Review: Four Summoner's Tales by Kelley Armstrong, Christopher Golden, David Liss, and Jonathan Maberry

 

Title: Four Summoner's Tales

Authors: Kelley Armstrong, Christopher Golden, David Liss, and Jonathan Maberry

Published by: Gallery Books

Released: 2013

Source: Library 

 

Synopsis: Four terror-inducing novellas from acclaimed bestselling authors Kelley Armstrong, David Liss, Christopher Golden, and Jonathan Maberry beginning with the premise: “A stranger comes to town, offering to raise the townsfolk’s dearly departed from the dead—for a price.”

In Kelley Armstrong’s “Suffer the Children,” an acute diphtheria outbreak kills most of the children in an isolated village in nineteen-century Ontario. Then a stranger arrives and offers to bring the children back to life. He wants money, of course, an extravagant sum, but more importantly, but for each child resurrected, one villager must voluntarily offer his life... 

In David Liss’s “A Bad Season for Necromancy,” a con man on the margins of eighteenth-century British society discovers a book that reveals the method for bringing the dead back to life. After considering just how far he would go to avoid bringing his violent father back, he realizes the real value of this book. Instead of getting people to pay him to revive their departed, he will get people to pay him not to...

In “Pipers” by Christopher Golden, the Texas Border Volunteers wage a private war against drug smuggling by Mexican cartels in a modern-day South Texas town, complete with an indestructible army of the risen dead...

In “Alive Day” by Jonathan Maberry, a US Army sergeant must dive into the underworld of modern-day Afghanistan to try and barter for the release of his team, never dreaming of the horrors that await him... (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was an awesome Anthology. I liked each story, there were no duds. I really enjoyed how each author wrote on the same premise, and the different directions they all took. I also liked how they were in novella format, how each story was 80 to 90 pages. I felt like I got real, fleshed out stories, and I think this was because they were able to tell a longer story. I really enjoyed this. I think it would make for great Halloween reading.

Story #1 was Suffer the Children by Kelley Armstrong and this was my favorite of the anthology. It's about a village that has been hit by an outbreak of diphtheria which has killed a lot of the residents, including children. Then a stranger comes to town and offers to bring back the recently dead children, for a price. A little girl named Addie and a man known as Preacher don't trust these visitors. They don't trust the hope they are selling. This story was really good. It was super dark and I loved it. It was my favorite out of the bunch. I really need to read more Kelley Armstrong.

Story #2 was Pipers by Christopher Golden. This was about a Texas border town that is terrorized by a Mexican Drug Cartel. In one violent act, the Cartel kills 23 of the residents. The town is suffering through grief, and then a man comes to town offering revenge! I liked this more than I thought I was going to. It was also deliciously dark.

Story #3 was A Bad Season for Necromancy by David Liss. This story probably took me the longest to get into, and it also took a different direction then the first two stories. Our main character is a rogue, a schemer, who gets his hands on a way to raise the dead. He decides this is the perfect way to make money, through a form of blackmail, but things turn out a little differently then he expects. I liked the twist of our main character being a con-man and using his power, but not really thinking of the consequences. It was a creative twist.

Story #4 was Alive Day by Jonathan Maberry. Out of all the stories, this was my least favorite, but I still liked it. This story takes an existing character from one of Maberry's series, Joe Ledger. Joe Ledger is part of a super-secret, super-tough military unit. Intel of a biological pathogen is given to a team who travels to Afghanistan to retrieve it. Something goes wrong and Joe Ledger's team is sent in. Something is in that desert, something ancient and dangerous. This story felt the most loose with the overall premise. Maybe it was the most creative, or maybe it did its own thing. It was also a very military story, which wasn't a bad thing. I've read the first book in the Joe Ledger Series and really enjoyed it. I do plan on continuing with it. This story in the Anthology was okay, but not my favorite of the bunch.

I really enjoyed this Anthology. I really liked the premise. I felt like all four Authors did a great job, there were no duds. I'd definitely recommend this. 

 

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Awesome! 

