Sherlock Holmes & the Singular Affair by M.K. Wiseman COVER REVEAL

Sherlock Holmes & the Singular Affair

by M.K. Wiseman

Hey all! I am super excited to bringing you guys another cover reveal! Cover reveals are some of my favorite bookish content to post. I love beautiful covers and I especially love sharing them with all you of you!

Synopsis:

Before Baker Street, there was Montague.

Before partnership with a former army doctor recently returned from Afghanistan, Sherlock Holmes had but the quiet company of his own great intellect. Solitary he might be but, living as he did for the thrill of the chase, it was enough.

For a little while, at the least, it was enough.

That is, until a client arrives at his door with a desperate plea and an invitation into a world of societal scandal and stage door dandies. Thrust deep in an all-consuming role and charged with the safe-keeping of another, Holmes must own to his limits or risk danger to others besides himself in this the case of the aluminum crutch.

Pre-order Links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09DXQVT56/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DXQVT56/

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sherlock-holmes-the-singular-affair-m-k-wiseman/1140115651?ean=9781734464146

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/sherlock-holmes-the-singular-affair

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/sherlock-holmes-amp-the-singular-affair/id1583511548


Publication Date: 7th December

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Isn't it beautiful! I love hand drawn looking covers!

Author Bio

M. K. Wiseman has degrees in Interarts & Technology and Library & Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her office, therefore, is a curious mix of storyboards and reference materials. Both help immensely in the writing of historical novels. She currently resides in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.

Social Media Links:

http://mkwisemanauthor.com
https://twitter.com/FaublesFables
https://www.facebook.com/FaublesFables/
https://www.instagram.com/faublesfables/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7073540.M_K_Wiseman

City of Shattered Light by Claire Winn REVIEW

City of Shattered Light

by Claire Winn

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Synopsis

As darkness closes in on the city of shattered light, an heiress and an outlaw must decide whether to fend for themselves or fight for each other.
As heiress to a powerful tech empire, seventeen-year-old Asa Almeida strives to prove she's more than her manipulative father's shadow. But when he uploads her rebellious sister’s mind to an experimental brain, Asa will do anything to save her sister from reprogramming—including fleeing her predetermined future with her sister’s digitized mind in tow. With a bounty on her head and a rogue A.I. hunting her, Asa’s getaway ship crash-lands in the worst possible place: the neon-drenched outlaw paradise, Requiem.

Gun-slinging smuggler Riven Hawthorne is determined to claw her way up Requiem’s underworld hierarchy. A runaway rich girl is exactly the bounty Riven needs—until a nasty computer virus spreads in Asa’s wake, causing a citywide blackout and tech quarantine. To get the payout for Asa and save Requiem from the monster in its circuits, Riven must team up with her captive.

Riven breaks skulls the way Asa breaks circuits, but their opponent is unlike anything they’ve ever seen. The A.I. exploits the girls’ darkest memories and deepest secrets, threatening to shatter the fragile alliance they’re both depending on. As one of Requiem’s 154-hour nights grows darker, the girls must decide whether to fend for themselves or fight for each other before Riven’s city and Asa’s sister are snuffed out forever.

Review

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

City of Shattered Light was a pretty enjoyable story. I really liked Asa as a main character. I loved the way she tried to help and protect her sister. While there was a lot of action and adventure in the story, I still found it to be a little slow for me. The plot of the story was interesting enough. It was well thought out and well written. I'm happy with how things ended off and curious to see if there ends up being a second book. With the way this one ended off I'm really hoping there is.

If you are looking for a sci-fi with family ties, found family and lots of adventure then give this a shot.

Red Roses by Katie Ward COVER REVEAL

Red Roses

by Katie Ward

Hi everyone, today I have something very special for you... a cover reveal for Red Roses by Katie Ward!

Synopsis

Autumn is stuck in a rut and desperate to escape the fears that bind her to the life she’s grown to hate. Back home and living with her parents after university with a degree that seems to count for nothing, she knows something has to change. After a chance meeting with a stranger at the beach, she makes the spontaneous decision to move to Dublin and chase her dreams. However, what Autumn doesn’t realise is that she has just made the decision that will lead to her death. But does a short life have to mean an unsuccessful life? Will she be able to make it count? 

Red Roses is a compelling and uplifting story that shows the true beauty of life, love and friendship.

Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzZ4ugmOBww 

Pre-order Links:
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09GMG13XM

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GMG13XM

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09GMG13XM

Publication Date: 31st October

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Isn't this cover a beauty!

Author Bio

Katie Ward always knew she wanted to write for a living. However, she was told by her careers advisor that “it might be more appropriate for you to work in a shop”. When Katie didn’t get the grades she needed to get into college, she negotiated a three month trial. After successfully completing the course she secured a place at her first choice university to study Journalism. 

After realising she wanted to be an author, Katie moved to Dublin where she worked her way up from receptionist to Executive Assistant at Merrill Lynch. Katie continued to write in her spare time, submitting her short story into the “Do the Write Thing” competition being run by Irish TV show ‘Seoige and O’Shea’. This story was originally written when Katie was 14 after she was inspired by an article in her favourite teen magazine. Katie was the only non-Irish author selected to have her story published in an anthology of the same name which reached 19 in the Irish Best sellers List. Katie was also shortlisted for a competition judged by MAN Booker Prize winning author Roddy Doyle which was run by Metro Eireann newspaper. 

Katie currently lives in Devon with her cat (aka ‘Her Royal Fluffiness’) where she sings in a community choir and has recently taken up Archery. Katie’s favourite author has been Roald Dahl since she was a child as she loves the dark edge he brings to his books. On the flip side though, Katie loves Disney, magic, unicorns and a good rom com film at the cinema with her friends.

Twitter - https://twitter.com/KatieWWriter

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KatieWWriter 

Website - https://katiewardwriter.com/ 

Thank you for joining me! Don't forget to check out my other social media for more awesome bookish content!

Books And Ladders TBR Game

Hi everyone and thank you so much for taking the time to check out my new TBR Game! Originally I used to just do a bingo board with 25 randomly chosen prompts but then I got bored. So I did a little brainstorming and the outcome was this new game I like to call Books and Ladders.

There isn't much to say except it's based off the classic board game Snakes and Ladders. Except this one has books and instead of winning when you get to the top you make your way back down the side into a continuous loop. Without further rambling now I will give a brief overview of the rules and any prompts that I think aren't self explanatory.

Rules

1. Roll two 6 sided dice 10 times getting your prompts from each roll (If you ever decide to play this game you can do however many rolls you want, live your best life!)

2. If you roll a double then you have to add on a role

Spaces

Spaces In Blue: These are challenge prompts, each one also requires you to climb the ladder where you will land on a mood read space

ROGO (Read One Get One): this prompt requires 2 books that have something in common (category is in the ROGO square)

Moon or Stars: has moon or stars on the cover or in the title

Rec'd to You: anything that has been recommended to you either personally or recommended in general by a reviewer, blogger, youtuber, librarian, etc.

Fits the Season: anything that fits the season you are in when the game is played

Readathon Prompt: find a readathon and do one of the prompts. You don't actually have to be participating in the readathon, you can just borrow a prompt

Person Pick - the person listed on the prompt chooses the book you read

Genre Hybrid - a book that can be classified as more than one genre

Boards

Of course I am going to be using my customized board below. However, I have also included a less customized board where the names of my family members have been replaced with other prompts and I've also included a blank board in case you like the board but hate the prompts and want to make your own.

If you do end up giving Books and Ladders a try please let me know what you think.

My Board

Board Version 2.0

Blank Board

If you're still with me I just want to say thank you so much. I appreciate every single one of you who takes the time to read my posts. 

Remember you can also find me on Instagram @fourmoonreviews for more bookish content!

See you on the moon!

xoxo

Fantastic Fin Faces His Fears by Jessica Bowers REVIEW

 Fantastic Fin Faces His Fears

written by Jessica Bowers

illustrated by Andrew Whitehead

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Synopsis

Come and join Fantastic Fin as he grows his courage by embodying various inspiring characters and animals to face his fears!

Teachers, Parents and Carers can access the free Fantastic Fin Teaching Resource Pack available from the author's website.

This is the first book in a series supporting children's mental health by well-being author and psychotherapist Jessica Bowers. Ideal for children age 4-7.

