Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Friday, April 12, 2024

[Review] — James Patterson's "MISSING PERSONS" is a Paperback Rack Fluff

Buy the Paperback on *Amazon.com

I'm a bit confused about how many books are in the "Private" series by James Patterson. I have seen 22 books listed as part of the series, but the latest one published in the US is "MISSING PERSONS." This book is listed as #16 in the series, even though it was originally published as "Private Rogue" in the UK by Century in 2021. (Note: Fantastic Fiction lists nineteen books in the Private series.)

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

[Review] — "THE TEACHER" is a Twisted Page-Turner

*Buy the paperback on Amazon.com

I have come across the name Fredia McFadden in bookstores time and time again, and I was curious about her books. So, I decided to read her new thriller, THE TEACHER, which Poisoned Pen Press recently published. I had no idea what genre McFadden wrote in before starting the book. After reading the short prologue, I thought it was written for young adults because I believed the prologue protagonist was a teenager. Chapter one begins with an adult point of view through the eyes of Eve, then we meet troubled teenager Addie, and later in the novel, readers see through the eyes of Eve's husband, Nate. The entire novel flips back and forth between these three characters, which is something I usually detest, but this storytelling method works well here. 

Thursday, April 4, 2024

[Review] — "A LIFE WITH GHOSTS" is a Fun Behind-the-Scenes Look at Ghost Hunting


I read A Life With Ghosts last autumn, sometime around its release date, but I don't remember the exact date. I intended to write a review right away, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it kept getting postponed until now.

Thursday, March 28, 2024

[Review] — Harlan Ellison's "GREATEST HITS"

Available to buy on *Paperback and *Kindle.
Find it on Goodreads and Books2Read
(*Paid Link) 

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the GREATEST HITS by Harlan Ellison Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

[Review] — Seven of Nine Returns in "STAR TREK: PICARD: FIREWALL"


Star Trek
has always been and will always be a "niche" genre. Though tie-in novel releases have gotten increasingly rare over the years, I always appreciate them when they are published. The first of just a handful of new Star Trek novels in 2024, STAR TREK: PICARD: FIREWALL, was penned by New York Times best-selling author David Mack and released by Gallery Books last month.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

[Review] — "THE NIGHTMARE MACHINE" is an Exciting Start to a Trilogy

Find the book on Goodreads and Books2Read


I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on THE NIGHTMARE MACHINE by Tim White Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 


About the Book


What is The Nightmare Machine? Think Silent Hill meets Inception and Monster Hunter International.

Five millennia of suffering. A pilgrimage steeped in terror. Will her quest bring redemption or only a false promise of salvation?


Bangor, Maine. Sara Holcomb knows what she must do. Raised within a secret order devoted to protecting humanity from a malevolent god, the dutiful seventeen-year-old prepares for a terrifying expedition through a world of nightmares. So when the time comes, she convinces three close friends to escort her on a perilous journey to an otherworldly cathedral of bone and blood.


Transported to a land of chaos and horror while they sleep, Sara wrestles with guilt at bringing people she holds dear to this hell from which they may not escape. And as vicious traps and pitiless creatures tear at their bodies and minds, the honor-bound young woman fears they won’t be strong enough to complete the mission that will preserve mankind.


Purchase the book directly from Tim! There’s also a prequel novella! 

 


My Review


THE NIGHTMARE MACHINE is an exciting start to a new series, specifically—a trilogy. In just a few pages, Tim White, the author, captures readers' attention and transports them to a fantastical voyage. On paper, the plot of a teenager, Sara, destined to save the world sounds tired and repetitive—but rescued by the author's brilliant use of expression and vivid descriptions help to give Sara genuine emotional depth. The other characters, particularly Sara's friends, are also well-written. 

 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading THE NIGHTMARE MACHINE—and the nearly 600 pages flew by quickly. You will have a good time reading it. ╌★★★★★

 


About Tim White



Tim White is an author, editor, writing coach, and game designer in Phoenix, Arizona. He started writing fiction in 1996 and nonfiction in 2006. As of 2023, he has published more than 1,000 nonfiction articles and three nonfiction books. He has written three novels, four novellas, dozens of tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) scripts, and hundreds of short stories.