 

 

 

Reading Right Now! (280)

 Happy Friday! Happy Day After American Thanksgiving! How are we already at this point of the year? I probably sound like such an old person saying that, but it is true, the older you get, the more time flies. And I mean, I'm not too sad that 2020 is flying right out of here. I am sad that 2020 was such a dumpster fire. All that potential WASTED! I remember way back in good ol' January how we thought 2020 was going to be the Roaring '20's, just like 1920, but a dirty trick was played on us.

So, onto the reading. 

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

 

 -- He Started It by Samantha Dowing --

This book is one crazy ride! I'm really enjoying it and I'm almost finished with it. I hope the ending is satisfying for all the build up that's been happening. So this is about a group of siblings who have to recreate one childhood road trip in order to get their inheritance from their late grandfather. The more you read, the more you find out. I feel like the best way to go into this book is without really knowing a lot. There are tons of reveals, twists, and turns. It's just been a lot of fun and one crazy ride.

I really enjoyed Samantha Downing's first book, My Lovely Wife, and I'm glad that He Started It is not letting me down.

 

I do think, actually I know, that I'm going to finish He Started It very soon. I'm on page 350ish, so I thought I'd mention the book that I'm going to start next.

 

 

Valiant Dust (#1) by Richard Baker -- I'm ready for some sci-fi and this cover is just very pleasing to the eye.

 

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading? 

   

BLOG TOUR: Stolen to Wear His Crown by Marcella Bell

 I'm pretty excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Stolen to Wear His Crown by Marcella Bell. I received an advanced copy from the publisher for honest review. Thanks so much to Harlequin Presents and Marcella Bell for letting me be a part of this tour.

 

Title: Stolen to Wear His Crown

Author: Marcella Bell

Published by: Harlequin Presents 

Released: December 1, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads    Amazon

 Synopsis:
From unworldly scientist…
…to his fearless queen!  

Mina has finally achieved her dream of becoming chief scientific advisor of Cyrano, when she’s stolen from the interview room! She’s taken directly to the palace chapel, where the terms of a secret betrothal mean she must marry the king—immediately.

Powerful King Zayn knows all too well monarchs can’t afford dangerous distractions like love. Yet still, he’s appalled to be wed to a complete stranger! Mina is altogether too sensitive, too scholarly, too unpolished to be queen. But that can’t stop the desire that flares each time she looks his way… 

From Harlequin Presents: Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: Okay, okay, okay, this book might not be for everybody, but I kind of enjoyed it. It was in no way a realistic premise. Some of the stuff that went down was not okay, (people might say problematic) but as a suspend your disbelief romance, I enjoyed it. In ways, it kind of reminded me of the 365 Days movie.

There's just something about an arranged marriage that I find fascinating. In reality, I would hate it, but in a fictional book form, it just provides two people who have to learn to love each other. There's a lot of tension, a lot of trying to figure out the other person. It's a very weird dance of realizing that this person who you don't really know, is now your person. There's just something very interesting about that kind of relationship and I enjoy the journey. It also helps when they are both attractive and are a good match.

Mina is one intelligent and successful person. She is a lady that's worked hard for all that she has achieved. Zayn can be kind of a mess, sort of arrogant. He's got that King thing going on. Watching these two people come together and learn to love each other was satisfying.

This book was an interesting ride. I liked the storytelling and the writing. If you're looking for something to escape into, I'd say give this a shot.

Marcella Bell lives in the mostly-sunny wilds of Southern Oregon with her husband, children, father, and three mismatched mutts. The dry hot summers and four distinct annual seasons of the region are a far cry from the weird rainy streets of Portland, OR, where she grew up, but she wouldn’t trade her quirky mountain valley home for anyplace else on the earth. As a late bloomer and a yogini, Marcella is drawn to romance that showcases love’s incredible power to transform.

Thanks so much for stopping by my Blog Tour Post for Stolen to Wear His Crown by Marcella Bell. Thanks so much to Harlequin Presents and Marcella Bell for letting me be a part of this tour and giving me some fun romance.

BLOG TOUR: Custom Built by Chantal Fernando

 I'm really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Custom Built by Chantal Fernando, the first book in the Fast & Fury Series. I received an advanced copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Carina Press and Chantal Fernando for having me on this tour!

