shivers crawling up and down my spine. The battles were ferocious and bloody and I loved it, but we do have moments of light and laughter. We have all kinds of creatures: vampires, dark demons, golden demons, werewolves, nephilim, angels, unseelie, dark fae….

I love everything about Oath Of Blood And Joy. I was so engrossed, I zipped through the pages. Before I knew it, I reached the end. There is a bit of a cliffhanger, but it was a good stoppping place. I’m not sweating it, because I have Book II, Cry Of Blood And Joy at hand.

GOODREADS BLURB

Missing girls in New Orleans have one they’re never found alive. I’m about to join their ranks. Unless the vampire enforcer tracking me can shatter every rule—and every precedent.My name is Joy, and I’ve always lived up to it—smiling through problems, finding silver linings, believing tomorrow will be better. But over a month ago, my optimism met its match when I was kidnapped while searching for my missing best friend.

Now I’m a prisoner of New Orleans’ most dangerous crime lord, thrust into a world I never knew existed. Vampires are real. Vampire mafia? Also real. And something is stirring inside me—a power I can’t explain that’s the only reason I’m still alive.

They say he’s coming for me. Enzo. The vampire mafia’s most feared enforcer. Cold. Ruthless. Merciless. The man leaves a trail of bodies wherever he goes. The whispers about him terrify even my captors.

But when his dark eyes find mine in the chaos of my prison, I see something impossible. Recognition. Possession. As if I belong to him. As if I’ve always belonged to him.

I don’t know this vampire. Don’t trust him. And I absolutely refuse to accept his ridiculous claim that I’m his “fated mate”—whatever that means. I didn’t even believe vampires existed, and now this terrifying man with perpetually furrowed brows thinks he owns me? I’ve spent weeks fighting my captors at every turn—I’m not about to stop now.

But when his cold eyes find mine, something deep inside me responds. No matter how loudly I tell myself this brooding, dangerous creature is my enemy, my stubborn heart won’t listen. And as my mysterious powers grow stronger, I’m running out of options for allies in a world I never knew was real.

The human mafia won’t let me go without bloodshed. And as ancient power awakens within me, I find myself caught between two worlds with ties to both.

My captor thinks I’m leverage. My would-be savior thinks I’m his. But neither of them knows what I’m becoming—or how my relentless optimism and newfound power might be the most dangerous weapon of all.

Oath of Blood and Joy is a steamy enemies-to-lovers vampire mafia romance featuring a joyful but fierce heroine and a gorgeous, grumpy vampire enforcer. Get ready for intense action, mind blowing plot twists, sizzling forbidden romance, and dark supernatural fireworks that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Vampires
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 11, 2025
Series: French Quarter Vampire Enforcer #1

ABOUT M GUIDA

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Review – The Fruit Tree by Sabir Ahmed #sabirahmed #thefruittree

Posted on September 18, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Love is messy…and Adam and Eve are going to find out just how messy it can be.

A narrator is telling their story. By the end of the book, I thought that Sabir Ahmed left it up to me to figure out who the narrator was and who is the child he’s telling the story to. Am I right or wrong? I’ll leave it up to you to figure it out.

Adam and Eve are teenagers, their families are friends who think that they will eventually grow up and get married, have babies and live happily ever after. BUT, again, love is messy.

We follow them from their teenage years to adults. We watch as they struggle to make sense of their feelings. Adam is shy and Eve is…well, Eve. She thinks the world revolves around her and she can do no wrong. She will have a rude awakening.

I knew some of what was coming as I read along. ‘Love is a blessing and a curse.’ Love is the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. For some, love is an obsession, and there is no telling how far the scorned will go.

Most of the time, we/re just cruising along, watching the children trying to make sense of life, going through all the angst that teenagers have. The last quarter of the book had me on pins and needles. There was an air of menace oozing off the pages. I couldn’t flip them fast enough, having to know WTH is going to happen. I knew it couldn’t be good. The ending is mind blowing and I love it.

I want to thank Sabir Ahmed for the opportunity to read and review The Fruit Tree.

