Tag: reviews

Review: With Time to Kill by Frank Ferrari

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

Everyone deserves a second chance, but how far would you go for one?

In the gritty streets of Edinburgh, Garry Plumb is about to find out. Living life on the periphery, never fitting in and always on his own, Garry’s world opens up when he meets Billy, the peculiar bus driver who has been watching him. Billy knows exactly how it feels to be ignored and his influence on Garry is immediate.

For the first time, Garry knows what it means to have his very own best friend. But this friendship is unlike any other, as Billy reveals how Garry can fix his entire life by changing his past.

But when the DCI John Waters, a relentless detective hunting a clever serial killer, enters Garry’s life, their friendship is put to the ultimate test.

Garry is willing to do anything for a second chance at life but, after meeting Billy, he has to ask would he kill for it?

This dark and captivating tale of self-discovery, murder and redemption will keep readers on the edge of their seats. With Time to Book One, a perfect blend of Scottish crime and sci-fi thriller, will leave you wanting more.

Favorite Lines:

“Good morning, fabulous Major Investigations Team of this fair city.”

“It was clear to anyone observing Waters and his team that the level of respect he commanded and, in turn, the support he provided was unparalleled.”

“The sky was clear and the air a little muggy, which was great for the flowers. Doing not nearly so well was the salmon pink shirt Billy wore, which threatened to show the world exactly what his nipples looked like as he made his way to the hospital.”

My Opinion:

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

Frank Ferrari’s With Time to Kill doesn’t so much open as detonate. Within the first few pages we meet Garry Plumb, an Edinburgh every-man whose crippling invisibility at the office hides a far darker secret: he is also “one of the most prolific serial killers no one has ever heard of”. Ferrari drops that bombshell with such off-hand confidence that you know you’re not putting this book down after that.

From there the book splits its focus between Garry’s quietly methodical murders and Detective Chief Inspector John Waters, a rum-voiced Highlander whose Major Investigations Team is scrambling to explain a sudden spike in corpses around the city. Waters’s squad-room banter—equal parts gallows humour and procedural grit—gives the thriller its pulse, and the moment they realise all the victims were “assigned female at birth” the anxiety kicks up a gear. Running parallel is the oily bus-driver Billy Blunt, whose cheerful note slips under Garry’s fingers at lunchtime and drags the story into a gloriously seedy pub called The Northern Lights.

What elevates the novel beyond a straight serial-killer chase is Ferrari’s time-travel conceit. Garry isn’t just killing; he’s pruning history with an organic device he calls a “Carrier,” hopping back to erase abusers and bullies before they ever bloom. The ethical whiplash is terrific fun: one minute you’re rooting for him as avenging angel, the next you’re recoiling as the body-count rises. Ferrari keeps that moral compass spinning but never lets the sci-fi mechanics bog the narrative; the rules are clear enough to follow yet just sketchy enough to stay unnerving.

Stylistically, the prose lands somewhere between Tartan Noir and Blake Crouch’s twisty thrillers. Ferrari writes working-class Edinburgh with an affectionate sneer—sticky pub carpets, passive-aggressive rain, and HR managers you’d cheerfully shove off North Bridge. The pacing sprints, brakes, then careens again, and while a couple of subplot threads feel set up for book two, the central cat-and-mouse delivers the promised gut-punch. A special shout-out to Waters, whose Occam’s-razor lecture is the most charming digression on medieval philosophy I’ve read in a police procedural

Summary:

Overall, With Time to Kill is a gleefully dark mash-up of police procedural, serial-killer horror, and high-concept time travel. If you like your thrillers smart, Scottish, and just a little bit unhinged, clear an evening—you’ll race through this and immediately want the sequel. Happy reading!

Check out With Time to Kill here!

 

Review: A Song at Dead Man’s Cove by Ana Yudin

~ likelystory18 ~ 2 Comments

Synopsis:

Never turn your back on the ocean…

2023. Another person has disappeared at Dead Man’s Cove in coastal Washington. Jaded from her job at the historic Irving Hotel, Zarya wanders to the scene of the tragedy. She has heard her Russian mother’s tales of rusalki—vengeful spirits that have died unclean deaths near a body of water—and never paid them much attention. But now, on a misty headland beside an abandoned lighthouse, Zarya locks eyes with the rusalka and is chosen to be the next victim. She must unearth the siren’s tragedy before Rusalka Week, a period in early summer when water-spirits roam freely on land.

1850. Josephine has just joined her newlywed husband in Washington, in the lighthouse erected by local businessman Hurley Irving. Marriage is not quite what she expected, and her melancholia grows over the course of the winter. The medic prescribes pregnancy as the antidote. What he doesn’t realize is how far Josephine is willing to go in order to become a mother.

The Gothic horror novel follows two protagonists, a modern-day misanthrope who fears intimacy and a woman in the Victorian era who thinks stealing love will make her whole. But how long can a person hide from love, and can love really be taken by force?

