authentic reviews and insightful interviews for inquisitive readers
A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in Summer 2024. Beware of spoilers! Title: Thieves’ Gambit Author: Kayvion Lewis Series: Thieves’ Gambit #1 Thank you to Kayvion Lewis, Penguin Young Readers Group, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I liked this book! I saw the twist coming from the start, though. I found little to relate to in Ross, except perhaps in wanting to pursue to her …
Title: The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter Author: Caroline Flarity Series: n/a Solid plot, interesting mythology, characters and style need some work I would like to thank Caroline Flarity, East Side Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book won’t become a favorite, but I enjoyed it. Spent most of today binging it. I easily became immersed in Anna’s world and was intrigued by Flarity’s take on paranormal mythology and the …
Title: The Dysasters Author: P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast Series: The Dysasters #1 Liked but didn’t love I would like to thank P. C. Cast, Kristin Cast, and Michelle Cashman at St. Martin’s Press for inviting me to participate in the blog tour. I received a free ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the abridged non-spoiler version. Find the full spoiler review here. Jumping right in—the illustrations were my biggest problem with the book. …
Title: The Dysasters Author: P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast Series: The Dysasters #1 Liked but didn’t love I would like to thank P. C. Cast, Kristin Cast, and Michelle Cashman at St. Martin’s Press for inviting me to participate in the blog tour. I received a free ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Don’t want to be spoiled? See my non-spoiler review. Jumping right in, my biggest problem with the book didn’t have anything to do …
Article and Interview by Elise Cooper Summoned to Thirteenth Grave by Darynda Jones is number thirteen and the last in the series. But thirteen is a lucky number for her and those that have followed the Grim Reaper Charley Davidson. This book opens with Charley returning to earth after being exiled for a hundred years in another realm. But like dog years having a one to seven ratio, there is a one to ten ratio since 100 actually is ten …
Title: The Curse of Tenth Grave Author: Darynda Jones Series: Charley Davidson #10 Had to dig deep for flaws To prepare for the release of Summoned to Thirteenth Grave in January, I started re-listening to the Grave series audiobooks a couple of months ago (Lorelei King is AMAZING). I got through Nine and needed a breather…then I received an invitation to participate in a blog tour for Thirteen beginning on Halloween, and part of the deal is to review one …
Title: The Trouble with Twelfth Grave Author: Darynda Jones Series: Charley Davidson #12 supernatural Stephanie Plum at first, now so much more I would like to thank Darynda Jones, St. Martin’s Press/Macmillan, and NetGalley for enticing me to check out this series by offering a free copy of First Grave on the Right and allowing me to read an ARC of The Trouble with Twelfth Grave in exchange for an honest review. Here’s a spoiler alert, though I imagine most …
Title: Once a Gypsy Author: Danica Winters Series: Irish Traveler Series #1 Fascinating I would like to thank Danica Winters and Diversion Books for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review. Helena O’Driscoll wants more out of life than marriage to a “good enough” Traveler boy and the subsequent brood of children. She longs to break free of tradition and do something she’s passionate about—pursue an education, forge a career…fall in love with kind, awkward …
Title: Lost Among the Living Author: Simone St. James Series: n/a Not as spooky or creative as previous work, but I enjoyed it 🙂 I would give this a solid four stars, except Alex wins that entire fifth star himself. I loved Alex. He was a complicated guy, torn between his duty, his pride, and his love for his wife. This book wasn’t as spooky as some of her other books–not nearly as spooky as An Inquiry Into Love and …
Title: An Inquiry into Love and Death Author: Simone St. James Series: n/a What a wonderful—and chilling—surprise! So, I loaned this audiobook from the library for the promise of romance. The synopsis didn’t make it sound particularly terrifying, more intriguing, and I love a good mystery with my romance–as well as a dose of history–and England–so I thought, sure, I’m due for a non-mainstream, non-mass-market-paperback romance and downloaded it. I needed a break from my own writing last night and …