GOODREADS BLURB

Adam is your typical shy guy in school, with no thoughts towards romance outside of his daydreaming. However, that all changes one day, when he gets saved by an unlikely Eve. Eve is one of the more popular girls in school, but maybe he had misjudged her. Rescued from her boyfriend, Adam can’t help but admire Eve. They quickly become good friends and the rest, as they say, is history.
Follow them as they grow from teenagers to adults and watch how their relationship evolves with them. As they explore themselves and figure out who they are, their love will change. With the assistance of their parents, who would love for them to be together, will it be enough? Will they end up on the same page? Or will the chapters they write forever be out of sync?
This is not the same Biblical tale you’re familiar with. She wasn’t made from his rib, and he had his own garden. With no god to guide them, nor a devil to deceive them, how would they envisage Eden? They were left alone to be victims of their hearts and hostages to their minds. He was the forbidden fruit, but would she bite?

Genre: Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Suspense
402 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2024 by Grosvenor House Publishing Limited

ABOUT SABIR AHMED

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories are arriving at school early and writing short stories before the day started. I’ve found a way to incorporate writing all throughout my life since, from stories, to journaling, to even writing guides and blog posts. My brain is constantly thinking of new ideas, if not fleshing out old ones. The Notes app on my phone has been a hero!

It’s always been my dream to publish a book. It didn’t need to be successful, it just had to be something I wrote. I was finally able to accomplish that, thanks to self-publishing. Now I have to find a new goal! It’s re-energised me to write even more, which I definitely intend on doing.

I hope you enjoy your stay in my little corner of the world.

Website / Instagram

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Review – The Human Hybrid Odyssey by A McDonald, K Witt, K Jarta #aaronmcdonald #kimathiwitt #kawsajatta

Posted on September 16, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Did you see the cover for The Human Hybrid Odyssey: Forever Changed written by Aaron McDonald and Kimathi Witt, and illustrated by Kawsa Jatta? It sure did make me curious about what I would find inside. I was not disappointed. There are some wonderful illustrations, and I love them. They add a little something extra to the novel.

I love apocalyptic/dystopian novels and The Human Hybrid Odyssey is a fresh take on a familiar genre. Catastrophic storms wiped out humanity as we knew it. A new breed of genetically altered hybrids arise from the aftermath.

Forever Changed is the first volume in the series, an introduction to a world in which the survivors struggle to create a life for themselves and are forced to leave their home and set off on a journey to the safety of the kingdom. I love all the creatures.

Nosoo is an intriguing character. His one moment of cowardice sets him off on an adventure that will test him and could cost him his life. His bravery may be spurred on because of his cowardice, his need to redeem himself in the eyes of his village.

I bounced between a 3 and 4 star rating because I wanted more depth and detail. The book is 170 pages of goodness, but I wasn’t able to get lost, though I did read straight through. I had to know what was going to happen next and I can hardly wait to get my hands on the second book in the series.

GUEST POST

The Human Hybrid Odyssey: From Inspiration to Imagination

Every great story begins with a spark—and for The Human Hybrid Odyssey, that spark came from a set of stunning illustrations. Coauthor Aaron McDonald first shared the extraordinary images of half-human, half-animal hybrids, created by illustrator Kawsu Jatta, with coauthor Kimathi Witt. Immediately, the two began imagining the origins of such beings. How did they come to exist? What kind of world would they inhabit? Those questions set the stage for what would become an ever-expanding creative journey.

From a Single Idea to a Growing Saga

What started as a vivid “what if” quickly grew into a fully developed series. Today, The Human Hybrid Odyssey is available as a paperback, eBook, and audiobook—with a graphic novel adaptation in production right now. Each format lets fans experience the hybrids’ world in a new dimension, ensuring that every type of reader can step into the odyssey.

Beyond the Page: Immersive Creations

The vision didn’t stop at books. Our team has brought these characters to life in posters, 3D-printed statues, and even a custom chess game, each piece connecting fans more deeply with the story’s universe. And the adventure is only beginning—we are preparing to bring the hybrids to the big screen and, eventually, to your favorite streaming platforms.

A Platform by Authors, for Authors

Alongside our creative projects, we’re passionate about empowering other storytellers. That’s why we launched MWJ Books, a cost-sharing platform that allows authors to advertise their work at an extremely affordable price. Built by authors who understand the challenges of publishing, the platform helps writers overcome one of the most difficult—and expensive—parts of the journey: consistent, effective promotion.