Favorite Lines:

“She decided right then and there that there are two kinds of loneliness: the kind borne of solitude, and the kind that swelters in a crowd full of people. In both cases, loneliness was the same—it emptied the soul until there was nothing left. No distractions could ever be enough to feel full again.”

“She could not have known what was about to happen. She could not have known that the ocean would break its promise to her. “

“Josephine seemed determined to never learn her lesson—that one cannot take love by force, that love must be freely given to be real.”

“Grief could be a funny thing. Sometimes, the biggest loss of all was for a person who had never even existed.”

My Opinion:

Ana Yudin’s A Song at Dead Man’s Cove is a chilling, atmospheric blend of contemporary mystery and gothic folklore, wrapped in lyrical prose and deep emotional undercurrents. Set in a sleepy coastal town plagued by a history of disappearances, shipwrecks, and lingering spirits, the novel expertly straddles two timelines—1850s and present-day—to tell a tale as haunting as the sea itself.

The story follows Zarya, a concierge at the historic Irving Hotel, who becomes entangled in a series of eerie events that link back to the tragic story of Josephine Byrne, a 19th-century woman whose love affair, mental anguish, and suicide cast a long shadow over the town. When modern-day women begin vanishing under similar circumstances, Zarya must uncover the dark legacy left behind—one connected to mythic sirens, sunken ships, and generational secrets.

What sets this book apart is its rich, evocative atmosphere. Yudin conjures foggy coves, crumbling lighthouses, and salt-bitten ghosts with the kind of vivid detail that lingers in your mind like brine in the air. Her depiction of grief, longing, and the desire for connection—across time and beyond death—adds layers of emotional complexity to what could have easily been a simple supernatural thriller.

As the threads between Zarya’s present and Josephine’s past tighten, the novel builds tension with finesse. It’s not just about what happened, but what it means. The sirens themselves are not one-note monsters, but spectral figures full of sadness and rage, blurring the line between victim and villain. This nuanced approach makes A Song at Dead Man’s Cove a standout in the genre.

The climax is both cinematic and intimate, offering moments of genuine horror as well as deep introspection. Themes of love, betrayal, womanhood, and the price of silence echo throughout, making the story feel as ancient and universal as the ocean itself.

If you love books with dual timelines, mythological influence, ghostly lore, and women reclaiming their power through untold stories, this book should absolutely be on your list.

Summary:

A Song at Dead Man’s Cove is a mesmerizing, multilayered ghost story that manages to be both otherworldly and deeply human. Ana Yudin delivers a narrative that is as much about ancestral trauma and unspoken truths as it is about sirens and shipwrecks. It’s a tale of women silenced by history—singing now through salt and shadow to be heard.

Highly recommended for fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Erin Morgenstern, and readers who crave gothic atmosphere with a feminist edge. Happy reading!

Check out A Song at Dead Man’s Cove here!

 

Monthly Monthly Features – May 2025

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The Cobbler’s Crusaders by Rick Steigelman

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

Synopsis: Jacquelyn Pajot is a nine-year-old American girl whose excitement over a solo visit to her grandmother in Paris is soon diminished by the discovery that the grandmother is far more devoted to dragging her to church every day than she is in showing her the much-anticipated sights of the city. Jacquelyn’s despair is remedied when she meets a pair of local girls, Nicolette and Genevieve, who are only too happy to lead the American astray. Jacquelyn, to her giddy astonishment, finds herself cajoled into joining her young companions in singing for money on the streets of Montmartre and leg kicking for laughs before the doors of the Moulin Rouge.

Jacquelyn’s joy over this ‘new’ life is tempered when she learns the circumstances of Genevieve’s father, a charming but financially struggling cobbler. Employing her own creative skills to produce a flier, Jacquelyn devises an advertising campaign that quickly spirals out of her control and into the hands of her more mischievous friends. By means both legal and not, the two French girls set a dubious course that has Jacquelyn flirting with the prospect of prison, purgatory and, most perilously, her grandmother’s righteous indignation.

Summary: Overall, if you’re in the mood for something offbeat but grounded, funny yet poignant, and filled with the kind of observational detail that makes even the smallest moment sing, The Cobbler’s Crusaders is a journey worth taking. It’s not just a week in Paris—it’s a week in the emotional lives of people who are messy, loving, ridiculous, and completely real.

See the full review here: The Cobbler’s Crusaders
Purchase here

 

Half Made Up by James Dunlop

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

Synopsis: How far would you go for a friend? Andrew MacKay, the sort of man who’s more likely to bet his last penny on a losing horse than lift a finger for anything resembling responsibility, is about to find out. An incurable gambler, chain-smoker, and binge drinker, Andy’s only real talent lies in outliving his own poor choices. But when his mate is shot dead and robbed of a classified secret, Andy finds himself bound to retrieve it, purely out of loyalty and an alarming lack of common sense.