Purchase Links

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fantastic-Fin-Faces-His-Fears/dp/1527298868/
US: https://www.amazon.com/Fantastic-Fin-Faces-His-Fears/dp/1527298868/

Review

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for having me as part of this book tour. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Fantastic Fin wasn't always brave, but he used his head and found ways to help him overcome his fears. Now Fantastic Fin is brave and can face anything that scares him.

This is a fun story with a message of bravery and using your head. Told in rhymes with bright colorful pictures, Fantastic Fin Faces His Fears will keep kids of all ages entertained while teaching them that anyone can be brave if they just use their head.

Author Bio

Jessica is a well-being writer with an extensive background in supporting both young people and adults with their emotional well-being and mental health. Jessica is a qualified Counsellor and Psychotherapist who trained at the Sherwood Psychotherapy Training Institute. Prior to this, she worked for over 10 years with young people with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Jessica consults with and writes for the wonderful Storytime Magazine, for their emotional well-being and mental health content. She has written a collection of well-being themed children's picture books for 4-7 year olds, and Fantastic Fin Faces his Fears is her debut book. She has also developed some school workshops which offer emotional education as well as offering author visits to read her books and poetry to EYFS and KS1 children. Jessica develops free activity and teaching resource packs around emotions and well-being themes which are available from her website at www.jessicabowers.co.uk .

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessicabowerswellbeingwriter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bowerswellbeing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicabowerswellbeingwriter/

 

Sin Eater by Amanda Denham REVIEW

Sin Eater

by Amanda Denham

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Synopsis

Two years ago, Jayde Holloway discovered that she had the power to erase memories in the worst way possible: by accidentally wiping her best friend Jenny’s at the end of their senior year. Now, shut off from the world, Jayde exists solely for her role as the Sin Eater, an entity who can take away a person’s every bad memory if they so wish… for a price. Jayde hates the lonely life that she’s dealt, especially under her strict boss Jak, who consistently keeps her under his watchful eye through blackmail: a constant reminder of all of her mistakes. When she must travel back to her hometown, Jayde secretly befriends two siblings with a haunted past of their own. As her own painful memories begin to overwhelm, Jayde must make a choice: remain chained to a familiar but hurtful past, or reveal all of her darkest secrets for what could be a better future.

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.

Omg I loved this! Jayde is a Sin Eater, so basically someone who can erase your memories and she is willing to take away any you don't want... for a price. The problem with this line of work is the lonely life that Jayde has built. The fear of someone recognizing her, or worse her accidentally erasing someone's memories (again) has kept Jayde to herself. One day she meets two siblings who she can't help but befriend and starts to wonder if this lonely life is what she wants at all.

I enjoyed this book so much! It is such an interesting concept. Add in some great writing and you've got a must read novel! I was genuinely interested in the story from the very first page. I was incredibly curious as to how Jayde would navigate through the different obstacles she faces throughout the book. Once I learned one thing I was immediately trying to figure out the next. The drama is juicy, the ending is fantastic, the book needs to be read!

I love how this was told in dual timelines. I am a total sucker for it in books. One timeline was the present, the other was flashbacks of Jayde's past. The transitions from past to present were smooth and flowed beautifully. We spend just enough time in each timeline to progress the story and raise interest. It really was done fabulously.

Originally I gave this book 4/5 but while writing this review I find there is nothing I would change and I love this book just as it is. So yea, bump bump 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕!

Before We Were Blue by E.J. Schwartz REVIEW

Before We Were Blue

by E.J. Schwartz

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Synopsis

Get healthy on their own—or stay sick together?

At Recovery and Relief, a treatment center for girls with eating disorders, the first thing Shoshana Winnick does is attach herself to vibrant but troubled Rowan Parish. Shoshana—a cheerleader on a hit reality TV show—was admitted for starving herself to ensure her growth spurt didn’t ruin her infamous tumbling skills. Rowan, on the other hand, has known anorexia her entire life, thanks to her mother’s “chew and spit” guidance. Through the drudgery and drama of treatment life, Shoshana and Rowan develop a fierce intimacy—and for Rowan, a budding infatuation, that neither girl expects.

As “Gray Girls,” patients in the center’s Gray plan, Shoshana and Rowan are constantly under the nurses’ watchful eyes. They dream of being Blue, when they will enjoy more freedom and the knowledge that their days at the center are numbered. But going home means separating and returning to all the challenges they left behind. The closer Shoshana and Rowan become, the more they cling to each other—and their destructive patterns. Ultimately, the girls will have to choose: their recovery or their relationship.