 

                                      Title: Custom Built (Fast & Fury #1)

Author: Chantal Fernando 

Published by: Carina Press

Released: November 23, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads    Amazon

 

Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author Chantal Fernando brings you Fast & Fury: A sexy new series fully loaded with intense emotions and edge-of-your-seat suspense. 

After losing her job, saying goodbye to a lifelong dream and having an all-around cruddy year, Bronte Pierce needs a break. A job at Fast & Fury might be just the thing to reset her life, even though she knows nothing about custom motorcycles. But taking a job isn’t the same as keeping it, and her fresh start quickly turns into a fresh nightmare.

Starting with her boss. Crow is hardheaded, stubborn and brutally honest. He may be easy on the eyes, but he runs with an MC and he’s anything but friendly to Bronte. She suspects he has a softer side—just not for her.
Her whole life, Bronte has known that the only person she can truly count on to save the day is herself. But when a single murder turns into a conspiracy and the threat to her life is more than she can handle alone, it’s Crow who comes through—and her newfound family might just become her greatest strength.

Fast & Fury

Book 1: Custom Built (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This was just what I wanted and needed. It was a very satisfying romance. Bronte is having a really rough go and needs something new. She gets a job at Fast & Fury, but there are definitely some challenges there. Her boss can be very hard to deal with even though he's very easy on the eyes.

I really enjoyed the romantic tension between Crow and Bronte. It was great!

This was a very fast story with everything I wanted. I sometimes struggle when it comes to Motorcycle Club romances, but this one just made me happy. If you're looking for a romance, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a shot. There's danger, murder, and relationships.

 

 

 

 

 

Chantal Fernando is the New York Times, USA Today and Amazon Bestselling Author of numerous novels, including Maybe This Time, The Wind Dragons MC Series, The Cursed Ravens MC and many more. Born in Sri Lanka, Chantal moved to Western Australia as a child, where she still resides. At age thirty two, Chantal has published over thirty novels, and has no intention of slowing down. When not reading, writing or daydreaming, she can be found enjoying life with her three sons and family. 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Custom Built by Chantal Fernando. Thanks so much to Carina Press and Chantal Fernando for letting me be a part of the tour. If you're looking for some motorcycle romance, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a go.

 

Review: Switchback (Nightshades #2) by Melissa F. Olson

 

                                       Title: Switchback (Nightshades #2)

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Published by: Tor (Tom Doherty Associates / Tor.com)

Released: 2017

Source: Library

Synopsis: The Bureau of Preternatural Investigations returns in the sequel to Melissa F. Olson's Nightshades. 

Three weeks after the events of Nightshades, things are finally beginning to settle for the Chicago branch of the BPI, but the brief respite from the horror of the previous few weeks was never destined to last.

The team gets a call from Switch Creek, WI, where a young man has been arrested on suspicion of being a shade.

The suspect is held overnight, pending DNA testing, but seemingly escapes in a terrifying and bloody massacre. But is there more to the jailbreak than a simple quest for freedom? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This is the second book in the Nightshades Trilogy. I really enjoy this series. It's about a special unit of the FBI who investigate vampire related crimes. It has just been discovered that vampires exist, so the world is scrambling to process this. The task force also has a secret vampire on their team named Lindy.

This story takes up maybe two months after the events in the first book. Hector is still on the wind and Lindy is looking for him. I will admit that I didn't remember everything that happened in Book One. I shouldn't have waited so long before reading the second installment. (future me chiming in: I still haven't read the third book, so I obviously don't listen to my own advice at all haha).

I really enjoy the special investigative unit/police procedural aspect to this story. I think it does a really good balance between the paranormal and the real world.

It has a very gritty feel to it, which works well for the story.

It was very quick and fast-paced. There really weren't any slow spots or boring bits. I was always interested to see what was going to happen next. It had a very interesting crime and I wasn't sure where it was going to go.

This does end on a cliffhanger, so I'm going to need to read Book 3 pronto. (Future me laughs and laughs at this statement because I still haven't done it).

