Review: The King of Evil by Eileen Gillick

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

He took her powers.
She’ll fight to take back what’s always been hers.
Sixteen-year-old Elise is bullied by her peers every day.
Unbeknownst to them all, she possesses twenty-four mutant abilities.
Eighteen-year-old Rolf takes them all away from her. He isolates them both in his own kingdom to gain knowledge and
strength of her powers. As he constructs a plan to bring her down, Elise must seek an ultimatum. Before it’s the end of her.

Favorite Lines:

“In her heart, it was clear to her what unintentionally razing a relationship could do to the heart. Grasping that the dint of love might romp somewhere in her soul, except for all the horror she endured, it seemed impossible to see it in a person. The person who she loved.”

“Distressed, Rolf takes Elise to his chest and screams out.”

“I call this the Icarus room…because when you go in here, you feel your spirits rise. It looks like a nice room, right? Then you fall because of the terror in here.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story follows two high school students, sixteen year old outcast, Elise and eighteen year old Rolf. While the target of bullies, Elise has an incredible secret – she possess twenty-four mutant abilities. When Rolf finds out about Elise’s powers, he ends up unintentionally absorbing them. What follows is a battle of mental strength and perseverance as Rolf casts Elise into a hidden realm of his own creation in an attempt to break her spirit and ultimately bend her to his will. 

This is a fantastic debut novel for Gillick full of creative worldbuilding, strong character writing, and an interesting plot. Gillick brings a magical realm to life with vivid details that made me feel like I was right there along with the characters. Full of colorful descriptions of the landscapes and a well-crafted magic system, I found myself turning one page after another fully addicted to the immersion of the world that Gillick had created. I especially enjoyed the small detail of what music was playing the background in many of the scenes – it only added to being able to picture the scene.

I also found the character writing to be well done because Gillick didn’t try to make the characters perfect. Both Elise and Rolf are multidimensional characters who could only be described as morally gray at their core. They have their flaws and I found this to make them more relatable and more human. Their dynamic is what the story ultimately revolves around and I couldn’t get enough. Also, have I ever mentioned that I am also a sucker for multiple POVs? One thing I did want to point out that made me feel a bit weird was referring to Elise as a child several times throughout the book. I am not sure if this was because it was usually from Haas’ perspective but it felt slightly odd and a bit like a disservice to make her appear younger than her sixteen years.

*While classified as YA, some scenes in this book may be better suited for adults.*

Summary:

Overall, this was an addicting read. With a refreshing take on some familiar tropes and Gillick’s unique writing style bringing  hints of dark tension and mystery to the plot, I applaud Gillick and am in awe over this debut novel.  I would recommend this to anyone interested in fantasies full of psychological mind games, magic, and mystery that have a darker tone. Happy reading!

Check out The King of Evil here!

 

Review: Gaviota Island: Birds, Monkeys, and Twisted Love by Janna Klarmann

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

“Gaviota Island” is a psychological thriller exploring the twisted love between a nature girl and a hunter.

The story delivers a message about the cruelty of shooting wild animals. It delves into the tangled complexities of romance, secrecy, and moral ambiguity.

Laura Whitley is 22 years old. She meets Bret Belcher at the University of Texas – an unexpected pairing of a bird enthusiast and a passionate hunter.

Laura admires Bret’s confidence, ambition, and charm. But she grapples with his unwavering passion for guns and hunting.

As university graduation looms, Laura’s distress intensifies because she has no plans for what she’ll do when she finishes. The Belchers will dispatch Bret to Panama to oversee the family’s property business there. This could be Laura’s pivotal moment to break up with him. But against her parents’ advice, she follows him to Panama in hopes of remaking their lives together.

In Panama, Laura befriends a young biologist who discovers a rare population of monkeys on Gaviota, an uninhabited island meant for Bret’s real estate venture. The discovery is a threat to Bret’s plans,

Bret’s violent solution to the monkey problem and his betrayal with another woman push Laura to the edge. Horrified and desperate, Laura takes drastic measures.

Experience Laura’s transformation from an innocent bird watcher to a woman ensnared in a web of deceit and survival.

Follow a series of events that spiral into a dark, dangerous climax.