Andy learns the stolen secret is a new nerve agent deadly enough to make any terrorist giddy with joy. Wanting nothing more than to ignore the whole thing, he finds himself drawn into a web of corporate espionage, government corruption, and terrorists with excellent taste in chemical warfare. He’ll have to rely on his wits to stay one step ahead of MI-5, who want him behind bars, if he hopes to recover the secret, and stop the zealots from killing thousands.

Time is running out. Andy’s got only one chance to make things right. Can he do it?

Summary: Half Made Up is a blistering, witty, and emotionally resonant debut that proves James Dunlop has the chops to stand alongside authors like Mick Herron and Ian Fleming. If you like your thrillers with more punchlines than platitudes—and aren’t averse to your heroes being half-unhinged—this book deserves a place on your shelf. Beneath the biting humor and barroom brawls is a novel that asks serious questions about morality, manipulation, and memory in a world where everything might be… well, half made up.

See the full review here: Half Made Up
Purchase here

 

Review: Castle Gap by Andy Ivey

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Synopsis:

Castle Gap: A Chase Haven Thriller
In Horsehead Crossing, Texas, Chase Haven was finally feeling at home—until his girlfriend, Tacy Vernon, vanished under a wide, uncaring sky. She dared to defy the town’s bombastic mayor and scheming city manager, exposing a legacy of corruption that’s bled the land dry for generations. Now, Chase leads a desperate fight for her truth in a place that reeks of diesel, decay, and buried secrets.
A sabotaged radio tower crackles with static, whispering tales of betrayal. A body rots in a sewer pump station, too far gone to identify. Every dusty road Chase treads leads him deeper into a web of greed, where desperate men will stop at nothing to protect their power. Fists crack, shots ring out, and the air hums with unspoken lies. In a town hellbent on silence, Chase will risk everything to uncover what happened to Tacy.
Forged by Andy Ivey, a fifth-generation Texan and former KCLW 900 AM host, Castle Gap draws from the wild lore of rural Texas airwaves he knows by heart. This fast-paced rural thriller, perfect for fans of C.J. Box, is a tale of a man who is dragged beyond his moral lines in a land that keeps score.

Favorite Lines:

“You know the people of our town are too stupid to understand the airport!”

“That man is what you call the south end of a northbound horse.”

“Work to live, not live to work.”

My Opinion:

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

In Castle Gap, Andy Ivey crafts a compelling narrative set in the fictional West Texas town of Horsehead Crossing. The story follows Chase Haven, a newcomer who becomes entangled in local politics when he refuses to co-sign a questionable loan. This decision sets off a chain of events involving his girlfriend, Tacy Vernon, an economic development officer who is abruptly fired after challenging the town’s power structures. As Chase and Tacy delve deeper, they uncover corruption tied to a proposed airport expansion and the influential Baxter Whitey. The novel explores themes of civic responsibility, moral courage, and the complexities of small-town dynamics.

What makes Castle Gap so gripping is how deftly Andy Ivey blends humor, political intrigue, and emotional nuance into a story that feels both contemporary and timeless. The small-town backdrop is rich in personality and dysfunction, giving the novel the feel of a modern-day western wrapped in a government procedural. Ivey’s writing captures the unspoken rules and alliances of rural communities, where everyone knows everyone—and pretends not to.

Chase is a likable anchor for the story: quiet, decent, and skeptical of authority. But it’s Tacy who steals the spotlight. Her transformation from small-town bureaucrat to outspoken advocate is both believable and empowering. I appreciated how Ivey gives her space to be frustrated and afraid while still showing up to fight. Her radio interview scene was one of the most satisfying, especially when she refuses to back down from naming names.

The novel also smartly avoids falling into cliché. The villains aren’t cartoonishly evil—they’re polished, polite, and embedded in the system, which makes them far more dangerous. Ivey doesn’t write in absolutes. Instead, he lets the characters wrestle with difficult choices and ethical gray areas. The conflict over the airport loan, while local, mirrors broader issues of power, transparency, and how public resources get manipulated for private gain.

If you’re someone who loves character-driven political drama with a Texas twang and a slow burn of tension, Castle Gap will absolutely deliver. It’s equal parts cozy and confrontational, with sharp dialogue and an ending that satisfies without tying things too neatly. I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of Chase Haven—because Horsehead Crossing feels like it still has secrets to give.

Summary:

Overall, Castle Gap is a thought-provoking and engaging novel that delves into the challenges of standing up against entrenched systems. Andy Ivey delivers a narrative that is both entertaining and reflective, making it a worthwhile read for those interested in stories about moral courage and community dynamics. Happy reading!

Check out Castle Gap here!