Switchblade was a great follow-up to Nightshade. I really like this world and feel. I'm excited to see what happens next. 

 

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5 

Beware the Creatures of the Night!  

Reading Right Now! (279)

 I did it! I finally finished the book that I've been reading for a week and a half (almost) and finally got to move on to something new. I feel so good about that. That book from last week really drained me, physically, emotionally, mentally (over dramatic, yes). I needed something new.

So, what I'm Reading Right Now! is...

Still Mine (#1)  by Amy Stuart -  This is a mystery/thriller. Our main character Clare is in hiding/on the run from an abusive husband. She's also a recovering addict. She gets hired by a man to travel to this small, dying former mining town to investigate the disappearance of a local girl, without really calling attention to herself. She's not a detective, a police officer, or a PI. She seems a strange choice for this task.

I'm enjoying this, but I definitely have some questions. It's a very fast book, which I like. The writing is really easy to get into. I just don't understand the why of it all. Why was Clare chosen to investigate this? How is she supposed to investigate this without calling attention to herself? This town is tiny. Everyone notices the new girl, especially the mystery woman who claims to be a photographer there to take pictures. I just don't see how they set her up for success with this assignment.

I'm kinda liking the story though. I'm interested.

 

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading this weekend? It's almost Thanksgiving for America! Wow. 2020 is crazy. 

BLOG TOUR: The Wife He Needs by Brenda Jackson

I'm really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Wife He Needs by Brenda Jackson. I received an early copy for honest review from the publisher through Netgalley. Thanks so much to Harlequin Desire and Brenda Jackson for letting me be a part of this tour!

 

Title: The Wife He Needs

Author: Brenda Jackson

Published by: Harlequin Desire

Released: December 15, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher through Netgalley

Goodreads    Amazon

 

Synopsis: Will this billionaire bachelor say “I do” to love? Find out, only from New York Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson!
He desires her more than any other woman.
But falling in love isn’t part of the plan.
The arrangement is simple: a two-week getaway, then a marriage of convenience. Until Garth Outlaw’s potential bride is a no-show. Now family pilot Regan Fairchild is sharing his bed—and he can’t get enough…even though he’s vowed never to love again. Can Regan convince him the wife he needs and the woman he desires are one and the same? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this one, no surprise there. This story features a grieving man who is resistant to finding love again. Garth has vowed that his first wife will be the woman his heart always belongs to. He proposes a marriage of convenience to another woman, but she doesn't show up! Garth then finds himself becoming entangled and losing his heart to Regan who works for his family.

I liked how Garth was able to find love again, but I also think it's important that he's a character that has dealt with loss. I though it was very sweet how his first wife was still so important to him.

There was some steam in this one, which was good.

I just really enjoyed this romance. It was the perfect book to lose myself in for a while. Brenda Jackson tells a good story.

Brenda Jackson is a New York Times bestselling author of more than one hundred romance titles. Brenda lives in Jacksonville, Florida, and divides her time between family, writing and traveling. Email Brenda at authorbrendajackson@gmail.com or visit her on her website at brendajackson.net.

 

 Thanks so much for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for The Wife He Needs by Brenda Jackson. Thank you to Harlequin Desire and Brenda Jackson for letting me be a part of the tour.

Review: Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibanez

 

 

 

Title: Woven in Moonlight (#1)

Author: Isabel Ibanez

Published by: Page Street Books

Released: 2020

Source: Library

 

Synopsis: A lush tapestry of magic, romance, and revolución, drawing inspiration from Bolivian politics and history. 

Ximena is the decoy Condesa, a stand-in for the last remaining Illustrian royal. Her people lost everything when the usurper, Atoc, used an ancient relic to summon ghosts and drive the Illustrians from La Ciudad. Now Ximena’s motivated by her insatiable thirst for revenge, and her rare ability to spin thread from moonlight.

When Atoc demands the real Condesa’s hand in marriage, it’s Ximena’s duty to go in her stead. She relishes the chance, as Illustrian spies have reported that Atoc’s no longer carrying his deadly relic. If Ximena can find it, she can return the true aristócrata to their rightful place.