Discover the gripping tale that blurs the lines between right and wrong, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Favorite Lines:

“I think that psychologists must have theories on all of this. Are we talking about misogynistic men fleeing into the wilds to escape women? Does shooting animals make a man feel manly? Do hunters measure their penis sizes?”

“Who does the most good for humanity, property developers or wildlife defenders? In a crowded and overheating world, people had to choose. Laura cast her lot with Penny.”

“Penny resisted the cliché of men from Mars and women from Venus. That wasn’t going to help.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story follows Laura Whitley, an enthusiastic bird watcher who has fallen in love with Bret Belcher, an intense hunter. Despite disagreeing with Bret’s love for guns and animal hunting, Laura follows Bret to Panama when he travels to oversee his family’s business there in an attempt to stay together and rekindle their love for one another. Laura quickly finds herself in a horrible situation that seems to escalate by the day and the man she had been trying to convince herself she could make a life with is the villain in this story.

I have to say that I think this book is a first for me in terms of being heavily focused on anti-hunting and anti-poaching themes and messaging. Klarmann clearly writes from a personal and passionate place on this topic and I was impressed on how this passion was conveyed throughout this story. I thought that Klarmann had a relaxing and enjoyable writing voice that the story only benefited from and I actually appreciated that it was a bit more informal compared to some other writing styles I have read.

While I do appreciate being spared on some of the more graphic details, there were still many sad and distressing scenes that really drove home the realities of hunting; which was the point. I did find myself with tears in my eyes over several of the scenes but would still recommend this book to wipe away any disillusions about what hunting can entail.

Summary:

Overall, I was not sure what to expect going into this book but I was strangely surprised that I enjoyed it and came out more educated on the topics it covered than I was going into it. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the realities of the injustices that animals face at the hands of mankind. While a work of fiction, this book paints a very real picture of today’s world and what takes place to the animals that are hunted in it. 

Check out Gaviota Island: Birds, Monkeys, and Twisted Love here!

 

Review: Ascending the Hourglass by Anthony Dean

~ likelystory18 ~ 5 Comments

Synopsis:

There are great deserts in space…

So began The Voided Man.

Prisoner Number One has survived in the void. He has even thrived there. But the question remains, can he ever leave there?

If so, by what possible method? And at what risk to himself and others?

Return to the void, and learn if it offers the possibility of escape to those who master the art of Ascending the Hourglass.

Favorite Lines:

“For the past 83 years, I had missed Father as an idea. Mother had missed a man. Her man.”

“Holy Moly! Pete has nukes?”

“I had freedom. I had peace. I had love.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the second book in Dean’s The Voided Man trilogy, you can find my review for the first one, The Voided Man, here. Where the first book really only followed Prisoner Number one, who is exiled to the depths of space with a promise of a lonely eternity ahead of him, this book gives us a new narrator in the form of Cassiopeia – which I found to be refreshing and enjoyable to see a new perspective in this series.

Dean continues to create and expand upon a unique sci-fi world in this series and this book takes it to the next level. I found the character writing to be well done and Dean somehow managed to outdo himself with the intricacies of multiple plot points throughout. I admit that I wasn’t sure it could get more perplexing than the first book in this series but Dean pulls it off in a tasteful and creative way. I think my favorite part of this series so far continues to be Dean’s writing voice which is uniquely distinctive and I think is a major contributor to what sets this series apart from others in the sci-fi genre. 

Summary: 

Overall, this was an excellent follow up to the first book and I am excited to see where Dean is taking this series for its conclusion. Classified as a sci-fi, I would also say this book could fall into the YA category and could be for anyone who is a fan of quirky and humorous science fiction. Happy reading!

Check out Ascending the Hourglass here!

 

Review: Blues for the Father by Barry Kohl, Joseph Harrison, and Marcel Wilson

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

It’s 1957. Marion works for a Memphis record company, roaming the South in search of great songs from Black bands. He buys their songs to be re-recorded by White artists up north. Marion has two families, a White family in Meridian, MS, wife Christine and sons Lloyd and Linden and a Black family in Birmingham, AL, girlfriend Rosa and son Aaron. The pressures of maintaining these two families, attempting to guide and instruct his sons, and generating a return on an investment from his wealthy father-in-law Whitney, spur Marion on in his efforts.

