reviews

Review of Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani plus a $25 Giveaway

Today is the official release of Sunbolt by author Intisar Khanani. Last year I reviewed the author’s first book, Thorn, and I loved it, so I was excited to read the first book of The Sunbolt Chronicles. I was not disappointed! Sunbolt is an awesome piece of work.

Read on to know about the book and enter the awesome giveaway!

Sunbolt (Book One of the Sunbolt Chronicles)

The winding streets and narrow alleys of Karolene hide many secrets, and Hitomi is one of them. Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude and who her parents really were. Most of all, she must conceal her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to undermine the powerful and corrupt Arch Mage Wilhelm Blackflame.

When the League gets word that Blackflame intends to detain—and execute—a leading political family, Hitomi volunteers to help the family escape. But there are more secrets at play than Hitomi’s, and much worse fates than execution. When Hitomi finds herself captured along with her charges, it will take everything she can summon to escape with her life. — Goodreads

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Review: The Heart of Darkness Club by Gary Reilly

I finished this book on the same day I posted that I was late with this review. On that day I finished my work, did a couple of posts (including my tour stop post for this book), had a late dinner and then plopped down on my bed with my iPad and finished the book relatively quickly! Anyway, I don’t want to bore you with any more details about that so let’s talk about the book, shall we?

The Heart of Darkness Club by Gary Reilly

The entire book is narrated from a first person perspective by the main character Murph, a 40-something Denver cab driver who also happens to be an English major grad and an unpublished novelist. The book is basically a snapshot of his life as a cabbie or as an “asphalt warrior” and about what kind of person he is, and then it gets pretty interesting when he picks up a guy who may or may have not left him a note on a five dollar bill. He picks this guy up a couple more times before the guy disappears and Murph gets investigated by the police.

The Heart of Darkness Club is the third book in the Asphalt Warrior Series. Find out more about the series here.

Great writing, great story

I really liked this book. I loved the writing style, the flow of the story, the plot itself, the characters, almost everything. The cover could use a little more work because it just doesn’t capture how interesting this book is. I haven’t read the first two novels in the series, but it didn’t matter because The Heart of Darkness Club can stand on its own. There may be references to stuff that happened in the previous books, but the author didn’t dwell on those too much and they didn’t leave any burning questions for the reader.

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Review: Stalking Shadows by Tahlia Newland

I finally have my review of Stalking Shadows! This is the second book in the Diamond Peak series by author Tahlia Newland. I read the first book, Lethal Inheritance, last December. Checkitoutfolks.

Title: Stalking Shadows (Book two of the Diamond Peak Series)
Author: Tahlia Newland
Publisher: Catapult Press
Genre: New adult contemporary fantasy

Ripped from the safety of our world and thrust into a strange hidden realm on a quest to save her mother, Ariel aims to confront the Master Demon, but first she must defeat his bodyguard. In order reach the safe haven of Sheldra, she has to pass through dangerous terrain and battle demons, spirits, rogue Magicians and her own conflicting emotions.Ariel wants to retain a clear focus on the task at hand so, despite Nick’s protests, she insists of a friends-only relationship with him. But the very thing she hoped would simplify her quest only complicates it with emotional, energetic and hormonal turmoil.Despite Walnut’s continued guidance, Ariel finds herself constantly forced to rely on her own resources. Will she find the inner strength and wisdom she needs to defeat Amic and continue her journey?

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Blog Tour, Giveaway, and Review – Byzantine Gold by Chris Karlsen

I think this is the fifth to the last blog tour I have for this first half of the year! In this new book, Byzantine Gold by author Chris Karlsen, the characters from Golden Chariot (book #1), Charlotte and Atakan, go on another exciting and dangerous treasure dive. Check out the book and enter the blog tour giveaway for a chance to win a $50 Amazon GC, ebooks, and t-shirts!

Byzantine Gold

A sunken warship from the Byzantine Era carrying an unusual cargo of gold has been found off the coast of Northern Cyprus. News of the valuable cache has attracted the attention of a terrorist cell. They plan to attack the recovery team’s campsite and steal the artifacts. On the Black Market, the sale of the relics will buy them additional weapons.