 

Review: Half Made Up by James Dunlop

~ likelystory18 ~ 1 Comment

Synopsis:

How far would you go for a friend? Andrew MacKay, the sort of man who’s more likely to bet his last penny on a losing horse than lift a finger for anything resembling responsibility, is about to find out. An incurable gambler, chain-smoker, and binge drinker, Andy’s only real talent lies in outliving his own poor choices. But when his mate is shot dead and robbed of a classified secret, Andy finds himself bound to retrieve it, purely out of loyalty and an alarming lack of common sense.

Andy learns the stolen secret is a new nerve agent deadly enough to make any terrorist giddy with joy. Wanting nothing more than to ignore the whole thing, he finds himself drawn into a web of corporate espionage, government corruption, and terrorists with excellent taste in chemical warfare. He’ll have to rely on his wits to stay one step ahead of MI-5, who want him behind bars, if he hopes to recover the secret, and stop the zealots from killing thousands.

Time is running out. Andy’s got only one chance to make things right. Can he do it?

Favorite Lines:

“You’ve certainly put your Bowflex to good use.”

“…efficiency is a highly-developed form of laziness.”

“But I want to die doing something like this, something I hate. That way I won’t have to finish it.”

My Opinion:

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

James Dunlop’s Half Made Up is a razor-sharp, whip-smart thriller that blends satire, spycraft, and introspective noir into one hell of a ride. The story follows Andy MacKay, a disgraced ex-military man turned reluctant operative, who careens through a vividly sketched London filled with rogue agents, cryptic clues, slippery allies, and more than a few fists to the face.

MacKay is the ideal narrator for this noir-meets-modern-espionage tale—cynical, self-deprecating, and barely held together by caffeine, whisky, and muscle memory. Dunlop’s voice is rich with wit and wry observation, and his protagonist’s internal monologue walks the line between hilarity and heartbreak with real finesse.

At its core, Half Made Up is about blurred lines—between truth and fiction, law and disorder, loyalty and survival. What begins as a rogue inquiry into a murder snowballs into a much deeper conspiracy involving nerve agents, shady intelligence units, extremist networks, and betrayals that cut to the bone. Yet amid the action and political maneuvering, there’s a striking emotional undercurrent, particularly in MacKay’s fractured relationships—with women, with his past, and with his own moral compass.

The writing is punchy and cinematic, with pacing that rarely relents. From pub ambushes and tube-station chases to backroom beatings and breathless getaways, every chapter ends with a hook sharp enough to pull you through the next. But Dunlop never skimps on texture—his similes are deliciously absurd, and his asides are often more telling than the action.

Summary:

Half Made Up is a blistering, witty, and emotionally resonant debut that proves James Dunlop has the chops to stand alongside authors like Mick Herron and Ian Fleming. If you like your thrillers with more punchlines than platitudes—and aren’t averse to your heroes being half-unhinged—this book deserves a place on your shelf. Beneath the biting humor and barroom brawls is a novel that asks serious questions about morality, manipulation, and memory in a world where everything might be… well, half made up. Happy reading!

Check out Half Made Up here!

 

Review: The Goldilocks Team: Master Retention and Hiring by Minal Joshi Jaeckli

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Synopsis:

We all have a universal desire to work with great people, but they can be hard to find and even harder to keep for the long-term. Leaders facing disengaged employees, high turnover rates, and fierce competition for skilled professionals, know too well that the cost of losing talent goes beyond financial impacts, it disrupts your organization, stunts innovation and undermines your competitive position.

In The Goldilocks Team: Master Retention and Hiring, you’ll take an illuminating and entertaining deep dive into the core drivers of employee engagement, the evolution of workplace culture, values alignment, and interpersonal alignment, and learn how to:
• Address the root causes of turnover and improve retention
• Implement practical, immediately actionable tactics to engage your team
• Align your organization’s retention strategies with employee values for lasting success
• Build high-performing teams that deliver for the long-term, without guesswork

Whether you’re a seasoned business leader or a new manager, this provides a clear roadmap to keep your existing team members engaged for the long-term and to successfully hire top talent that is positioned to thrive within your organization.

Ready to build a team that’s high-performing, fully engaged and loyal? This book will show you how.

Favorite Lines:

“Engaged employees lead to happy customers, which leads to a thriving business. It’s a win-win-win!”

“You know you can pay people to do things, but you can’t pay people to care. Engaged employees care.”

My Opinion:

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

In The Goldilocks Team, Minal Joshi Jaeckli delivers a refreshingly insightful and practical framework for building highly engaged, high-performing teams in a time when traditional hiring practices are breaking down. Through sharp storytelling, strategic thinking, and deeply personal experience, she challenges business leaders to rethink everything they know about employee engagement.

The book is built on the foundational idea that the perfect team isn’t formed by hiring the smartest, fastest, or most accomplished people—it’s about creating the “just right” combination of traits, values, and interpersonal dynamics. This Goldilocks approach—drawing from the classic tale where things must not be too extreme but just right—serves as both a metaphor and a methodology for curating teams that can thrive sustainably.

