The Children God Forgot by Graham Masterton REVIEW

 The Children God Forgot

by Graham Masterton

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Synopsis:

A rash of strange and horrifying births sweeps through London in the new horror thriller from master of the genre Graham Masterton.

A SERIES OF STRANGE BIRTHS
A young woman is rushed to the hospital with stabbing pains. The chief surgeon performs a C-section, and delivers a catastrophically malformed foetus that is somehow alive...

A DEVASTATING ATTACK
Sewage engineer Gemma is plunged into a ghostly darkness in the tunnel where she works. She escapes, but her boss goes missing in the chaos. He is later found alive... but his legs have been severed and his eyes pulled out.

A SUPERNATURAL THREAT
DC Jerry Pardoe and DS Jamila Patel of the supernatural squad must team up once more to solve the mystery and save the city. But, if they are to succeed, first they must delve into the dark arts of witchcraft...

Review:

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

First I have to say, this book will not be for everybody. In The Children God Forgot women are turning up with impossible pregnancies. When the babies are removed via cesarean section they are severely malformed and incredibly alive. And things just get weird from there.

While I found this book to be a little long, it was still interesting enough. There were a lot of things happening throughout the book that kept my attention. I didn't find it to be as scary as I anticipated however, it did have a few creepy moments. The story line was very dark and incredibly unique. 

As I previously stated, this book won't be for everybody but if you want something that is dark, twisted, and weird this could be something for you. 

Strong trigger warnings for abortion and miscarriage. 

Pigeon-Blood Red by Ed Duncan REVIEW

Pigeon-Blood Red

by Ed Duncan

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Synopsis:

For underworld enforcer Richard "Rico" Sanders, it seemed like an ordinary job: retrieve his gangster boss's stolen goods, and teach the person responsible a lesson. But the chase quickly goes sideways and takes Rico from the mean streets of Chicago to sunny Honolulu. There, the hardened hit man finds himself in uncharted territory, when innocent bystanders are accidentally embroiled in a crime. As Rico pursues his new targets, hunter and prey develop an unlikely respect for one another. Soon, he is faced with a momentous decision: follow his orders to kill the very people who have won his admiration, or refuse and endanger the life of the woman he loves?

Review:

Thank you to the author and Book Publicity Services for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

One thing I didn't like is how we kept going into little side stories. I thought these were unnecessary because they were either about an insignificant character, or it was about a significant character with unnecessary information.

This one had a lot more twists than I expected. I thought it was going to be something more straightforward but I was pleasantly surprised. It had drama, action, adventure and lots of murder. It was quite exciting.

This is really well written. There are quite a few characters in this story, and usually the more characters a book has, the harder they are to keep track of. However, I didn't find that to be an issue here. Each character was distinct enough to be tracked with just a normal thought effort.

This is the first book in a trilogy. I thought it wrapped up nicely with no loose ends. I'm looking forward to what happens next in the series.

Overall, I enjoyed it quite a bit. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime fiction.

Purchase Links:

CAN - https://www.amazon.ca/Pigeon-Blood-Red-Ed-Duncan-ebook/dp/B01KYNYUAI/

US - https://www.amazon.com/Pigeon-Blood-Red-Ed-Duncan-ebook/dp/B01KYNYUAI/

A Girl Named Mister by Nikki Grimes REVIEW

 A Girl Named Mister

By Nikki Grimes

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Synopsis:

Mary Rudine, called Mister by almost everyone, has attended church and sung in the choir for as long as she can remember. But then she meets Trey. His long lashes and smooth words make her question what she knows is right, and one mistake leaves her hiding a growing secret.

Another Mary is preparing for her upcoming wedding and has done everything according to Jewish law. So when an angel appears one night and tells her that she—a virgin—will give birth, Mary can't help but feel confused, and soon finds herself struggling with the greatest blessing the world will ever know.

Feeling abandoned, Mister is drawn to Mary's story, and together both young women discover the depth of God's love and the mysteries of his divine plan.

Review:

I absolutely loved this book. Once I started reading it I simply couldn't stop and ended up reading it all at once.

A Girl Named Mister is the story of a 14 year old girl who breaks her promise of abstinence to God and finds herself pregnant after her first time having sex. Throughout the book we go back and forth from Mister's perspective and a book of poetry called Mary Mary. The author is able to dance back and forth between these two flawlessly. The writing is beautiful and lyrical. I really can't say enough about how amazing the book is.

Mister is one if the best characters I have ever read about. I related to her on such a crazy level. Granted I was also a christian teen mom so I may be a little bias. Either way, I absolutely adore her and she is one of my favorite fictional characters. Also, this is now one of my all time favorite books.