She hunts for the relic, using her weaving ability to hide messages in tapestries for the resistance. But when a masked vigilante, a warm-hearted princess, and a thoughtful healer challenge Ximena, her mission becomes more complicated. There could be a way to overthrow the usurper without starting another war, but only if Ximena turns her back on revenge—and her Condesa. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This book made me feel two types of ways. The majority of this story was light and cute. Then there were parts that veered into viciousness. Those two different styles didn't gel the best for me. I'm not even sure if I can explain it.

To me, this book had a very light writing style, which I enjoyed. It didn't feel like bad things should happen, and then they just came out of nowhere. It felt weird.

I loved all the food references that were in this story. They all sounded delicious and made me hungry.

I felt like this needed more world building and a better explanation of the magic. The magical elements were cool, but I didn't understand the how and why of the magical gifts. Some just felt very random in nature.

I also thought the attraction between our main character and her original guard was sort of odd. One minute he's throwing her against a wall to check for weapons, and the next, she's noticing how sharp his cheekbones are. It just didn't feel like the right time or place.

I wasn't surprised by some of the twists and turns this took, some were fairly obvious.

I also liked the magical weaving that happened. That was pretty cool.

I did enjoy how it all ended and I am excited to see what happens in this world next.

Woven in Moonlight was a good time. I really enjoyed the writing style. The magic was cool, but pretty random at the same time. It was a book that had a really vibrant atmosphere. I liked it.

I also want to mention the beautiful cover. I especially love how the author designed it. Very talented.

 

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.8/5

Cute.  

Reading Right Now! (278)

 Well Hello, Hello! I know I haven't been posting as much as much as usual, but this month has given me a break when it comes to blog tours. It's been kinda nice. Sometimes, I know I should probably type a review or a monthly wrap up (which I haven't done in forever, oops), but then I just get really lazy and I don't even turn on my computer.

The way this pandemic has just been going on and on and on has really taken the pep right out of me. I is tired. But Hooray for Friday! I had a shortened work week because I got Veterans' Day off, that was nice, and it made Friday just come that little bit quicker.

So, enough of my rambling that you don't really care about or want. Here's what I'm Reading Right Now!

 

 

 

A Peculiar Peril by Jeff VanderMeer -- I am feeling just the slightest bit betrayed by this cover. I think this cover is a big reason that I wanted to read this book, and while it is truthful about some of the content of the book, it also lies by making the book seem cooler then it actually is. This Book Is Boring! It is 650+ pages of endless words that are not telling that interesting of a story.

I am not a DNF person. I like to give a book every chance it can to impress me. Sure, it might make me waste some time reading something that I'm not that excited about, but it's just the way I am. This book has now become a challenge for me. I'm determined to read every slow-going page and rate it accordingly when finished.

I've read stuff by Jeff VanderMeer before and have liked it, but this book is just too weird. It's not even interesting weird, it's just boring weird. It's almost like he just went stream of consciousness on the page and just kept writing and writing and writing. I don't really care about any of the characters, the plot is super slow and only barely keeping my attention. It's just very strange and blah.

So my plan is to conquer this beast! I will finish this, hopefully this weekend or the beginning of next week. I'm almost half way through. Maybe you've got to be the right person for this book, or be in the right kind of mindset to read this. Right now, I am just very bored. I'm not amused. I don't understand the choices.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you Reading? Anything good or interesting?

BLOG TOUR: Claiming the Rancher's Heir by Maisey Yates

I'm very excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Claiming the Rancher's Heir by Maisey Yates. I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher through Netgalley. Thanks so much to Harlequin Desire and Maisey Yates for letting me be a part of the tour!

 

 

Title: Claiming the Rancher's Heir

Author: Maisey Yates

Published by: Harlequin Desire

Released: November 10, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads    Amazon

 

Synopsis: Arrogant, infuriating, insufferable… 

And the sexiest man she’s ever met.  