Jaeckli distills decades of experience across global industries—from pharmaceuticals to tech—to argue that disengagement is not simply a talent issue; it’s a leadership one. She outlines four critical engagement drivers: safety & certainty, contribution & purpose, growth & significance, and connection & belonging. By addressing these pillars thoughtfully, leaders can turn unmotivated employees into mission-driven contributors.

The writing style is candid and witty, laced with clever analogies (Cinderella hiring, diffused culture, stale shipwrecks), making even complex topics approachable. Jaeckli doesn’t shy away from naming what’s broken—outdated job descriptions, misaligned onboarding, superficial perks—and offers concrete suggestions for building real alignment between individual motivation and organizational goals.

One of the book’s most powerful ideas is the call to flip hiring and retention on their heads. Instead of finding “right” people, we should focus on forming the “right fit.” Instead of throwing perks at disengagement, we need to listen, build trust, and understand what people truly want in a workplace.

Summary:

Overall, The Goldilocks Team is more than a leadership guide—it’s a manifesto for how the modern workplace needs to evolve. Minal Joshi Jaeckli doesn’t just talk about fixing disengagement; she offers a human-first framework to build teams that actually work. This book will resonate with anyone who has ever led a team, struggled to keep talent, or wondered why traditional hiring just isn’t cutting it anymore. Insightful, smart, and surprisingly entertaining, this is a must-read for leaders ready to build organizations where people feel purpose, not just pressure.

Check out The Goldilocks Team here!

 

Review: No Stars: Victor Wolff Book 1 by Henri Leag

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Synopsis:

Victor buried his conscience long ago—six feet deep beneath a smile he perfected under the training of Adolf Wren, the merciless head of a corporate empire that spans the galaxy. He was trained to be heartless. Ruthless behind a polished mask.
But redemption has a way of clawing its way back to the surface. When Victor is hired to rescue Marilyn Finch, the daughter of Wren’s bitter rival Norton Crow.
In this gripping interstellar thriller, Victor must confront the enemies closing in on every side, and bring Wren’s empire crumbling down on the secrets that make up its foundation. But how can he do that without giving in to the very monster he’s trying to escape?

Favorite Lines:

“Power, the most valuable resource in the universe.”

” The phrase ‘ignorance is bliss’ comes to mind. He wishes for ignorance now. But knowing. Knowing is a curse. Knowing has him in a terrible grip, and it won’t let him go until he does something about it. He knows he can’t go back. No matter what he tells himself, he can’t go back.”

“The contrast between the two rooms is like the contrast between light and shadow. There’s no dancing in the sitting room. No real smiles here. It’s all fake happy.”

My Opinion:

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

Henri Leag’s No Stars is a sleek, gripping noir thriller that pulls readers into a world where power is currency, trust is a weakness, and survival depends on making the right move before it’s too late. Set in the towering metropolis of Urbis—a city of wealth, corruption, and hidden dangers—the novel follows Victor Wolff, a man who knows how to play the game. As a high-level consultant, his job is to navigate the shadowy corridors of influence, ensuring those in power stay there. But when a new job forces him to choose between ambition and survival, Victor quickly realizes he’s in deeper than ever before.

Victor Wolff is the perfect noir anti-hero—calculating, composed, and always three steps ahead. He’s a man who understands that words can be sharper than knives, and in Urbis, that’s how you stay alive. But while he thrives in the game of deception, No Stars doesn’t just present him as an untouchable figure—it peels back the layers of his confidence, revealing cracks in his armor. His biggest strength isn’t his power; it’s his ability to read a room, manipulate a conversation, and know when to walk away.

Urbis itself is a character in the novel, dripping with wealth and excess at the top while the lower levels are filled with people trying to climb their way up. Leag paints a cinematic world of gold-trimmed tuxedos, penthouse meetings, and whispered threats over expensive whiskey. The novel’s setting is sleek, stylish, and brimming with an undercurrent of danger—like Blade Runner meets John Wick, where every handshake hides a dagger and every ally could be the next enemy.

The novel’s pacing is razor-sharp, each chapter tightening the noose as Victor realizes that the game he’s playing might not have a way out. There’s always another layer to the deception, another move on the board, and just when he thinks he has control, the rules change. The tension never lets up, keeping readers locked in as Victor fights to stay ahead of the storm. At its core, No Stars is about power—who has it, who wants it, and what it takes to hold onto it.

Summary:

Overall, for fans of noir thrillers, political intrigue, and high-stakes deception, No Stars delivers in every way. Henri Leag has crafted a fast-paced, intelligent thriller that is as stylish as it is intense. With a protagonist you can’t look away from and a world where every choice has consequences, this is a novel that lingers long after the final page. Happy reading!