Powered by Readers Like You

Perhaps the most rewarding part of this odyssey has been you, our readers. Hearing fans recite scenes and favorite moments from memory—completely unprompted—reminds us why we write. Your enthusiasm, questions, and theories fuel our creativity. And we want you to be part of the process: you can even suggest new characters or plot twists for us to explore in future volumes.

Join the Journey

We invite you to visit us at MWJBooks.com to:

Sign up for exclusive notifications about new releases.
Get updates on book signings, merchandise drops, and special events.
Share your ideas to help us craft the next chapter in The Human Hybrid Odyssey.

After all, we’re not just writing these stories for you—we’re writing them with you.

Best,
Aaron McDonald, Kimathi Witt, and Kawsu Jatta
MWJBooks.com

AMAZON SYNOPSIS

When the world as we know it crumbles beneath catastrophic storms and ancient forces reawaken, humanity is forever changed.

In the aftermath of global ruin, a new breed rises-genetically altered hybrids forged by chaos and instinct. Part human, part beast, they struggle to survive in a land reshaped by destruction, mystery, and myth. Tribes form, power shifts, and trust are a rare commodity in this brutal new order.

Among the survivors, unlikely alliances form as hybrid warriors embark on a harrowing journey through treacherous terrain, both physical and spiritual. Hunted by enemies, haunted by memories, and driven by a primal call they barely understand, they must uncover the truth about their transformation-and what it means for the future of their kind.

Forever Changed is the explosive first volume in The Human Hybrid Odyssey, a cinematic sci-fi saga blending action, ancient legends, and speculative evolution. This is not just a battle for survival. It’s the origin of a new species-and the beginning of an unforgettable odyssey.

Genre: Action and Adventure, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Supernatural
170 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2024
Series: The Human Hybrid Odeyssey #1

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Scrumdiddlyumptious – Wicked Believer by Kait Ballenger @kait_ballenger #wickedbeliever

Posted on September 12, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I am super excited to be back in Charlotte and Lucifer’s world in the Wicked Believer by Kait Ballenger, the sequel to Original Sinner. Let’s do a recap. God brought Lucifer and the seven deadly sins to New York City…and vanished. A celestial war is on the horizon. Charlotte is no longer the good little Christian. Not since Lucifer got his hands on her. She is walking on the dark side, growing and learning to stand on her own. The sex is sizzling hot. He is the dominant and she is the submissive, but…

Queen of my own damned life. Queen of my own goddamn choices.

“Not a fallen angel. Not a demon. Not a human, but something else in between.”

There are a lot of triggers in Charlotte and Lucifer’s erotic world, so be sure you are ready to walk on the dark side. I was lost in it. The darker it got, the more intense it felt. I loved all the changes that Charlotte is going through. I loved being on the sidelines and watching sides being taken as the apocalypse approaches. Charlotte is not going to stand behind Lucifer and let him drive the boat,. She’s going to be front and center. The kink level rises, and Charlotte does not shy away from it. She embraces it. I was reading along, white knuckled, eager to read the next word, the next sentence, the next chapter, and then….it came to an end.

I love everything about Wicked Believer and I want to thank Kait Ballenger and Montlake for the opportunity to read and review it. I can hardly wait for the next book, seeing there is war on the horizon.

GOODREADS BLURB

Author Kait Ballenger whips up a spicy sequel to Original Sinner, a no-holds-barred dark romance where the devil and his queen-to-be explore the bounds of kink, even as they stand on the brink of war.

I wasn’t always immortal. And I’m not sure I’ll ever get the hang of it. Not like Lucifer, a.k.a. Pride. He and the other seven deadly sins, the high-profile billionaires who run this city, make the divine life look easy.

I came to New York a good, if damaged, Christian girl. Then Lucifer opened my eyes to the darkness. To the hunger burning inside me. To a world of pain and pleasure like nothing I’ve ever known. Now it’s all I crave. He’s all I crave.