Wren Maxfield hates Creed Cooper, but now she’s working with the wealthy rancher over the holidays! Those strong feelings hide undeniable chemistry…and one wild night results in pregnancy. Now Creed vows to claim his heir. That means proposing a marriage in name only. But as desire takes over, is that a deal they can keep? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: Cute and full of drama, I really enjoyed Claiming the Rancher's Heir. These characters had a lot of passion, a lot of drama, and a lot of misunderstandings. Then comes the surprise pregnancy and the marriage of convience... oooh boy.

I thought this was fun. It was a really quick book to breeze through and it was just fun to get lost in. I love the marriage of convenience angle, it's one of my favorite things to read in romance.

This was just fun. I'd recommend it if you want a fun romance to read. Creed and Wren have a lot of drama going on, but it's entertaining.

 

 

Maisey Yates is a New York Times bestselling author of over one hundred romance novels. Whether she's writing strong, hard working cowboys, dissolute princes or multigenerational family stories, she loves getting lost in fictional worlds. An avid knitter with a dangerous yarn addiction and an aversion to housework, Maisey lives with her husband and three kids in rural Oregon. Check out her website, maiseyyates.com or find her on Facebook.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for Claiming the Rancher's Heir by Maisey Yates. Thank you Harlequin Desire and Maisey Yates for letting me be a part of this fun tour. If you're in the mood for some romance, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try.

 

Review: A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell #1) by Deanna Raybourn

 

 

 

Title: A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell #1)

Author: Deanna Raybourn

Published by: Berkley Books

Released: September 2015

Source: Library

 

Synopsis: London, 1887. 

After burying her spinster aunt, orphaned Veronica Speedwell is free to resume her world travels in pursuit of scientific inquiry—and the occasional romantic dalliance. As familiar with hunting butterflies as with fending off admirers, Veronica intends to embark upon the journey of a lifetime. 

But fate has other plans when Veronica thwarts her own attempted abduction with the help of an enigmatic German baron, who offers her sanctuary in the care of his friend Stoker, a reclusive and bad-tempered natural historian. But before the baron can reveal what he knows of the plot against her, he is found murdered—leaving Veronica and Stoker on the run from an elusive assailant as wary partners in search of the villainous truth. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: This book had a very high chaos energy. When I first started it, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but the more I read, the more hooked I got. Veronica Speedwell is no 19th century lady. She pretty much does what she wants. She's a leopedtrist, a butterfly hunter. She travels the world. Has dalliances with foreign men. She's very independent. When Veronica gets left with Stoker, sparks really do fly.

It jumps into the action very quickly. One minute she's in London, the next they've joined a traveling circus. It was hard to wrap my head around it all in the beginning. It did feel very chaotic, but in a fun way.

One reason I was slowed down in the beginning of the book was some of the language. It felt like using big words just to use big words.

Veronica and Stoker have great chemistry, they make a good team. I can see them becoming much more in future books. Their banter is really fun.

I had a lot of fun with A Curious Beginning and I can't wait to read more of Veronica and Stoker's adventures.

 

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.8/5

High Chaos  

Review: Swamp Thing: Twin Branches by Maggie Stiefvater and Morgan Beem

 

 

 

Title: Swamp Thing: Twin Branches

Written by: Maggie Stiefvater

Illustrated by: Morgan Beem

Colors by: Jeremy Lawson

Letters by: Ariana Maher

Published by: DC Comics

Released: October 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher / Library Copy from Hoopla

 

Synopsis: Twins Alec and Walker Holland have a reputation around town. One is quiet and the other is the life of any party, but they are inseparable. For their last summer before college, the two leave the city to live with their rural cousins, where they find that the swamp holds far darker depths than they could have imagined. 

While Walker carves their names into the new social scene, Alec recedes into a summer school laboratory, because he brought something from home on their trip—it’s an experiment that will soon consume him. This season, both brothers must confront truths, ancient and familial, and as their lives diverge, tensions increase and dormant memories claw to the surface. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher. Thank you DC Comics for giving me the chance to read this one early.

This was weird. I am probably at a disadvantage because I know next to nothing about Swamp Thing. I don't know the backstory, the current story, nothing. I really didn't know what I was going into.