I recommend this to everyone. If you like books in verse, try it! If you like stories about teen moms, try it! If you want a quick read, try it! It's written in verse and only takes about 2 hours from start to finish so what have you got to lose?

The Sister-In-Law by Pamela Crane REVIEW

 The Sister-In-Law

by Pamela Crane

Synopsis:

EVERYONE IN THIS FAMILY IS HIDING SOMETHING…

THE WIFE: It was a whirlwind romance and a shotgun wedding, but weeks into their marriage, Candace realizes that moving in with Lane also means moving in with his possessive, uptight sister. And there’s not room for three in this marriage…

THE SISTER-IN-LAW: Harper is the kind of woman who cooks homemade meals and dusts under the furniture – it’s the least she can do for her brother as he’s been sharing his home with her and the kids since her husband’s mysterious death. But then Candace showed up, and started asking questions…

THE HUSBAND: All Lane has ever wanted is a white-picket-fence life. The wife. The two-point-five kids. The happy little family. And everything seemed to be falling into place with Candace until Harper’s jealous streak got in the way, again. But choosing between his sister and wife will be costly – and knowing Harper, the price could be blood…

**This synopsis was used from Netgalley**

Review:

Thank you to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. 

Wow! I really freaking enjoyed this book! There were so many plot twists, some of which I did see coming but some good ones I didn't expect at all. The writing was absolutely fantastic. I was drawn into this story from the start and stayed captivated on the edge of my seat until it was over. I ended up finishing this book in two sittings, I didn't want to put it down the first time but I just couldn't stay awake. It wrapped up so beautifully. There was no drag or over explanation of what happened after, it was literally just enough. 

So let's talk characters. I didn't like any of them. I thought they were fleshed out enough so that I got to get to know each one a little bit but I still didn't know who I could trust and who I couldn't. We get the story from the perspective of Candace, the wife; Lane, the husband; and Harper the sister-in-law. I loved seeing into each one of their perspectives. Each character voice was distinguishable. Floating back and forth from perspective was effortless and smooth. 

At this point I feel like I'm just gushing, which I totally am. however I'm going to leave this here with this final thought. I've never read Pamela Crane before but dammit I can't wait to devour another one of her books.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Sister-Law-Novel-Pamela-Crane-ebook/dp/B08GKR7NB5/

Dreams of the Dying by Nicolas Lietzau REVIEW

 Dreams of the Dying

Nicolas Lietzau

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Synopsis:

If your mind is the enemy, where do you run?

Years after a harrowing war experience, ex-mercenary Jespar Dal'Varek has taken to drifting. It's a lonely existence, but, barring the occasional bout of melancholia, he has found the closest thing to peace a man like him deserves. Life is "all right."

Or so he believes. Hoping to turn the page, Jespar accepts a mysterious invitation into the beautiful but dangerous archipelago of Kilay-and everything changes.

Plagued by explosive social tensions and terrorism, the tropical empire is edging ever closer to civil war. Kilay's merchant king is the only person able to prevent this catastrophe, but he has fallen into a preternatural coma-and it's Jespar's task to figure out what or who caused it. As the investigation takes him across the archipelago and into the king's nightmares, unexpected events not only tie Jespar's own life to the mystery but also unearth inner demons he believed to be long exorcised.

Battling old trauma while fighting for his life, his sanity, and the fate of Kilay, the line between dream and reality blurs until only one question remains: If your mind is the enemy, where do you run?

Review:

Thank you to the author for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I'll start off with what I didn't particularly enjoy with the book. The romance was a little bland. There was little to no chemistry within any romantic relationships we get throughout the book. I think the book would have been just as good had most of the romantic parts left out.

The characters in this story are ordinary. The situations they find themselves in are entertaining but the characters themselves are just regular people. Dreams of the Dying is plot driven which is perfect as the plot is fantastic. 

What initially drew my attention towards reading this book was the dream aspect of it. I was certainly not disappointed by what I received. The writing is great. I devoured this book within just a few days as I hated to put it down. The fantasy and horror aspects swirl and blend together beautifully to create a horrifying experience. I was absolutely thrilled at how everything, including flashbacks, flowed so beautifully to create such a delicious story.

The presentation of this book is amazing. There was so much detail put into the book after the story ends that it just has to be recognized. It comes complete with a glossary, a break down of words to help with pronunciation, illustrations of creatures and characters and so much more. It really added to my overall experience of the book. It's a beauty of a book that I'm proud to display on my shelves.

If you are someone who enjoys a slow burn fantastical horror I highly recommend you pick this one up.