Review

Thank you Flux and Netgalley for a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Told through the perspectives of Rowan and Shoshana, Before We Were Blue is a beautifully written story about two girls each with their own problems. When the girls become best friends it seems like they will stop at nothing to stay together. Eventually one of them moves from grey to blue and everything changes in a way that neither girl could have ever expected.

This book is extremely well written. The girls voices in each of their perspectives is quite different. Rowan's chapters are written like she is talking directly to Shoshana. It helps to emphasize the state of her mental health and clarify her feelings towards Shoshana.

This book takes place mainly in an eating disorder recovery clinic. Both of our main characters suffer from an ED and meet at the recovery clinic. Writing about an ED can be very difficult as there is so much you have to be careful with when trying to be realistic. I think the author did a really good job at showing the girls ED'S without focusing on anything that could be a trigger.

Overall, I think this is a really good book. It's really well written and has a great story line.

They Stole Our Hearts by Daniel Kraus REVIEW

 They Stole Our Hearts

by Daniel Kraus

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Synopsis

The teddies—clever Buddy, brave Sunny, sweet Sugar, and wise Reginald—have managed to find a child. Life with Darling is far better than any they’ve known. But something's not right—the promised bliss of Forever Sleep hasn’t come. And they are kept a secret from Darling’s mother, hidden underneath the child’s bed in the dusty darkness.

Then the inevitable happens: Mama discovers the teddies. And like all adults they’ve met thus far, she responds with fear and anger. The teddies must watch as one of their friends is destroyed. The remaining trio barely escape, thrust back into a world that does not want them.

Disillusioned and lost, the teddies embark on a journey back to the factory where they were created. En route, they find a civilization of discarded teddy bears. The comfort of a town of teddies has its allure…but the need for answers weighs heavy. And there’s something definitely off about these new teddies. Will our heroes accept their strange rules? Or must they dig deep for one more grand adventure to finally learn why they were thrown away?

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.

They Stole Our Hearts is the second book in The Teddies Saga. I would recommend reading book 1 They Threw Us Away before reading this one.

I absolutely love this series. It's so unique. I mean, teddy bears placed in the scariest situations you can imagine for a cuddly bear. I think Kraus has done something truly interesting here. This book is great for everyone as it's geared for children but has enough suspence to keep an adult interested. I found myself excitedly making my way through the story. I absolutely love this series. I just finished this one and I need the next book now!

So would I recommend this for kids? That depends on the child. If the child is really soft hearted and easily upset I would probably avoid this one. If the child isn't easily upset then give this series a shot. But make sure to start with book 1!

The Art of Running Away by Sabrina Kleckner REVIEW

 The Art of Running Away

by Sabrina Kleckner

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Synopsis

Twelve-year-old Maisie is an artist. When she’s in front of her sketchbook or apprenticing at Glenna’s Portraits, the family-run art shop her grandmother started, the world makes sense. She doesn’t think about Calum, her brother who mysteriously left home and cut ties with her family six years ago, or her parents’ insistence that she “broaden her horizons” and try something new—something that isn’t art.

But when Glenna’s Portraits falls on hard times, Maisie’s plan to take over the shop when she’s older and become a lifelong artist starts to crumble. In desperation to make things right, Maisie runs away to London to reconnect with her adult brother, hoping he might be the key to saving the shop. But as Maisie learns about her family’s past from Calum, she starts to rethink everything she’s ever known. Maisie must decide not only if saving her family’s art shop is worth it, but if she can forgive her parents for the mistakes they've made.

Review

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

I absolutely love this book. It is a new favorite of mine and every time I think about it I get warm and fuzzy. I laughed, I cried, I playfully rolled my eyes and I just fell head over heels in love with the story and it's characters.

The Art of Running Away is an amazing story about discovering who you are and realizing that a single one thing doesn't define you. Even if it is your biggest passion, it's still just a part of who you are. There are so many sweet lessons in here. Normally I would call it overkill but man it just worked. There are so many important parts in here including an amazing conversation on what it means to be an ally. It's a small book with a lot of big moments.