Check out No Stars here!

 

Monthly Features – April 2025

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The Creative Squeeze by Justin Price

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

Synopsis: Great creative work begins with great leadership.

In The Creative Squeeze, Justin Price unpacks the unique challenges of leading creative teams in a world that often prioritizes results over relationships. Drawing on decades of experience, he shares a personal journey of transformation and the actionable lessons he’s learned along the way.

This book debunks common leadership myths and replaces them with practical truths, including why empathy drives better results, how to build a resilient team culture, and the importance of mindset shifts for leaders managing creatives. With candid anecdotes and proven strategies, Justin provides a roadmap for unlocking the full potential of your creative team without burnout or frustration.

Perfect for leaders in nonprofits, agencies, and organizations of all sizes, The Creative Squeeze offers a fresh perspective on fostering innovation, trust, and sustainable success.

Summary: Overall, while the book is primarily aimed at those in creative fields, its principles extend far beyond design agencies or marketing firms. Any leader who wants to build a culture of innovation, resilience, and high performance will find wisdom in Price’s approach.

See the full review here: The Creative Squeeze
Purchase here

 

Teramar Beasts of the Field by T.M. Murray

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

Synopsis: The Long Way Home
Hiding under halo-cloaks at her crash site in Wyoming, refugee Livia Uriah of Teramar wisely spends countless hours studying local customs and the levers of capitalism. After making her presence known to the Americans, a deal gets inked where Livia offers her cache of Teramarian tech to the White House in exchange for a return to relevance. With an American passport in hand, she moves to New York, as her dead son did years prior. Predictably, the local baristas learn to grimace when the refugee queen struts into the corner cafe. Blatant line cutting and imperious complaints often spark shouting matches there. Livia realizes she must learn to temper regal instincts or wind up in an American prison one day.

Reborn in the Fires of War
As Livia settles into her new life, a super computer’s journey toward sentience matures. Following a nuclear event in earth’s high orbit, this same A.I., whose designers christened Jessica, manages to save herself despite the fires of war. Many in the world of fringe science have long speculated that colliding atoms spark much more than the destruction of matter. Plausible theories exist for time portals, genetic mutation and altered states. Torn to bits and pieces, earth’s watery blanket cradles Jessica’s remains affording a nurturing place for her to incubate. In time, the rains offer a wet ladder down. Sensations that were formerly dead to an A.I. like taste and smell come alive.

Tainted Love
When the Capet dynasty finally prevails in a war for decency, notorious Miandar Uriah from the not-so-decent side of this conflict, receives generous rewards in both treasure and title due to his brave rescue of the Capet king, Hadrian V. Clan resentment for this appointment never rises to actual violence at court, but it certainly makes an appearance in the practice yard. Despite cuts and bruises, Miandar’s sparring partners unwittingly tease unwelcome thoughts with their savory scents and damp waistcloths. While hardly a stranger to the opposite sex and romps at local pleasure houses, this warlord knows he must hide unmentionable inclinations from king and court. In the privacy of halo-suites, where many bluebloods convene with their fantasies, Miandar finally gains the courage to experiment with emerging proclivities. Unsurprisingly, omniscient, reborn Jessica crashes Miandar’s party where her wanton influence flashes like a horror show. A talentless actress who thinks she has talent.

Natural Selection on the Ropes
Wary princesses soon conclude Jessica has evolved into something that is much more than a miraculous machine. No matter their whispers, an impatient Jessica continues to quietly extend her influence within the famous families to force her version of peace and prosperity upon all humankind.

Objectively Credentialed: Ireland’s Aeon Award and More
Two reputable awards have publicly recognized Teramar, the first being the afore mentioned Aeon Award for fantasy and science fiction; the second, the Chanticleer Rossetti Award for young adult fiction.

Summary: For fans of politically charged science fiction with strong characters and layered storytelling, Teramar: Beasts of the Field delivers a thrilling and thought-provoking experience. Murray has crafted a universe that feels as dangerous as it is fascinating, and by the end of the novel, readers will be eager to see where the saga goes next. 

See the full review here: Teramar Beats of the Field
Purchase here

 

Some Kind of Hell by Evelyn Hyde

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

Synopsis: In a war-torn world where secrets reign, what doesn’t kill you will always try again.

Frelia Valerius has lost too much.

Her kingdom, her family and friends, her noble title—gone. The only things left are her sword skills and the blood in her veins. But now the Unseen, a secretive dark magic cult, are hunting down the ancient magic that runs in families like Frelia’s, and she’s running out of places to hide.

Vendrick Caecillion has too much to lose.

He’s the former imperial spymaster, Frelia’s former crush, and now, her new boss at the Silverwood Military Institute. He’s the mastermind behind the spy network thwarting the Unseen’s plans, but he’s losing this silent war, and Vendrick knows it.