Tim is a zealous crusader for the power of storytelling to promote human flourishing. He writes fiction in several genres, particularly one that he calls “Romantic horror” (as in “Romantic-era novelists” such as Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas, not as in “romance novel”). This little-known genre is unique in that it uses fear as a backdrop against which heroism is sharply contrasted, dramatized, and elevated.


Tim’s storytelling philosophy is summed up eloquently by one of his favorite authors:


    “I often hear people say that they read to escape reality, but I believe that what they’re really doing is reading to find reason for hope, to find strength. While a bad book leaves readers with a sense of hopelessness and despair, a good novel, through stories of values realized, of wrongs righted, can bring to readers a connection to the wonder of life. A good novel shows how life can and ought to be lived. It not only entertains but energizes and uplifts readers.”Terry Goodkind


Before transitioning to writing full time, Tim was an Army combat medic, and later, a nurse paramedic specializing in trauma and surgery. He is a lifelong shooter and has ranked moderately well in state-level 3-gun competitions. He loves board games, video games, and role-playing games; cats; Pembroke Corgis; good coffee; good books; and escape rooms. He owns an escape room venue in Arizona, where he designs and builds every prop and puzzle in-house.


Sign up for one or all of Tim's Newsletters!


Website | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details

(there are 2 giveaways)


Bargain Booksy Giveaway


One winner will be chosen at random on 4/15/2024 and notified via email that they have won the 20 eBooks and a Kindle.


Giveaway Link: https://www.bargainbooksy.com/thriller-giveaway-021524/


Rockstar Book Tours Giveaway


1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours, International.


Ends March 5th, midnight EST.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule


Week One:

2/19/2024

@darkfantasyreviews

IG Post

2/19/2024

Kountry Girl Bookaholic

Excerpt/IG Post

2/20/2024

jlreadstoperpetuity

IG Post

2/20/2024

Writer of Wrongs

Excerpt

2/21/2024

The Melting Plot

IG Post

2/21/2024

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

2/22/2024

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt/IG Post

2/22/2024

GryffindorBookishnerd

IG Review

2/23/2024

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

2/23/2024

@books.mo.reads

IG Review

 Week Two:

2/26/2024

Books and Zebras

IG Review

2/26/2024

@stargirls.magical.tale

IG Review

2/27/2024

@dana.loves.books

IG Review/TikTok Post

2/27/2024

Review Thick And Thin

Review/IG Post

2/28/2024

FUONLYKNEW

Review

2/28/2024

The Momma Spot

Review

2/29/2024

One More Exclamation

Review/IG Post

2/29/2024

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Review/IG Post

3/1/2024

Confessions of the Perfect Mom

Review/IG Post

3/1/2024

Country Mamas With Kids

Review/IG Post


Tuesday, February 13, 2024

[Review] — "LOSING SPRING" is Jumbled Mess


It came to my attention that Chasing Endless Summer by V.C. Andrews (ghostwritten by Andrew Neiderman) was released today from Gallery Books; then, I realized I hadn't written my review for the previous book, Losing Spring. I've owned a copy of the latter since October of last year, and I took my sweet time reading it because—well, I knew it would be terrible from the start, and I was right.

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

[Review] — Gunnar Hansen's "CHAIN SAW CONFIDENTIAL"


With the recent "rumored" reports of another reboot sequel to the Texas Chainsaw Massacre spreading online, it occurred to me that I should write a review for the reprint of Gunner Hansen's Chain Saw Confidential (available to purchase on *Paperback and *Kindle), which was released by Dark Ink, a division of AM Ink Publishing, last year, featuring a new cover design by Alicia Adkins. (*Paid Link)

Thursday, February 1, 2024

[Review] — "VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE: THE COMPLETE SERIES" Has a Lot of Bite!