Aaron, mixed race but appearing White, is a talented baseball player and will be a good prospect; however, Marion believes he must maintain the illusion he is White. But Aaron idolizes Black players and is inclined to be true to his origins. Son Lloyd, on the other hand, is a racist, thoughtless and selfish as shown when he forces himself on his girlfriend Becky. Lloyd soon joins the Ku Klux Klan, under the guidance of racist Whitney, the Grand Dragon of the local chapter. Linden, by contrast, resists racist pressures from his brother and grandfather, and maintains his kind nature.

Marion is of mixed race, and like Aaron, appears White. His black mother, who gave him up to a White family when he was a boy, is in a rest home, and Marion supports her there and visits her when he can.

Becky turns up pregnant, but Lloyd refuses to have anything to do with her or the child. A back-alley abortion clinic procedure results in her death, plunging her parents into grief. Aaron meets and takes a fancy to a Black girl. Marion, discovering this, has words with Aaron and winds up striking the boy during the argument. He apologizes, but damage has been done.

Rosa, educated in law but barred from practicing in the South, discovers a new destiny managing a girl group called the Jonettes. Marion initially encourages her but is dismayed when she announces her plan to move to Detroit, where new freedom and opportunity beckon to her and Aaron. Marion attempts to help Aaron understand the issues he faces with a visit to the rest home to meet his Black grandmother. However, the gesture backfires and Aaron realize Marion is living a lie and trying to pass that lie down to his own son. This alienates the two, but Marion begins to see things in a new light.

The Klan plans a bombing in Little Rock and persuades Lloyd to bring the bomb there. Then Becky’s distraught and vengeful father crashes his car into Lloyd’s truck, injuring Linden and setting off the dynamite with an explosion that destroys the truck and kills Lloyd.

Marion returns home for Lloyd’s funeral. Soon after, Christine receives word from the rest home that Marion’s mother has died. Christine never knew about this mother, and never knew that Marion was mixed race. She orders him out of the house. After a heated confrontation, Marion leaves.

With Rosa up north with Aaron, and having now lost his son Lloyd, and wife, as well as access to Linden, Marion returns to bury his mother and take stock of the changes he’s undergone. We end on Marion heading north to Memphis and a new life, whatever form that new life may take.

Favorite Lines:

“She could never let him abandon his hope. She looked down; she knew it wouldn’t be much longer before Aaron understood the cruelties of the world. They way he looked up at her lovingly made her understand she had to return it.”

“When you were poor, you had to make the best of what you had.”

“Know why it’s called the blues? The blues are about live, Aaron, about everything wrong about life. About the downs in life.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story follows Marion Blackhurst, a white music producer who specializes in finding white publishers for blues tunes written by black musicians. Because his job requires him to travel quite a bit, he gets away with the fact that he has two families – a white wife and two sons who live in Mississippi and a black lover and son in Alabama. 

The main focal point of this book is the color barriers that existed in the 1950s. While primarily related to the music industry, it also touches on racial issues in education and sports as well. I found the character writing of this story to be very well done. The characters were written to be very human with their own flaws, passions, strengths, and weaknesses. I enjoyed the hints sprinkled throughout that not all was as it seems for some of the characters which led to some speculation as to why they behaved the way that they did.

I can appreciate that this topic can be a difficult one to write about and thought that it was handled quite well with the narrative being told rather matter-of-factly.  I also though that the two added plot twists towards the end of the story added a splash of surprise to something that was otherwise somewhat predictable. The predictableness is of not fault to the authors, the 1950s is just a well-known historical backdrop.

I would like to give a content warning that this story includes accurate depictions of what racism was like in the 1950s and also includes some descriptions of violence, including rape and police brutality. If these topics may be triggering for you, I would recommend not reading this book.

Summary:

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this book and was reeled in by the compelling character writing throughout. If you are interested in historical fiction specifically related to segregation in America in the 1950s including the color barriers that existed in the music industry, then this book could be for you. 

Check out Blues for the Father here!