Maisie is wonderful as a main character. She is so well written. You can feel her different emotions throughout the book. Her passion for her art can be felt throughout the entire story. Sabrina Kleckner did a phenomenal job of breathing life into Maisie and making her multi dimensional. She really took her characters and her story and breathed life into every page.

One of my favorite things about this book is the relationship between Maisie and Calum. It's my favorite sibling relationship that I've ever read about. The way their relationship heals and grows is simply perfection. It's absolutely beautiful.

Have I mentioned yet that I love this book? The writing is engaging and beautiful. You can just slip away into the pages and become a fly on the wall to Maisie's life. The Art of Running Away isn't just a book, it's a whole experience.

I believe this is Sabrina Kleckner's first book and I'm so in love with it that I will be grabbing her next book without hesitation. I can't even express how wonderful this book truly is. I hated to even finish it because I just wanted to stay in the story as long as I could.

I recommend this book to everyone. It's just a wonderful little read that has so much to offer.

Expected Publication: November 16, 2021

All The Tommys in the World by Javier Gombinsky

All the Tommys in the World

by Javier Gombinsky

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Synopsis

They know something we don't.

For horror Youtubers Lilith and Nate, zombie movies are escapist fantasies. So when a real zombie uprising in the streets of New Southport is quickly thwarted, they know those familiar-looking ghouls are hiding something. They should know. Born with a weak heart in the funeral town of Leatelranch, built around the largest cemetery in the world, Lilith’s parents raised her with zombie stories to keep her from learning the truth about what happens inside the cemetery walls.

As for Nathan, the caretaker’s son... he has his reasons to be so cowardly. So when they get outsmarted by seemingly droning ghouls and are forced to split up, the uncanny coincidences are undeniable. And as things start to look more and more like Lilith’s apocalyptic visions, and as a darker threat lurks, it’ll be up to them to piece the puzzle before everyone they love faces a fate worse than becoming a zombie.

Can they be stopped? Are they just playing dead? Do they have a plan?

They know something we don’t. And whatever it is, they hate us for it.

Review

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

So this was an interesting take on zombies. And while I appreciate what it did, it has solidified my suspicions on my zombie preferences. I want them either completely brainless only knowing that they need raw flesh (The Walking Dead) or totally passable as a living person who can live among the living without going crazy and eating everybody (iZombie). The really smart zombies of this book just aren't for me.

What I didn't like about All the Tommys in the World is that is dragged in certain places. Also, at times it became a bit confusing. If you're someone who enjoys a lot of world building this could be something you like. The characters are not well developed which isn't a bad thing for me specifically but I wanted to mention it for anybody who wants that building in their stories.

With that being said, I would still give this book a solid 3/5. I enjoyed the story and the characters enough to keep me going throughout the book. A couple of times I found myself lost but was able to get back on track. The best part of this book is how weird it is. It has certain incoherent aspect to it that makes reading it feel like you're going through a nightmare.

I'm not sure who I would specifically recommend this to. It's weird, it's different and it's got zombies so if those things appeal to you maybe you would enjoy this one.

Expected Publication: August 17, 2021

All's Well by Mona Awad REVIEW

 All's Well

by Mona Awad

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Synopsis

Miranda is a theatre professor whose life is less than satisfactory. After falling during a performance early in her acting career, she finds herself in constant, seemingly incurable pain and struggles to even sit still. When she hopes to revisit the glory of her acting days by having her class stage Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well, she is met with a mutiny from her students, led by her least favourite undergrad--the devious Briana. Forced instead to put on Hamlet, Miranda is devastated at the duplicity of her students, underhandedness of her boss, and is consumed by frustration at the lack of control she has over her own body and life.

When she's drowning her sorrows at the local pub one night, her path takes a sharp turn. Three mysterious men in suits who seem to know everything about her--her pain, her glory, and her deepest desires--offer to help her. After drinking a glowing, golden liquid, she wakes up the next morning with no memory of the night before, and her chronic pain has lifted. Miranda's life starts falling into place: she is not only walking but running with ease; Briana has become gravely ill; and a twist of fate allows Miranda to stage her beloved All's Well That Ends Well. But as a lover of the Bard, Miranda should know that sudden streaks of luck always come at a price...

All's Well is a searing exploration of chronic pain and depression through the classic tensions between saints and sinners, healers and witches, revenge and jealousy, love and lust to craft a completely modern and truly unique rendition of a Shakespearean play.