But as I grapple with this new existence—and the events that led me to it—unseen forces push me and Lucifer apart. Paparazzi track my every move, Lucifer’s family plays their wicked games, and I hardly know who I am anymore. Or who I’m meant to be.

A celestial war is brewing, and Lucifer’s siblings are out for blood—and the dark power inside me calls me to join the fight.

Genre: Dark Romance, Erotica, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural
453 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 9, 2025 by Montlake
Series: Original Sinners #2

ABOUT KAIT BALLENGER

Kait Ballenger is an award-winning author of dark romantasy and paranormal romance. She is obsessed with tales of morally gray, sometimes villainous heroes and can’t resist a spicy redemption arc. When Kait’s not busy writing kinky paranormal fantasy, she can usually be found with her nose buried in someone else’s naughty books. She lives in Florida’s Bible Belt with her husband and two adorable sons—and will gladly use that belt to whip you.

For news on future releases, exclusive bonus scenes, and NSFW character art, sign up for Kait’s newsletter: https://bit.ly/3t7zXLA

You can also find Kait on TikTok @kaitballenger or Instagram @kait.ballenger

MY KAIT BALLENGER REVIEWS

Twilight Hunter

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Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious – Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger @kait_ballenger

Posted on September 5, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / Kindle Unlimited / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

OMG!!!!!! I am blown away by Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger. Think Lucifer, the TV series, meets Fifty Shades Of Gray. I love everything about Original Sinner, from the fabulous cover to the last word read. Once I began reading, I couldn’t stop. The seven deadly sins are running wild in New York City and Lucifer reigns supreme. They’re waiting for God to make an appearance, for Lucifer to receive redemption. Charlotte had run from her abusive religious father and the man she was given to. Through a series of stumbles she becomes Lucifer’s fake fiancee. BUT, once Lucifer has her, he will face heaven and earth and everything in between to keep her. They don’t hide who they are. In the days of social media, it wouldn’t work anyway. The paparazzi have them in their sights. Sexual tension runs throughout and when they do have sex it’s sizzling hot with plenty of dominating and submissive kink.

There are all kinds of triggers for some people, so check it out good before reading. It doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I revel in their delicious wickedness and debauchery. I want more. Lots more. I love, love, love it!!!!! So, I’m moving on to the sequel in the Original Sinners series, Wicked Believer.

I bought my copy of Original Sinner and it was worth every penny of it!!!!!!!!

GOODREADS BLURB

Seven deadly—and ultrarich—sins rule NYC, and though she came here to escape her past, one woman’s true path to freedom might be the devil’s bonds in this scorching hot romantasy from Kait Ballenger.

The seven deadly sins keep high profiles in the Big Lust runs brothels, Sloth’s a media streamer…you get the picture. Pride, though, he’s more mysterious. You might know him as Lucifer—temptation irresistibly embodied. The paparazzi are dying for some burning-hot gossip. So when someone publishes my scathing but private rant about him, they eat it up. And now my job is on the line. After all, he is my boss.

With his vicious siblings vying for his power, Lucifer needs to distract the press, so he reframes my tirade as a lovers’ spat, demanding I play the devil’s fiancée. I need to be a good girl, smile for the cameras, nothing more.

But cocky and cruel as he is, his darkness awakens something wicked in me. Sexy and in control, he might just be the cure—an extra dose of sin to heal me from a lifetime of shame and subservience.

And I like it.

Genre: Angels and Demons, Dark Romance, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2025 by Montlake
Series: Original Sinners

ABOUT KAIT BALLENGER

MY KAIT BALLENGER REVIEWS

Twilight Hunter

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Review – Discern by Andrea Pearson @andreapearson2 #discern

Posted on August 22, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

Nicole Williams is an Arete, a fourth child with magical abilities. She hasn’t come into her own, yet, but when she is put to the test, I have a feeling she will rise to the occasion. Some of it was predictable, but that’s okay. It’s pretty hard to write something totally new in this day and age. I was riveted to the pages and the characters came to life through Andrea Pearson’s words. The world she created was fascinating and richly developed, and I was lost in it.

I picked up Discern by Andrea Pearson a long time ago, on a free day, 6.3.16 to be exact.