Review: Too Much to Lose by Melody Carson

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

DON’T MISS YOUR SECOND CHANCE.

It’s not often that we get to try again, cuz life very seldom deals a second chance.
Most people don’t even notice when they get one dropped in their lap like a miracle.
But I noticed.

I’ve lost Cassidy once, and come hell or high water, I won’t make the same mistake twice.
Turning a losing hand into a winner might take the whim of Lady Luck herself, but I’m up for the challenge.

However, fate is not always kind, and sometimes overcoming the evil in this world comes at a terrible price.

Cassidy has a monster to face down, but I’m not going anywhere. When it comes to the love between us, there’s simply too much to lose.

Favorite Lines:

“Must of used up all his brain cells in law school, ’cause he sounds like an idiot.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story follows Wyatt and Cassidy who had a history in Montana before Cassidy went off to college in California. This history seems to have been forgotten because while she is away, she ends up getting engaged. They are reunited when she comes back to her hometown because she caught her fiancé cheating on her. Not knowing what to do next, she is hoping to lay low for awhile and collect her thoughts. Little does she know that Wyatt and his friends had made a bet that required Wyatt to ask out the next eligible woman to walk through the door and you guessed it… that woman was Cassidy. Now they are faced with what could have been and what could still be but they have to balance the fact that Madison’s ex-fiancé comes to town to try and take her back, and the little part where she is Wyatt’s best friend’s sister. Nothing too complicated…

I though this was a cute, second chance at love contemporary romance. I really enjoyed Carson’s writing style as I found it to be an easy to follow story that was especially easy to get addicted to. The conversations amongst the characters really shined through and I though that the plot had a perfect amount of suspense, action, intrigue, and romance. I do want to give a trigger warning that there are some mentions of domestic violence and abuse so this book may not be suitable for everyone.

Summary:

Overall, if you like contemporary romances featuring second chances at love in a small town, action, suspense, intrigue, and of course romance, then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Check out Too Much to Lose here!

Review: Whirl of Birds by Liana Vrăjitoru Andreasen

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

The literary landscape of Whirl of Birds interlaces the spatial and temporal complexities of the mind, in narrative flickers and bursts. Whether we glimpse at the plight of Neanderthals in the depths of lost ages, or at the collapse of communism in the mirrors of a children’s theater, whether we’re uplifted by the triumph of friendship over poverty or watch the last cowboy in New York State struggle to save his business, we recognize how much we are driven by our passions. Strange, but all too human obsessions shape the characters: from rat hoarding to an infatuation with a sculpture, from lies we tell ourselves and others to encounters with the dead, readers are swept in whirls of time, chains of connectivity that can break like glass, the unseen that whispers in our ear. The twists and turns of these short stories create a restless world where self and other meet in glimpses. Each small moment becomes an earthquake that echoes through time, each life is wrestled out of its own darkness, to arrive at the one question that is worth asking.

Favorite Lines:

As always with short story collections, I am highlighting my favorite story from the collection rather than quotes. I actually found the title’s namesake story, Whirl of Birds, to be my favorite from the collection. Without giving anything away, it highlights how life can be thrown into chaos and makes us question what we really value. It resonated with me quite a bit and I found myself still reflecting on it days after reading it.

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ve been getting more and more requests for short story collection reviews lately but what really drew me to agreeing to review this collection was the editorial reviews on the publishing website as well as the cover art itself which I thought was unique and beautiful and I was hoping it was reflective of the content inside. Spoiler: it was.

This collection of short stories explores what it means to be human in a variety of ways. From humans in ancient societies to contemporary ones, Andreasen leads us on rich and emotional journeys through diverse landscapes to tell stories that echo with themes and lessons involving all things life and human.

What I found most compelling about this collection was Andreasen’s writing style – I don’t think I have ever read something quite like it and I found it to be very artistically enjoyable. She crafted scenes with strong imagery that made me feel like I was right there in the worlds she was creating. It felt like each line was written with purpose and I have a feeling that each time a reader gives this a new read through, they will find something new that they hadn’t noticed before to ponder. 