Find it on Goodreads and Books2Read

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE-THE COMPLETE SERIES by Tim Seeley, Jim Zub, Tini Howard, Blake Howard, Danny Lore, & Dev Pramanik, Nathan C. Gooden, Julius Ohta Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

[Review] — "THESE SAVAGE SHORES" is a Gruesome Supernatural Tale

Find it on Goodreads and Books2Read

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THESE SAVAGE SHORES by Ram V & Sumit Kumar Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Friday, January 26, 2024

[Review] — Jack Reacher Goes Back to 1992 in "THE SECRET"


After viewing Reacher's season two finale on Amazon Prime, I felt it was time to write my review for the latest Jack Reacher novel, The Secret (available to purchase on *Hardcover and *Kindle), by Lee Child (pseudonym for James Dover Grant) and his brother Andrew Child (pseudonym for Andrew Grant). This book marks the 28th installment in the venerable series, which began in 1997 with Killing Floor. The series isn't published in chronological order, as the books are occasionally set in the past when the character was a member of the United States Army Military Police Corps, which is also the setting of The Secret. (*Paid Link)

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

[Review] — "BLADESTAY" is a Fascinating YA Western

Find it on Goodreads and Books2Read.

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the BLADESTAY by Jackie Johnson Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Monday, December 11, 2023

[Review] — "THE MELODY OF THREE" is an Imaginative Fantasy Tale

Find it on Goodreads and Books2Read


I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the THE MELODY OF THREE by S.D. Reeves Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

[Review] — "MAGES & MAGIC" is a Fantasy Series for Both Adults and Kids


I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the MAGES & MATES and MAGES & MAGIC by Nina R. Schluntz Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

About the Books


Rise of a Necromancer

YA Version
Find it on Goodreads and Books2Read.

Read both versions for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited Membership!

Banished from Earth, a six-headed demon god adjusts to a world where he is bound by no rules and where even the dead have magic he can consume and control.

Rojo Siete Φωτιά
The red dragon full of chaos fire magic must serve the human mages for seventy years.
Leslie Μάγος
Orphaned human child of slaves, sold to the Magesterium to train as a mage, and paired with a fire dragon.
Ruven Σκιά
Shadow assassin elf turned tracker with a hellhound who eats the undead.
Heista Νεκρός
An undead priest risen and controlled by the most powerful necromancer.

Tiamat is a demon god from Earth now banished to a world full of magic and dragon. Lucky for him, his dragon form is a six-headed dragon. The magic here is not like on Earth, it comes from dragons, not from souls.

To be a god on this world, he must learn how to harness the power of the dragons. So, pretending to be less than he is, he joins the Magesterium to train as a mage. He masters this ability easily but is paired with a dragon who was once a human. Her dragon mate has died and if he doesn’t pair with her, the other dragons will kill her.

Her magic is weak, but Tiamat can fix that. He can show this world that the dragons banished from their clans can find a new purpose, just like him. Until his past catches up and demons from Earth arrive to take a soul from Tiamat that they feel is theirs. Turns out, necromancy is easy to do on this world and the other demons have no qualms about using it.

To defeat the other demons, Tiamat must give up the new life he’s found, and become the god he was destined to be.


Adult Version
Find it on Goodreads and Books2Read.


Author’s Note

This story is available in two adaptations. The original, Mages & Mates, is a romance filled with encounters involving dragon shape-shifters. This story stars a very lust-filled mage and a demon who seems to marry one of every species on this world, collecting a harem of men and women spouses.


The alternative adaptation, Mages & Magic, is censored and edited to be appropriate for all ages. It has the same main story, but the mage fights with a desire to roll dice and play dice games. The demon gets married only once, then forms alliances with vows of loyalty, rather than marriages.


So, pick the version that fits your taste and enjoy an epic adventure with an unlikely group of anti-heroes.

 


Goblin Gold

YA Version
Find it on Goodreads and Books2Read.

Read both versions for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited Membership! 