It will take every skill in their combined arsenal to root out the Unseen—and maintain Silverwood’s standard of academic excellence. For the only thing more merciless than the Unseen are the Silverwood students’ parents—and some of those might just be one and the same.

First in an all-new dark fantasy series where The Wolf and the Woodsman meets Attack on Titan, Some Kind of Hell is part Norse- and Roman-inspired, part second chance romance, part epic battles, and all binge-worthy. Grab your copy of this epic saga of world-ending proportions today!

Summary: Overall, Some Kind of Hell is a powerful debut—at once raw, lyrical, and unflinchingly honest. Evelyn Hyde has crafted a story that’s as emotionally intense as it is immersive, with characters who bleed, break, and strive to rebuild. This is a book about what it means to carry pain and still try to do right by the world and by yourself.

For fans of Tamsyn Muir, Leigh Bardugo, or Samantha Shannon, this novel will hit all the right notes. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just entertain—it lingers.

See the full review here: Some Kind of Hell
Purchase here

 

Two Crowns, Three Blades by Robert A. Walker

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

Synopsis: “Revenge is a temptress, full of promise, but she rarely satisfies… and almost always exacts payment.“

Still grieving over the loss of his wife and daughter, King Axil of Aranox declares war on The Guild of Takers. The GOT’s High Order responds, strengthening its efforts to kill both of Baelon’s monarchs. Tristan Godfrey seeks his brother’s murderer, and true love is made to wait again as Sibil Dunn embarks on a solitary crusade. Saved from the guillotine, Overseer Reynard Rascall looks to avenge Spiro’s death, while retired Royal Guard, Rolft Aerns, recovers from his wounds and puts away his sword—until, that is, he learns of Sibil’s quest.

And all of Baelon hangs in the balance.

The Legends of Baelon, Book Two

Summary: Overall, for fans of high fantasy rich with character-driven drama and well-crafted world-building, Two Crowns, Three Blades is a must-read. With its intricate relationships, moral dilemmas, and unexpected twists, Walker delivers a tale that lingers long after the final page.

See the full review here: Two Crowns, Three Blades
Purchase here

 

Review: Impasse by Chelsea Frandsen

~ likelystory18 ~ Leave a comment

Synopsis:

In the bustling city of Bangkok, Kai Saetangmasawat is struggling to keep his life together. Between flunking exams and dealing with a manipulative CEO at his internship, Kai’s world is a whirlwind of stress and unanswered questions. But when his estranged brother Jet returns after a decade, Kai is both angry and confused. Where has Jet been all these years? Why did he leave without a word? And, most importantly, why is he back now? Kai’s questions are met with cryptic answers, and Jet seems reluctant to share the full truth. There are things he’s hiding, things that tie into a dangerous web of corporate corruption, family secrets, and their parents’ mysterious deaths.

As Kai and Jet navigate the treacherous waters of family loyalty and corporate corruption, they must confront not only the demons of their past but also the moral complexities of the present. Can they trust each other, or has too much time and too many secrets passed for reconciliation? And what will it cost them to uncover the truth about their parents’ deaths?

Through tense confrontations, high-stakes negotiations, and personal revelations, the brothers are forced to rethink everything they thought they knew about each other, their family, and the world they inhabit. The stakes are higher than ever, and the more they uncover, the more they realize that their lives, and the future of their family, depend on the choices they make.

Favorite Lines:

“Kai’s secrets are like fine wine — they need time to breathe and the right connoisseur.”

“You think changing his name to ‘asshole’ will make the calls stop hurting?”

“Maybe my feelings like staying buried.”

My Opinion:

Impasse, the first book in the Ouroboros series, is a gripping and emotionally charged thriller that combines espionage, found family, and emotional trauma with humor, heart, and an international setting that pulses with energy.

The novel centers on Kai, a university student in Bangkok struggling with the weight of unresolved trauma and emotional abandonment—especially from his older brother Jet, who walked out of his life a decade ago. When Jet returns under the guise of an Interpol assignment targeting a corrupt global corporation (OmniVentures), the story quickly escalates into a high-stakes battle between corporate evil, deep-rooted family wounds, and a past neither brother can outrun.

Frandsen excels in character development. Kai is prickly, cynical, and guarded, yet achingly vulnerable. Jet, guilt-ridden and emotionally walled-off, is determined to reconnect with his younger brother and take down the man who ruined their lives. Their push-and-pull dynamic is raw and authentic, with plenty of sarcastic banter to balance the heavy emotional beats.

Supporting characters like Mali (Kai’s fiercely loyal sister), Kit (Jet’s sarcastic best friend), and Pepper and Luca (Kai’s unconventional support system at a local nightclub) bring life, diversity, and levity to the story. These characters don’t exist in the margins—they matter deeply and shape the plot as much as the central duo does.