Purchase Links:

CAN - https://www.https://www.amazon.ca/Dreams-Dying-Enderal-Book-1-ebook/dp/B08CL355Y9/

US - https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Dying-Enderal-Book-1/dp/3982216729/

The Backups: A Summer of Stardom by Alex de Campi REVIEW

 The Backups: A Summer of Stardom

written by Alex de Campi

illustarted by Lara Margarida

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Synopsis:

Spending an entire summer on tour as a backup singer for pop star Nika Nitro? What?! That's the DREAM, right? Especially for Jenni, Lauren, and Maggie, three misfit performing arts students with hopes of making it in the music world.

But being twenty feet from fame isn't easy. Between crushes, constant rehearsals, Nika's sky-high expectations, and their own insecurities, this dream is starting to feel more like a nightmare. And that's before they accidentally start a beef with a rival band threatening to reveal a secret that could end Nika's career.

Can this trio of new friends come together to save the tour, or will the Backups be kept out of the spotlight forever?

Expected publication: April 13, 2021

Review:

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Backups: A Summer of Stardom is a sweet and wholesome story of three girls who come together to become the backup singers for Nika Nitro, the popular beautiful popstar. Jenni, Lauren and Maggie couldn't be more different, however that doesn't stop them from becoming fast friends. These girls are all charming, lovable and unique. Their story of friendship and first love is one that is sure to have any reader smiling. 

The artwork is absolutely beautiful! The bright and colorful style really captures the feel of the story. It adds a fun element to the overall reading experience. 

If you like fun graphic novels where the characters grow and learn a little this is something you should definitely give a try. It's cute, it's fun and so so sweet. 

Women Don't Owe You Pretty by Florence Given REVIEW

 Women Don't Owe You Pretty

by Florence Given

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Synopsis:

WOMEN DON'T OWE YOU PRETTY will tell you to...
love sex, hate sexism,
protect your goddamn energy,
life is short, dump them,
And that you owe men nothing, least of all pretty.

Florence's debut book will explore all progressive corners of the feminist conversation; from insecurity projection and refusing to find comfort in other women's flaws, to deciding whether to date or dump them, all the way through to unpacking the male gaze and how it shapes our identity.

WOMEN DON'T OWE YOU PRETTY is an accessible leap into feminism, for people at all stages of their journey who are seeking to reshape and transform the way they view themselves. In a world that tells women we're either not enough or too much, it's time we stop directing our anger and insecurities onto ourselves, and start fighting back to re-shape the toxic structures of our patriarchal society.

Florence's book will help you to tackle and challenge the limiting narrative you have been bombarded with your whole life, and determine feminism on your own terms. After all, you are the love of your own life.

Review:

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I didn't get what I expected from Women Don't Owe You Pretty. Maybe I set the bar too high and that's on me. I found there wasn't anything new in here that hasn't been said many times before. However, there are reasons to read this book. I feel like it would be a great introduction to feminism for a teenager to read. It covers a variety of topics that could be useful to teens without being too much of an information overload. I personally would have loved to of had this book when I was younger.

Books I Read Because of the PopSugar Reading Challenge

Books I Read Because of the PopSugar Reading Challenge

Hi Everyone, and welcome back to my blog! Have you ever done something for a Challenge or a favor for someone else and ended up loving what you did/found? That is exactly what happens to me every year I participate in the PopSugar Reading Challenge. This is my third year participating and giving it a honest try and I have really been enjoying it. I've stumbled on some books I don't think I would have read without this challenge and I wanted to share them with you. This does not include books that were already on my radar and they happened to fit prompts on the PopSugar Reading Challenge. These are books that I found when I was trying to fill these prompts. 

So without further rambling, let's get started!

2019

A book recommended by a celebrity you admire

Recommended by Stephen King

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

This was awesome! A thriller you definitely want to read!

☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

2020

A book on a subject you know nothing about

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

Now my favorite non-fiction book ever!

☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

A book with a pink cover

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

This is the most adorable middle grade ever. I think everyone should read this.

☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

A book set in Japan

I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn

I absolutely adore this book! It is the cutest romance I've ever read. The relationships are so well done all across the board. It's one of my all time favorite books.

☆~☆~☆~☆~☆

2021

A book that has won the Women's Prize for Fiction

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

Wow! There is a reason this book won the Women's Prize For Fiction.

I highly recommend these five books mentioned. Each one has a special place in my personal Reading Hall of Fame. As always, I'd love to know your recommendations for any books you stumbled across and loved. Please share your favorites with me! 

If you would like to take on the PopSugar Reading Challenge or even just learn more about it you can do so HERE!

If you're still with me thank you so much for reading! I appreciate every single subscriber, reader, and comment I get. Love to you all!

See you on the moon! 🌙

XOXO