So this story has twins, Alec and Walker Holland, who are sent to stay with their aunt and cousins for the summer. Walker is Mr. Popular, he can make friends anywhere. He likes to party and live life. Alec is an introvert and a scientist. He's obsessed with his research regarding plant feelings. Walker tries to pull Alec out of his shell, to have some fun.

I don't know how I feel about Alec. As a fellow introvert, I can definitely sympathize, but he seemed to take things to the extreme. It was like he didn't try. I just felt kind of distant from his character.

There was also a lot of science plant stuff in here which I didn't always understand, or found the most fun.

There was a lot of weirdness in this story and I don't know if it was good weird. It was kind of like, what's going on? And just to put it out there, I would side with Alec's cousins about what happened to the dogs. You don't mess with dogs. Alec could have shown a lot more sympathy about that.

The art was okay. It was its own style, which I didn't hate. The colors were good too.

The ending was very weird, almost off the rails strange. It probably wouldn't have come as much of a shock if I actually knew things about Swamp Thing. That was probably my number one problem.

This comic was strange, weird, and I'm not sure I loved it. I should have had more Swamp Thing knowledge before I read this. 

 

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3/5

Weird.  

BLOG TOUR: Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella by Tara Pammi

I am very excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella by Tara Pammi. It's been a stressful year, and sometimes you just need a steamy romance to take your mind away from it all. I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Harlequin Presents and Tara Pammi for letting me be a part of this blog tour.

 

 

 

 Title: Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella

Author: Tara Pammi

Published by: Harlequin Presents

Released: November 1, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads    Amazon

Synopsis: He’s a Bollywood superstar, she’s a personal assistant… And their one night proves that keeping things professional will be impossible in this passionate and uplifting Cinderella romance from Tara Pammi. 

A brief encounter… A forbidden fairy tale! 

The hottest actor in Bollywood, Vikram Raawal has found love countless times—when he’s playing a role. In real life, he’s given up on finding a soul-deep connection and prefers to focus entirely on his career. Until at a masquerade ball, one woman leaves him craving more…

Naina Menon’s first impression of drop-dead gorgeous Vikram left much to be desired. But then one heart-stopping night shows her there’s so much more to him than his celebrity persona. Still, he’s a billionaire, and she’s a humble assistant. Is passion enough to bridge their different worlds? (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: There is nothing quite as nice as some romance in your life. Claiming His Bollywood Bride was a perfect escape read for me. It took my mind off the world for awhile and I enjoyed it. We've got an actor, a Bollywood Actor no less, and his personal assistant. Sparks fly!

I also love that this is a Cinderella inspired romance. Give me a fairy tale any day.

I enjoyed this book. It was fun, it was quick, and it was steamy. I liked the couple and I liked the romance. I really enjoyed that the main man was a Bollywood actor. It was a fun story to zip through. 

If you're looking for a quick romance, I'd definitely say give this one a shot.

 

 

Tara Pammi can't remember a moment when she wasn't lost in a book, especially a romance which, as a teenager, was much more exciting than mathematics textbook. Years later Tara’s wild imagination and love for the written word revealed what she really wanted to do: write! She lives in Colorado with the most co-operative man on the planet and two daughters. Tara loves to hear from readers and can be reached at tara.pammi@gmail.com or her website www.tarapammi.com. 

 

 

Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella by Tara Pammi. Thanks so much to Harlequin Presents and Tara Pammi for letting me be a part of the tour. Go get you some romance!

 

BLOG TOUR: Creatures by Crissy Van Meter

 I am very excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for Creatures by Crissy Van Meter. I received a free copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Algonquin Books and Crissy Van Meter for letting me be a part of this tour. As soon as I saw that cover, I knew I had to read it.

 

 

 

Title: Creatures

Author: Crissy Van Meter

Published by: Algonquin Books

Released: January 7, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads    Amazon

 

Synopsis: On the eve of Evangeline’s wedding, a dead whale is trapped in the harbor of Winter Island, the groom may be lost at sea, and Evie’s mostly absent mother has shown up out of the blue. From there, in this mesmerizing, provocative debut, Evie remembers and reckons with her complicated upbringing in this lush, wild land off the coast of Southern California. 