Andreasen does a fantastic job at challenging readers to reflect on not only their lives but society as a whole and what it truly means to be a human being. Readers will be immersed in worlds full of thought-provoking narratives full of deep emotions and clever storylines. 

Summary:

Overall, I really enjoyed this collection and the deep-dive into the complexities that life has to offer. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys creative short story collections full of emotional narratives that lead to thought provoking reflections. Happy reading! 

Check out Whirl of Birds here!

 

Review: Shades of Mortality by Jamal Barbari

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

Join three time-traveling, universe-hopping, interdimensional storytellers as they share stories of life, death, love, and despair in Jamal Barbari’s debut short story collection, Shades of Mortality. Each story features a unique illustration by one of 9 different artists and draws the reader into a mixture of profound, touching, and comic tales unlike any you’ve ever read.

Favorite Lines:

Because this is a collection of short stories, rather than picking favorite lines, I wanted to highlight my favorite stories out of the collection: Golu, the God of Luck and Nothing but Ink. Be sure to check them out!

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Shades of Mortality serves as a fantastic debut novel for Barbari. This is a collection of short-stories told from a trio of time-traveling, universe-hopping storytellers. The stories explore themes of love, despair, life, death, and much more. Each story is accompanied by utterly unique illustrations that only serve to enhance the readers’ experience.

I found this to be an extremely clever and refreshing collection of stories. Barbari masterfully creates colorful tales that have the ability to play on a variety of readers’ emotions. With compelling character writing and vividly painted landscapes, I found myself immersed wholeheartedly in each story that Barbari introduced. I am especially in awe of Barbari’s ability to hop from genre to genre so seamlessly – one story might feature heartache and tragedy while another might be light-hearted and joyful. I can assure you that your interest will remain piqued because you won’t know what you are going to get next!

If I had to nitpick one thing it would be that the sometimes it almost felt like there was too much background for some of the stories which led to some minor pacing issues on occasion. Despite this, Shades of Mortality was still an interesting and impressive collection.

Summary:

Overall, I really enjoyed this collection of stories. The cover is a pretty good indication of what readers will be getting themselves into which is, a little bit of everything! If you like short story collections that feature a variety of genres, themes, and emotions then this book could be for you. Happy reading!

Check out Shades of Mortality here!

Review: My Un-Handyman by Melody Carson

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

IT NEVER HURTS TO HELP.
At least that was the motto I’d always gone by up until meeting Emily.

But then again, no good deed goes unpunished. There’s that one, too.
She needed a hand, and I had the time.
What was the harm in pretending to be a handyman if it helped my pretty ranch owner neighbor out?
Besides, how hard could it be?
But now I’m realizing that there are certain things even a billionaire like me can’t pull off. Like knowing how to rewire the lighting on an entire barn. Or even lay water pipe. (And who’s Allen, and why would I want his wrench?)

Worse yet, I’m starting to really like Emily and realize that she isn’t going to take this little ruse very well when I tell her the truth. That I’m not-so-handy after all.
But her legacy—and Emily—are in danger. And even if I could forget about the hottest kiss of my life, there’s no way I can back down from protecting the woman who gave it to me. Or the ranch that was rightfully hers.
Defending what and who I love is one of the things I’m good at, after all

Favorite Lines:

“Don’t really feel like getting murdered today.”

“Money was just paper. With Emily as my wife, I finally understood what it was to be a truly rich man.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is a small town romantic comedy featuring a case of mistaken identity and a secret billionaire. Jake and Emily are the main characters that we get duel PoVs from – which I love. Emily was left a ranch by her aunt who has passed away and when she moves into it, she realizes she may be a bit over her head with the amount of work that needs to be done to fix it up so she hires a handyman to help out but what she gets is Jake who is most definitely not the handyman and who finds that he likes to help Emily out so he doesn’t bother correcting her mistake.

This book is full of witty banter and sarcastic humor that had me chuckling throughout. I was also a huge fan of the golden retriever guy, black cat girl energy that Carson instilled in this book – I thought it made for an interesting and humorous dynamic. One thing to note about this book is that it was only 162 pages long on my Kindle so I would classify it as a pretty quick and easy read. If you are looking for a more drawn out romance story, you won’t find that here.