Review

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

Well... this was a ride. All's Well is a wonderfully weird story featuring one of the craziest characters I've ever read about. I loved the unreliable narrator and not knowing what was actually happening. It felt like every time I knew what was going on something else would happen to throw me off. Throughout the story we are thrown into a lot of different directions without ever having everything totally explained. Reading this book is like having hallucinations, you never know what is actually happening and what is all in your mind. It's a wild tipsy ride only for those looking for the next weird thrill. 

I still haven't read the synopsis for this book. In full transparency, I wanted to read this one because I've heard so many people talk about Bunny and how weird of a book it was and then I had the chance for an arc so I grabbed it. Now I'm thinking Bunny has to be one of my next reads because of how much I enjoyed this one.

The Dead and the Dark by Courtney Gould REVIEW

The Dead and the Dark

by Courtney Gould

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Synopsis

Something is wrong in Snakebite, Oregon. Teenagers are disappearing, some turning up dead, the weather isn’t normal, and all fingers seem to point to TV’s most popular ghost hunters who have just returned to town. Logan Ortiz-Woodley, daughter of TV's ParaSpectors, has never been to Snakebite before, but the moment she and her dads arrive, she starts to get the feeling that there's more secrets buried here than they originally let on.

Ashley Barton’s boyfriend was the first teen to go missing, and she’s felt his presence ever since. But now that the Ortiz-Woodleys are in town, his ghost is following her and the only person Ashley can trust is the mysterious Logan. When Ashley and Logan team up to figure out who—or what—is haunting Snakebite, their investigation reveals truths about the town, their families, and themselves that neither of them are ready for. As the danger intensifies, they realize that their growing feelings for each other could be a light in the darkness.

Review

Thank you to Wednesday Books for a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Dead and the Dark is a YA paranormal horror that is set in the small town of Snakebite, Oregon. Something weird is going on, teenagers are going missing and it looks like the culprits are the popular ghost hunters who have just returned to town after many years. Their daughter, Logan, joins in on the investigation and when she finds things point to her dads she is determined to find out the truth.

This story is so deliciously dark. The slow pacing works well to enhance the overall creepiness. I was drawn into this story. I did figure out certain things before they happened but the how and the why still got me. Courtney Gould executed this book brilliantly from beginning to end. It's a wonderful debut.

The Dead and the Dark gave me strong Pet Sematary vibes. It has similar supernatural elements, dark atmosphere and the same slow eerie pacing. There are also similar themes throughout the book. With all that said, there are quite a few differences in the story that make The Dead and the Dark it's own masterpiece.

**Trigger Warnings** homophobia, child death, murder, claustrophobia, drowning and slurs

Dangerous Play by Emma Kress REVIEW

Dangerous Play

by Emma Kress

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Synopsis

Zoe Alamandar has one goal: win the State Field Hockey Championships and earn a scholarship that will get her the hell out of Central New York. She and her co-captain Ava Cervantes have assembled a fierce team of dedicated girls who will work hard and play by the rules.

But after Zoe is sexually assaulted at a party, she finds a new goal: make sure no girl feels unsafe again. Zoe and her teammates decide to stop playing by the rules and take justice into their own hands. Soon, their suburban town has a team of superheroes meting out punishments, but one night of vigilantism may cost Zoe her team, the championship, her scholarship, and her future.

Perfect for fans who loved the female friendships of Jennifer Mathieu’s Moxie and the bite of Courtney Summer’s Sadie.

Review

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

There wasn't much that I didn't enjoy about this book and what I didn't like were small things but for review purposes I will still put them here. One, there were a lot of unnecessary characters in the book. We are introduced to Zoe's mom's friend group but then they don't have any significant part in the plot and we don't hear anything more from then after. They basically just pop in to say hi and are gone again. The second thing was the over use of the word "absofockinglutely". This has to be one of the most annoying words I've ever read and it's used way too much throughout the story.

I loved the lesson Zoe learns after the night of vigilantism referred to in the synopsis. It really is important. I feel like that alone could have carried the entire book by itself had it of had to.

The character arc for Zoe was done amazingly. She's tough and she's strong but she has so much to learn. Watching her grow as a character was absolutely wonderful. The characters that make up the girl's field hockey team are diverse but it isn't really talked about as much as it could have been.