Blessed by Sun Deities and able to transform into Mechanical Dragons, the goblins and their prized gold are the best hope against the necromancer demons invading their world of magic.


Olje Ιππότης
Dedicated Goblin Paladin of the Sun Deities, raised as an undead protector to Tiamat
Gruillie Καλόγερος
Religious Goblin Monk, fierce warrior, and bound to Mage Tiamat as his dragon.
Tiamat ψόφιος
Six-headed demon god dragon sworn to protect the inhabitants of this world.
Neo Νερό
Water Dragon, bound to Mage Peter and entangled with demons.

Goblins have secrets. Their knowledge of science has created the sun deities and given them the power to harness the holy sun power from another plane of existence. Their methods of creating the coveted gold is unethical. Their practices drive a wedge in their alliance to the six-headed demon god Tiamat and soon elves, humans, dragons, and goblins are divided in who they will trust in the coming war against the undead.

New mages and dragons become trusted allies, while others are lost. Neo, a water dragon, despises elves and undead, yet vows to help Tiamat in order to protect his clan. Olje, a goblin monk, once faithful to Tiamat, shifts his priorities when an unwitting mage comes into possession of a clutch of goblin gold. This gold must be acquired and kept safe at all costs, even if it means asking the elves for help.


Adult Version
Find it on Goodreads and Book2Read.


Author’s Note

This story is available in two adaptations. The original, Mages & Mates, is a romance filled with encounters involving dragon shape-shifters. This story stars a very lust-filled mage and a demon who seems to marry one of every species on this world, collecting a harem of men and women spouses.


The alternative adaptation, Mages & Magic, is censored and edited to be appropriate for all ages. It has the same main story, but the mage fights with a desire to roll dice and play dice games. The demon gets married only once, then forms alliances with vows of loyalty, rather than marriages.


So, pick the version that fits your taste and enjoy an epic adventure with an unlikely group of anti-heroes.

 


My Review


It's unusual to find two versions of a tale. Here, Mages and Magic offers a more romantic version for adults and a more grounded fantasy version for younger readers. Note: I only read the first two in the series, but there is a third book called Darkness of Descent.

I've learned to love fantasy novels over time. Some have incredible stories, while others just blah. The author's detailed way with descriptions put the Mages and Magic series in the higher tier. I can assure you that creating a fantastical world with goblins and dragons requires intricate descriptions, which is exactly what this author has done.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Rise of a Necromancer and Goblins Gold; while the first was my favorite of the two, both were enjoyable reads that should appeal to fantasy fans of all ages. —★★★★★

 


About Nina Schluntz



Nina Schluntz is a native to rural Nebraska. In her youth, she often wrote short stories to entertain her friends. Those ideas evolved into the novels she creates today.

Her husband continues to ensure her stories maintain a touch of realism as she delves into the science fiction and fantasy realm. Their three cats are always willing to stay up late to provide inspiration, whether it is a howl from the stray born in the backyard or an encouraging bite from the so called “calming kitten.


Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads

 


Giveaway Details


5 winners will win a set of Dragon Dice, International.

Ends December 12th, midnight EST.



Tour Schedule


Week One:

11/27/2023

Writer of Wrongs

Deleted Scene

11/28/2023

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Blog Spotlight/IG Spotlight

11/29/2023

Two Chicks on Books

Deleted Scene/IG Post

11/30/2023

@lexijava

IG Review

11/30/2023

YA Books Central

Interview/IG Post

12/1/2023

Callisto’s calling

Review/IG Post

Week Two:

12/4/2023

GryffindorBookishNerd

Review/IG Post

12/4/2023

jlreadstoperpetuity

Review/IG Post

12/5/2023

@evergirl200

Review/IG Post

12/5/2023

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

12/6/2023

@froggyreadteach

Review/IG Post

12/6/2023

Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

Review/IG Post

12/7/2023

the original B00K nerd

Review/IG Post

12/8/2023

Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's

Review/IG Post

12/8/2023

Lifestyle of Me

Review/IG Post