Summary:

Overall, I would recommend this to anyone that is looking for a quick and easy romantic comedy full of humorous banter, enemies-to-lovers, and secret billionaires who find that they enjoy handyman work. Happy reading!

Check out My Un-Handyman here!

 

Review: Entwined Desires: A Love’s Redemption by Anna Marteen

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

Adriana, a fearless voyager moves through the realms of passion, dances with shadows and addiction. Amidst the moonlit encounters, she meets Gabriel, a mysterious orchestrator of destiny, challenging her detachment.

Romantic symphony harmonizes with a melody of emotions. As their love deepens, Gabriel proposes a commitment that Adriana never thought she would entertain. Adriana must confront her demons and decide if she is willing to take the risk of losing herself to find a love that is both passionate and enduring. Gabriel and Adriana embark on a journey of self-discovery and emotional awakening.

But wait,

Secrets from Adriana’s past unravel the carefully woven fabric of their romance, challenging the foundation of their connection.

Favorite Lines:

“Two dreamers chasing passions bigger than ourselves. Lonely souls seek understanding from someone who just gets it.”

“It’s a choice, consistently showing up for someone no matter what.”

My Opinion:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

This story follows Adriana Costa, an incredibly independent 25 year old who prides herself in not getting too close to avoid getting hurt. That is…until Gabriel Alexander walks in. A brooding musician that checks all the tall, dark, and handsome boxes, Gabriel slowly chips away at Adriana’s walls and challenges her views on partnership and love until she is questioning everything she has done to seemingly protect her heart.

If you have been following Likely Story for awhile, you know that I am a sucker for anything romance related – it is the guiltiest of my guilty pleasures. Marteen does a great job at writing likable characters who are also realistically jaded and who come with some flaws. This book was an addicting read that I finished in one sitting. The emotional twists and turns had my heart hurting in the best way because who doesn’t love a little angst. But in the end, this book reminds us that love can be worth it. Be warned, this book is spicy!

Summary:

A spicy contemporary romance full of passion, soulmates, and second chances love, this book is for anyone who adores romance at least half as much as I do. Happy reading!

Check out Entwined Desires: A Love’s Redemption here!

Monthly Features – August

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Dissonance: Volume Zero: Revelation by Aaron Ryan

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis:  One day, they silently drifted down through our skies. We thought they were angelic messengers. We were wrong.

They arrived by the hundreds of thousands on June 6th, 2026. The aliens silently drifted down from the sky, hovering fifty feet above us for three long, tense months at a geostationary orbit, taking up positions around the world. No one knew why they came…what they wanted…or why they wouldn’t just go away.

Then, the unthinkable happened. They suddenly came to life…and hunted us down. We ended up calling them gorgons – after the mythical creature Medusa – because if we locked eyes with them, it was all over, and they could telepathically paralyze us with just one look. Once immobilized, they could consume us at their leisure, leaving us to feel every excruciating bite. There was no escape, no hiding from their relentless pursuit. Our only defense was to run.

By the end of 2026, eighty-five percent of mankind had been killed off. The alien invasion turned Planet Earth into a ghost town, with the few survivors eking out an existence in the shadows. Andrew Shipley is one such survivor thrust into an extraordinary nightmare of post-apocalyptic proportions. As chaos erupts, hope dwindles for Andrew and his wife and three small children. Will they make it? Or will the gorgons get them too?

Summary: Overall, this was arguably my favorite so far in the series perhaps because of the light that it sheds on the events that take place in the rest of the series. I found myself laughing at some parts and with tears in my eyes at others. Ryan does an excellent job at evoking emotion and keeping readers engaged throughout this book. If you are a fan of science fiction, dystopian worlds, aliens, action, adventure, thrills, and reading about what it means to be human, then this book could be for you.

See the full review here: Dissonance: Volume Zero: Revelation
Purchase here

 

Post Traumatic Growth by Jesse Hewitt

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: This book is an account of the journey following encounters of trauma and taking steps towards personal growth. I served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 12 years, with 5 years serving as a Close Protection Operator undertaking multiple operations in high-conflict environments – both domestically and overseas. Having completed there missions, I witnessed first-hand the damages of war and having experienced the consequences of combat.