Charlotte Dashiell, an American archaeologist, and her lover, Atakan Vadim, a Turkish government agent, are scheduled to be part of the recovery team that brings up the artifacts. While en route to Cyprus, they find themselves caught in the crosshairs of Maksym Tischenko, a Ukrainian contract killer bent on revenge. Charlotte, Atakan and Tischenko share a grim history. As a result, Tischenko is a man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goal—seeing them both dead. — Goodreads

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Review: Submerged by Cheryl Kaye Tardif

A few weeks ago I had a blog tour stop for the book Submerged by author Cheryl Kaye Tardif. I finished the book a few days after I posted the tour stop, but only got around to doing my review now. Here it is!

About the book

Two strangers submerged in guilt, brought together by fate…

After a tragic car accident claims the lives of his wife, Jane, and son, Ryan, Marcus Taylor is immersed in grief. But his family isn’t the only thing he has lost. An addiction to painkillers has taken away his career as a paramedic. Working as a 911 operator is now the closest he gets to redemption—until he gets a call from a woman trapped in a car.

Rebecca Kingston yearns for a quiet weekend getaway, so she can think about her impending divorce from her abusive husband. When a mysterious truck runs her off the road, she is pinned behind the steering wheel, unable to help her two children in the back seat. Her only lifeline is a cell phone with a quickly depleting battery and a stranger’s calm voice on the other end telling her everything will be all right. — Goodreads.

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Review of Alexander Drake’s Extraordinary Pursuit and The Return of General Drake by Elizabeth Parkinson-Bellows

Yay, I was finally able to write quick reviews for the first two books of the children’s fantasy and adventure series by author Elizabeth Parkinson-Bellows! Check out my thoughts on the books and enter the blog tour giveaway at the end of this post. :)

Alexander Drake’s Extraordinary Pursuit 

Meet Alexander Drake, a curious young man living in a drab, oversized mansion with his secretive father. He spent his days playing alone. In the back of his mind he wondered what happened to his mother, and why his father was tight-lipped about the past; but secrets have a way of getting out.It all started with a stay at his grandmother’s cottage. Alexander found strange clues tucked away in his father’s old bedroom. With a mysterious key and several maps in his pack he set off on an innocent search for answers about his family.When he discovered a secret passageway the search took a dramatic turn. He suddenly worried about what was searching for him. Alexander was being hunted by a sorcerer from his father’s past. Answers lead to more questions and the journey of his life.Join Alexander for a thrilling adventure in Azra’s Pith, a place of beauty and magic… but beware—something evil lurks in the shadows.

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Blog Tour and $25 Giveaway: Alexander Drake by Elizabeth Parkinson-Bellows

I kinda like reading middle grade books once in a while. They’re usually light and easy reads. The Alexander Drake books are no exceptions. I will be posting my review within the week! In the meantime, check out these books and enter the tour-wide giveaway. ;)

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Blog Tour – Review of January Black by Wendy S. Russo

Okay, here’s my review of January Black by Wendy S. Russo! Check it out, folks! Then check out the blog tour goodies. ;)

January Black

Sixteen-year-old genius Matty Ducayn has never fit in on The Hill, an ordered place seriously lacking a sense of humor. After his school’s headmaster expels him for a small act of mischief, Matty’s future looks grim until King Hadrian comes to his rescue with a challenge: answer a question for a master’s diploma.

More than a second chance, this means freedom. Masters can choose where they work, a rarity among Regents, and the question is simple.

What was January Black?

It’s a ship. Everyone knows that. Hadrian rejects that answer, though, and Matty becomes compelled by curiosity and pride to solve the puzzle. When his search for an answer turns up long-buried state secrets, Matty’s journey becomes a collision course with a deadly royal decree. He’s been set up to fail, which forces him to choose. Run for his life with the challenge lost…or call the king’s bluff.

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Blog Tour & $50 Giveaway: Lords of Prophecy (The Prophecies #3) by Michael A. Rothman


So we have another review stop this week. Today we have Lords of Prophecy, the final book in the middle grade fantasy trilogy The Prophecies by author Michael A. Rothman. I reviewed the first two books last year and they were really fun reads. I’m so glad to read the final book in the series. Check out my quick review below and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card! Woot.

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