The writing was good. The pacing was really good. There was a steady flow to the plot without much filler. It was fairly easy to get through and decently quick to read.

If you enjoyed the book Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu then you'll most likely enjoy this one as well. It has the same girl power spirit with a similar yet totally different cast of characters. Or if you're looking for a fictional book with teenage Feminism and girl power but haven't read Moxie, you should still give this a shot. And if you like it go read Moxie next. 

The Last Straw by Ed Duncan REVIEW

 The Last Straw

by Ed Duncan

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Synopsis

When a teenage girl witnesses a carjacking gone bad, she is marked for death by a crime boss with no apparent motive. A black lawyer and a white enforcer with an unlikely history forge an uneasy alliance to protect the girl from a hit man with an agenda of his own.

After they find out that the crime boss is the father of the black teenage carjacker, Paul Elliott - lawyer and close friend of the witness’s family - begins counseling them.

As the long-simmering feud between Rico and John D'Angelo reaches boiling point, bodies start to pile up in rapid succession... and old scores will be settled.

Review

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

The Last Straw is the second book in the Pigeon-Blood Red trilogy. While you probably could read this book without the first book, I think you would get more out of it if you read the first book first. Plus the first book is really good and gives a great introduction to the characters.

The characters were pretty good. I like Rico although I find him to be a little soft for someone in his line of work. I enjoyed him as a main character, especially his relationship with Jean. One of the main characters for this book is D'Angelo. I wasn't a fan of him at all, mainly because he was supposed to be a bad ass hitman who failed at literally everything he did. He was written to fail at everything too easily and I think I would have enjoyed the story more if he hadn't of been so easy to beat. I would have loved to of seen him be more of a competition for Rico.

I found The Last Straw to be a bit.. overly wordy. I find scenes to be dragged out a little longer than necessary which can drag the story on. Thankfully the story doesn't get lost and the book is still quite enjoyable.

With that said I still really enjoyed the story. I found myself flying through the pages every time I picked it up. I'm really looking forward to finding out what happens in the third book Rico Stays. I'm hoping to get started on that one very soon.

The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward REVIEW

The Last House on Needless Street

by Catriona Ward

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Synopsis

This is the story of a serial killer. A stolen child. Revenge. Death. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street.

All these things are true. And yet they are all lies...

You think you know what's inside the last house on Needless Street. You think you've read this story before. That's where you're wrong.

In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. But it's not what you think...

Review

Thank you Tor Nightfire and Netgalley for a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

At around 50% through this book I almost DNF'D it. I was so freaking close to just closing the book, and walking away. In the end I decided to give it another chapter or two and I ended up finishing the rest of it in one sitting.

As you can guess from my earlier contemplation of continuing to read or not, there was clearly something that just wasn't working for me. At first I was into the story, then I became very bored. I was especially bored during the chapters from the cat's point of view. I really dislike animal narrators and I couldn't see this book going anywhere interesting. As far as I was concerned the book was boring, predictable and I had a lot of other things I could read rather than waste my time.

But then something happened.. and I won't say what but it convinced me to keep going. And then one thing lead to another and next thing I knew I had consumed the entire book and was wrong about everything.

This was a really good book. I really enjoyed it. I loved being wrong the most because this was way better than I  thought it was going to be. 

Sealfinger by Heide Goody and Iain Grant REVIEW

Sealfinger

by Heide Goody and Iain Grant

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Synopsis

Some bodies just won’t stay buried.

When a client tells Sam Applewhite she’s seen ghosts in the nearby graveyard, Sam dismisses it as the ramblings of an old woman. She’s got bigger things to worry about — Keeping on top of her job at DefCon4 Security Services isn’t easy – particularly since her manager is a cactus and no one will tell her what her job actually is.

But when the ghost-spotting client goes missing and only Sam suspects foul play, she is compelled to dig deeper.

Aided by her retired stage magician father and the owner of the most outlandish junk shop on the sea front, Sam dives into a mystery involving psychotic seals, unexploded air force munitions, DIY foot surgery and a corpse that just won’t quit.