This is a tale of a torment and tribulation but is also the story of reparation and recovery. A story of surviving trauma and overcoming the wounds war inflicted upon my mind. Within this book, you will read about these traumas. Personal crises and living in a state of mind that is unwell will be shared. The approach to conquering my personal mental health struggles was multi-faceted, and details of this journey will be disclosed in order to hopefully empower others to take the first steps in their own recovery. Things such as various treatment styles, inter-personal connections and the accidental introduction to Equine Therapy were all supports to becoming a healthier me.

It is my hope that through sharing the intricacies of what I faced and how I committed to treatment to find meaning, purpose, and strength once again, will help others rediscover their own fortitude, resilience, and resolve as they endeavor into the emotional trenches of recovery and emerge healthier, happier, and having taken their own steps towards Post Traumatic Growth.

Summary: Overall, if you are interested in inspiring, real life stories about overcoming mental health challenges especially as it relates to PTSD, depression, substance abuse disorders, and eating disorders, then this book could be for you. 

See the full review here: Post Traumatic Growth
Purchase here

 

The Voided Man by Anthony Dean

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: There are great deserts in space. Matter is not spread evenly. On average it balances out in all directions, but some regions are not average. For every dense cluster of galaxies in one place, there is a tremendous void somewhere else. There are no galaxies within the voids, no stars, no planets, and no moons. Scientists have theorized that anyone at the center of such an empty space would see only darkness in every direction. Even the brightest objects, they say, would be too far distant to be visible to the naked eye.

I got a chance to test that theory firsthand. I am the most distant exile in human history.

My name is Prisoner Number One. This is my story.

Summary: Overall, I went into this almost completely blind and was pleasantly surprised with this one. This is a great example of going outside of your comfort zone and managing to find some diamonds in the rough. I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of quirky science fiction stories that feature romance and touch on what it means to be human. 

See the full review here: The Voided Man
Purchase here

 

The Gemini Project by Ian Moran

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: Jan Ericson spends his days on the campus of the Corpo Academy participating in sports and playing games. The Academy has never formally taught Jan, or any of its 42 students, to read or write. Jan looks forward to moving to New London, where he will live with his father and start his career. That day will be his 18th birthday after a celebration known as the renaissance.

Dr. William Osler works at the Academy and considers himself an amateur philosopher and would-be comedian. He befriends Jan and sees the boy’s keen desire to learn. Quietly in the background, the doctor teaches his student to read. Dr. Osler knows that the 17-year-old boy will die, the same way his older brother died, in less than two weeks. However, addicted to a designer drug, the doctor is constantly high as he tries to fight his own demons.

Tre Ericson is Jan’s father. He sees his son four times a year but feels no love for him. While desperately trying to please his father, Jan discovers a tunnel that runs under the school. The tunnel contains a dark secret, which initiates a chain of events that might save Jan’s life!

The Gemini Project is must-read coming-of-age novel that deals with a dystopian future and the world of neurology. The story of Jan Ericson will take you to unpredictable places in a battle of life and death

Summary: Overall, I found this to be an intriguing and thought provoking science fiction thriller set in a dystopian world and would recommend to anyone interested in sci-fi, dystopian worlds, thrillers, suspense, mystery, and philosophical dilemmas.

See the full review here: The Gemini Project
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Claimed by a Cowboy by Melody Carson

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: I HATE SURPRISES.
Even a surprise that comes with designer heels and killer curves.
What I needed at the end of a long day in the saddle was a cold brew – not a hot tempered reporter who was intent on getting on my last nerve.
Worse, Madison was asking too many questions and getting too close to the truth. Too close to me.

My real identity as heir to the billion dollar Rising Star Ranch was at stake, and I had to keep Madison at arms length.

Until that first unforgettable kiss.

Now, I’m wondering how I can, not only keep Madison at Rising Star Ranch, but also protect her and claim her as my own.

Summary: Overall, if you like cowboy romances full of enemies-to-lovers troupes, mystery, suspense, a bit of danger, and a cowboy saving the day, then this book could be for you!

See the full review here: Claimed by a Cowboy
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