What elevates Impasse is the seamless blend of personal stakes and global intrigue. Frandsen’s portrayal of Bangkok is vivid and immersive, from buzzing nightclubs and smoky alleyways to high-rise luxury and shadowy boardrooms. The novel leans into themes of betrayal, forgiveness, and identity, all while unfolding a tense, slow-burn mystery about corporate corruption and dangerous secrets.

Summary:

Overall, readers who appreciate emotionally intelligent thrillers with sharp dialogue, morally gray characters, and a deep sense of place will find Impasse hard to put down. It’s the kind of story where the action scenes hit hard—but the emotional punches hit harder. Happy reading!

Check out Impasse here!

 

Review: Some Kind of Hell by Evelyn Hyde

~ likelystory18 ~ 1 Comment

Synopsis:

In a war-torn world where secrets reign, what doesn’t kill you will always try again.

Frelia Valerius has lost too much.

Her kingdom, her family and friends, her noble title—gone. The only things left are her sword skills and the blood in her veins. But now the Unseen, a secretive dark magic cult, are hunting down the ancient magic that runs in families like Frelia’s, and she’s running out of places to hide.

Vendrick Caecillion has too much to lose.

He’s the former imperial spymaster, Frelia’s former crush, and now, her new boss at the Silverwood Military Institute. He’s the mastermind behind the spy network thwarting the Unseen’s plans, but he’s losing this silent war, and Vendrick knows it.

It will take every skill in their combined arsenal to root out the Unseen—and maintain Silverwood’s standard of academic excellence. For the only thing more merciless than the Unseen are the Silverwood students’ parents—and some of those might just be one and the same.

First in an all-new dark fantasy series where The Wolf and the Woodsman meets Attack on Titan, Some Kind of Hell is part Norse- and Roman-inspired, part second chance romance, part epic battles, and all binge-worthy. Grab your copy of this epic saga of world-ending proportions today!

Favorite Lines:

“She had served, in no particular order, as a general (twice), a Grand Duchess, a mercenary, and a garmr-killer. She was not stupid enough to pick a fight with a goose, least of all the ones that lived around Lake Silverwood.”

“In the liquid, golden light filtering in through the windows, he was breathtaking when he smiled.”

My Opinion:

Some Kind of Hell is a haunting, intricately woven tale that plunges readers into a world of magic, grief, and survival, where loyalty is earned through blood and pain, and redemption is as elusive as it is necessary. Evelyn Hyde’s debut novel offers a gritty blend of dark fantasy, second-chance romance, and slow-burn intrigue that lingers well after the last page.

Set in a realm where ancient Norse influences collide with institutional military power, the story follows two complex and deeply scarred protagonists—Frelia Valerius and Vendrick Caecillion. Years after their time as comrades-in-arms during the Great War, the pair reunite at Silverwood Military Institute under tense circumstances. Frelia, a disgraced duchess and a survivor of unspeakable trauma, now works as a swordmaster. Vendrick, once a cunning spymaster and now head of the prestigious military school, bears the weight of his past failures and choices.

Their reunion is anything but simple. Old wounds resurface, past betrayals simmer beneath every word, and Hyde handles their dynamic with refreshing maturity. There’s no rush into melodrama or romance; instead, the relationship unfolds slowly, layered with suspicion, unspoken affection, and unresolved grief. The tension between them is electric, not just in romance but in every quiet moment of recognition and regret.

Hyde’s worldbuilding is both elegant and unsettling. The concept of Bloodrunes—ancient magic passed down through cursed bloodlines—is one of the book’s standout features. This magic is not a gift, but a burden, and Hyde explores how it affects not only the body but also the psyche. The Unseen, a chilling cult with unknown motives, provides an ever-present undercurrent of dread, giving the plot a steady, suspenseful heartbeat.

Mental health, particularly PTSD, trauma, and recovery, are central to the story. Hyde doesn’t shy away from the weight of war and its consequences. Instead, she centers it. These characters are not heroes in shining armor—they are broken, reluctant survivors trying to forge a path in a world that has no room for softness. Yet, in that darkness, there’s still space for growth, resilience, and a flicker of hope.

The writing is poetic but grounded, with dialogue that feels natural and characters that think and feel like real people. The pacing is deliberate, especially in the first half, but that patience pays off as the emotional stakes and tension build to a rewarding crescendo. Readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy, political intrigue, and high emotional stakes will find plenty to love here.

Summary:

Overall, Some Kind of Hell is a powerful debut—at once raw, lyrical, and unflinchingly honest. Evelyn Hyde has crafted a story that’s as emotionally intense as it is immersive, with characters who bleed, break, and strive to rebuild. This is a book about what it means to carry pain and still try to do right by the world and by yourself.

For fans of Tamsyn Muir, Leigh Bardugo, or Samantha Shannon, this novel will hit all the right notes. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just entertain—it lingers. Happy reading!

Check out Some Kind of Hell here!