GOODREADS BLURB

Disappearances at a popular national park… Monsters from another dimension… And Nicole can’t use her magic. What could possibly go wrong?

Mysterious disappearances at a popular national park force authorities to organize a university-led expedition, and they’ve invited undergrads to compete to be included. As a talented Arete, Austin is a natural shoo-in. And he’s not the only experienced student competing. Nicole struggles a great deal with her powers, but she knows she has what it takes, and she’s determined to prove that she can produce Wind magic.

With the help of her friends and advice from professors, Nicole pushes the limits of her magical abilities. As the competition heats up, however, she finds out that the trip she’s fighting for may be a one-way ticket…

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction, Magic, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2014
Series: Mosaic Chronicles #1

ABOUT ANDREA PEARSON

Andrea Pearson is an avid reader and outdoor enthusiast who plays several instruments, not including the banjo, and loves putting together musical arrangements. Her favorite sports are basketball and football, though several knee surgeries and incurably awful coordination prevent her from playing them. Andrea Pearson graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor of science degree in Communications Disorders. She acted as the executive director for Indie Author Hub for a year and a half and frequently gets invited to teach marketing and promoting at writers conferences. Andrea is the author of many full-length novels (the Kilenya Chronicles, Mosaic Chronicles, and Koven Chronicles), and several novellas. Writing is the chocolate of her life – it is, in fact, the only thing she ever craves. Being with her husband and kids, family, and close friends is where she’s happiest, and she loves thunderstorms, the ocean, hiking, public speaking, painting, and traveling.

Receive several free books when you join Andrea’s Readers Group. For more information, click here.

Andrea also writes nonfiction books for authors. To learn more about those, and her marketing courses, please visit selfpublishstrong.com

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MY ANDREA PEARSON REVIEWS

Shadow Hunter (Midnight Chronicles)
The Shade Amulet (Kovin Chronicles #1)
The Black Masquerade (Kovin Chronicles #2)

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Review – The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan #thewitchsorchard #NetGalley #archersullivan

Posted on August 14, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

It looks like The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan is a debut novel, and I must say, it was a great start to Archer Sullivan’s writing career. I was quickly drawn in by Annie Gore, a Former Air Force Special Investigator turned private investigator. Three little girls had gone missing ten years ago. One was returned, but the brother of one of the girls that was never found wants to hire her to discover what happened.

Annie knows about small mountain villages and knows her poking around will make a lot of people uncomfortable. That doesn’t stop her from seeking out the answers to her questions. I love watching an outsider come in and stir up a hornets nest in a place where everyone knows everyone else, but do they? Do we ever really know what someone is thinking or doing?

“Does chaos just happen to follow you around or do you invite it along for rides in that ugly clunker of yours?”

Through the horror and sorrow that Annie investigates, we have some light hearted moments. I love stories that take place in small towns and I love watching the secrets being exposed. The novel moves along at a steady clip. I would categorize The Witch’s Orchard more a mystery than a suspense or a thriller. It lacks those intense nail biting moments that move at a rapid pace, but do deliver on the steady work of Annie as she uncovers what others wish would remain buried.

I would like to thank Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan.

GOODREADS BLURB

A ninth generation Appalachian herself, Archer Sullivan brings the mountains of North Carolina to life in The Witch’s Orchard, a wonderfully atmospheric novel that introduces private investigator Annie Gore.

Former Air Force Special Investigator Annie Gore joined the military right after high school to escape the fraught homelife of her childhood. Now, she’s getting by as a private investigator and her latest case takes her to an Appalachian holler not unlike the one where she grew up.

Ten years ago, three little girls went missing from their tiny mountain town. While one was returned, the others were never seen again. After all this time without answers, the brother of one of the girls wants to hire an outsider, and he wants Annie. While she may not be from his town, she gets mountain towns. Mountain people. Driving back into the hills for a case this old—it might be a fool’s errand. But Annie needs to put money in the bank and she can’t turn down a case. Not even one that dredges up her own painful past.

In the shadow of the Blue Ridge, Annie begins to track the truth, navigating a decade’s worth of secrets, folklore of witches and crows, and a whole town that prefers to forget. But while the case may have been buried, echoes of the past linger. And Annie’s arrival stirs someone into action.

Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, Witches
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 12, 2025 by Minotaur Books
Setting: Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina, United States

ABOUT ARCHER SULLIVAN (from Amazon)

ARCHER SULLIVAN is a ninth generation Appalachian. She’s moved thirty-seven times and has lived everywhere from Monticello, Kentucky to Manhattan, New York and from Black Mountain, North Carolina to Beverly Hills, California. Her work has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Tough, Shotgun Honey, Reckon Review, Rock and a Hard Place, and The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2024.

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Review – The Discovery Of The Inner Magic by Stephan Lethaus #stepahnlethaus

Posted on July 31, 2025 by fundinmental

Amazon / Goodreads

You can preorder it for $2.99 with one click.

MY REVIEW

The Discovery Of The Inner Magic by Stephan lethaus starts out with a recap of the The Magical Legacy Of The Ryujin and begins where it left off.

Rob and Fuku flee to the Druid Mountaoins, where they come across Mi Lou. They rescue her from the magic that imprisoned her. Can you imagine, coming from a world of science and, voila, you are now in a medieval world of magic? She places her trust in Rob and Fuku. They will have to work together to overcome the evil that is headed their way. They will accumulate allies and develop their magic, sometimes learning by trial and error.

There is a large cast of characters, but I have become very familiar with them. I do have my favorites, and with the battles that rage, I’m not so sure they will all survive.

Stephan Lethaus has created an amazing world of magic, trolls and dragons, humans and science. The battles are vividly described as the resistance rises. Unlikely alliances are created and many will fight to the death. Betrayals make it hard to know who to trust. We have some light hearted moments that help to round out the characters. After all, not everything is gloom and doom.

My thanks go out to Stephan Lethaus for the opportunity to read and review The Discovery Of The Inner Magic.

GOODREADS BLURB

Pursued by the merciless minions of pure magic, Rob and Fuku flee to the Druid Mountains in search of allies. What began as an accidental bond between a quiet stable boy and a rebellious young dragon is growing into something far more powerful—and far more dangerous.

As the magical world of Skaiyles teeters on the edge of collapse, help arrives from the unlikeliest Mi Lou, a pragmatic systems analyst from 2055, suddenly cast into a realm of dragons, mages, and ancient prophecy. Still recovering from the trauma of her arrival, Mi Lou must learn to survive in a world where trust is fragile and the rules of reality as she knows it no longer apply.

Hunted, tested, and pushed to their limits, the trio must cross wild lands, confront deadly enemies, and forge fragile alliances in their quest to stand against the rising tide of the Pure Doctrine. Along the way, they find unexpected allies—some strange, some whimsical, and some with secrets of their own. But Skaiyles does not give up its mysteries easily—and the magic buried within them all is beginning to awaken.

The Discovery of the Inner Magic continues the Ryūjin Saga with deeper bonds, darker truths, and the first sparks of a resistance that could change everything.

German readers will find both Volumes 1 and 2 combined in the original German edition.

Genre: Dragons, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Supernatural
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 2, 2025
Series: The Ryujin #2

ABOUT STEPHAN LETHAUS (from Amazon)

Stephan Lethaus has been telling fantastical stories since childhood—long before he could write, he spun wild tales about ghosts, dragons, and untamed creatures. His creative journey has since taken him from directing and producing award-winning children’s content to writing epic fantasy. Today, he brings that same sense of wonder and adventure to his fantasy series, The Magical Legacy of the Ryūjin.

Based in Berlin, Stephan is an author and creative producer with over two decades of experience in the animation and media industry. His background in storytelling for the screen has shaped his vivid, cinematic writing style. His earlier productions for children’s television have received multiple awards, including the Goldener Spatz, the Silver Dragon of Beijing, and a nomination for the prestigious Grimme Prize.

In 2016, Stephan published the first book in Skaiyles, a sweeping fantasy series filled with magic, dragons, and untamed legacy [This makes no sense. It’s untamed creature, but to avoid repetition we should look for another word]. He is currently expanding the saga, crafting stories that invite readers into a richly imagined world full of mystery, myth, and heart.

MY STEPHAN LETHAUS REVIEWS