Evie grew up with her well-meaning but negligent father, surviving on the money he made dealing the island’s world-famous strain of marijuana, Winter Wonderland. Although he raised her with a deep respect for the elements, the sea, and the creatures living within it, he also left her to parent herself. With wit, love, and bracing  ashes of anger, Creatures probes the complexities of love and abandonment, guilt and forgiveness, betrayal and grief—and the ways in which our ability to love can be threatened if we are not brave enough to conquer the past. 

Lyrical, darkly funny, and ultimately cathartic, Creatures exerts a pull as strong as the tides. (Synopsis from Goodreads )

 

My Thoughts: What a debut! What an experience! This book sent me on a wild ride from page one. It's very lyrical and feels like an odd dream.

Creatures is a book that you have to be open to. You have to let the experience in. It's not a book that is going to make it easy for you.

I enjoyed the story. It could be a little tough for me at times, but it was very unique as well. It was a very interesting book to experience.

If literary fiction is your jam, I'd definitely recommend giving Creatures a read. It's a masterful debut. 

 

 

 Crissy Van Meter grew up in Southern California. Her writing has appeared in Vice, Bustle, Guernica, and Catapult. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the New School. She lives in Los Angeles.

 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for Creatures by Crissy Van Meter. Thanks to Algonquin Books and Crissy Van Meter for letting me be a part of this tour. If you're looking for a book that's a little different, I'd definitely say give this one a try.

 

 

BLOG TOUR: The Wrong Kind of Woman by Sarah McCraw Crow

 I'm really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Wrong Kind of Woman by Sarah McCraw Crow. I received a copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Mira Books and Sarah McCraw Crow for letting me be a part of the tour.

 

 

 

Title: The Wrong Kind of Woman

Author: Sarah McCraw Crow

Published by: Mira Books

Released: October 6, 2020

Source: Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads    Amazon

 

Synopsis:A powerful exploration of what a woman can be when what she should be is no longer an option 

In late 1970, Oliver Desmarais drops dead in his front yard while hanging Christmas lights. In the year that follows, his widow, Virginia, struggles to find her place on the campus of the elite New Hampshire men's college where Oliver was a professor. While Virginia had always shared her husband's prejudices against the four outspoken, never-married women on the faculty--dubbed the Gang of Four by their male counterparts--she now finds herself depending on them, even joining their work to bring the women's movement to Clarendon College.

Soon, though, reports of violent protests across the country reach this sleepy New England town, stirring tensions between the fraternal establishment of Clarendon and those calling for change. As authorities attempt to tamp down "radical elements," Virginia must decide whether she's willing to put herself and her family at risk for a cause that had never felt like her own.

Told through alternating perspectives, The Wrong Kind of Woman is an engrossing story about finding the strength to forge new paths, beautifully woven against the rapid changes of the early 70s. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts;  This was a sweet and powerful story about a woman finding her own way. After Virginia's husband dies suddenly, her life changes completely. She has to decide what to do with her future, decide who she is going to be. It's a really strong story about being a woman and fighting for your rights.

This book does have a bit of a slow start to it, but it eventually hits that sweet spot and tells a very interesting story. It's told in alternating perspectives. I was never bored with the book, I was always interested to see where it was going to go next.

Sarah McCraw Crow has a really nice writing style. I liked it.

The Wrong Kind of Woman tells an important story about the power of women. It tells the story of a woman coming into her own with the help of other women. It's an important story. I'd definitely recommend giving this one a read. 

 

 

 Sarah McCraw Crow grew up in Virginia but has lived most of her adult life in New Hampshire. Her short fiction has run in Calyx, Crab Orchard Review, Good Housekeeping, So to Speak, Waccamaw, and Stanford Alumni Magazine. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Stanford University, and is finishing an MFA degree at Vermont College of Fine Arts. When she's not reading or writing, she's probably gardening or snowshoeing (depending on the weather).

 

 Thanks so much for stopping by my Blog Tour Stop for The Wrong Kind of Woman by Sarah McCraw Crow. Thank you to Mira Books and Sarah McCraw Crow for letting me be a part of the tour. I'd definitely recommend giving it a read.