Purchase Links:

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealfinger-Sam-Applewhite-Book-1-ebook/dp/B095LRYSTN/
US - https://www.amazon.com/Sealfinger-Sam-Applewhite-Book-1-ebook/dp/B095LRYSTN/

CAN - https://www.amazon.ca/Sealfinger-Sam-Applewhite-Book-1-ebook/dp/B095LRYSTN/

Review

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and the authors for a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Sam Applewhite primarily works at DefCon4 Security Services. However, she also delivers meals to the elderly every so often. On one delivery her client tells her about a ghost in the nearby graveyard. At first Sam dismisses the claim as an elderly woman's delusion, but when the old lady goes missing without a trace and the police dismiss her disappearance Sam decides to investigate herself. Her investigation takes you on a ride that is anything but ordinary.

There is a lot going on here, you have a crazy seal, murder, cover ups, a hungry alligator, a retired musician and so much more. I found there was a lot of filler and unnecessary shenanigans. I found this didn't take away from the story, I just found that for my specific tastes it didn't need to be as long as it was and it would have been just as good. With that said, the book is still really enjoyable. It is a slow burn with lots of details and you really get to know the characters. I know a lot of people would really enjoy it. I had a good time reading it and found it to be a positive experience. 

Sealfinger is a great book for a rainy day. It's the kind of book you snuggle up with and just enjoy the experience. The way the writing just flows slow and steady will just carry you away. Despite there being murder and some other crime, this book is an extremely light and easy read.

There are 3 books in the Sam Applewhite series and I can absolutely see myself continuing on with the next 2 books.

Author Bio

Heide lives in North Warwickshire with her husband and a fluctuating mix of offspring and animals. Iain lives in South Birmingham with his wife and a fluctuating mix of offspring and animals. They aren’t sure how many novels they’ve written together since 2011 but it’s a surprisingly large number.

Social Media Links:

Website: http://www.pigeonparkpress.com/
Facebook group (the comedy kitchen): https://www.facebook.com/groups/2098850213744767
Twitter @IainMGrant and @HeideGoody

The Winter of Winters by Robert M. Kidd REVIEW

The Winter of Winters

by Robert M. Kidd

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Synopsis

218 BC. Hannibal’s exhausted army staggers down from the last Alpine pass like a rabble of half-starved savages, the remnants of a once magnificent army that had set out from the Rhodanus with such hope. Now there is no way back. With the legions of Consul Publius Scipio closing fast, Carthage needs its Gaulish allies like never before. But where are the Insubres? Where are the Boii? Where are the thousands of warriors pledged by solemn oath? In the maelstrom of battle, Sphax, nephew of Hannibal, forges a reputation as the scourge of Rome. But will his ingrained recklessness and quest for honour set him at odds with the forbidding genius of his uncle? Only one thing is certain in this winter of winters, a great battle is coming that will decide the fates of Rome and Carthage.

Purchase Links:

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B093TD86FM/
US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093TD86FM/

Review

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and the author for a review copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Winter of Winters is the second book in The Histories of Sphax series. I have not read the first book in this series. I didn't feel like I was missing out on any information as I was reading so I feel like this could absolutely be read as a standalone. 

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, but not for the reasons I expected to. While I did get the action I wanted, I also got a really good story line outside of the battle. I thought this was so well written. The characters were enjoyable. I found myself quite invested in what was happening to them throughout the book. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the story. It had a good storyline, good characters and enough action to keep me entertained. If historical fiction that centers on battles is your thing you would probably enjoy this one.

Author Bio

When Cato the Censor demanded that ‘Carthage must be destroyed,’ Rome did just that. In 146 BC, after a three year siege, Carthage was raised to the ground, its surviving citizens sold into slavery and the fields where this once magnificent city had stood, ploughed by oxen. Carthage was erased from history.

That’s why I’m a novelist on a mission! I want to set the historical record straight. Our entire history of Hannibal’s wars with Rome is nothing short of propaganda, written by Greeks and Romans for their Roman clients. It intrigues me that Hannibal took two Greek scholars and historians with him on campaign, yet their histories of Rome’s deadliest war have never seen the light of day.

My hero, Sphax the Numidian, tells a different story!

When I’m not waging war with my pen, I like to indulge my passion for travel and hill walking, and like my hero, I too love horses. I live in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.

Social Media Links:

Website - https://robertmkidd.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/RobertMKidd1
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064169594911

Giveaway!

Giveaway to Win Book 4 in The Histories of Sphax series to be dedicated to the winner, & a signed dedicated copy too (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

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